Legislative activity continued at a steady pace during the ninth week of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session as lawmakers advanced policy measures on the Senate floor while committees worked through what will likely be the final round of hearings for the 2026 session.

The voucher bill is now headed to a Conference Committee after Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, moved Thursday, March 12, for the House to nonconcur with amendments adopted by the Senate.

Several education-related bills saw movement Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, as the Kansas Legislature begins its descent toward adjournment, now roughly a month away.

The Kansas Legislature enters the ninth week of the 2026 session with committee hearings continuing across both chambers and floor debate beginning to occupy more of the legislative calendar.

Legislative activity continued at a steady pace during the eighth week as committees advanced policy proposals and the Senate devoted extended floor debate to its version of the state budget.

The voucher bill – House Bill 2468 – was passed out of the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 5.

After more than seven hours of debate Tuesday, the Kansas Senate narrowly approved its version of the state budget on a 21–19 vote, advancing Senate Bill 315 following discussion that included several amendments related to public education.

The Legislature enters its eighth week with committee work continuing across policy and budget issues as floor debate begins to expand.

Week seven included continued committee activity and significant floor debate in both chambers. The Senate advanced a proposed constitutional amendment related to property valuation, while the House passed a substitute state budget bill for fiscal years 2026 through 2028.

The Kansas House on Thursday, Feb. 26, approved House Bill 2434, which adds only $10 million in state aid annually to special education.

In emergency final action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Kansas Senate approved a resolution capping annual property valuation increases at 3%.

The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) presented in-person testimony opposing the use of public funds to support private education on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

The Kansas Legislature returns this week for the official start of the second half of the 2026 session following a brief halftime break.

Are you feeling lucky? Join the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) and KNEA’s At The Table program for the Lucky to Have Kansas Public School Rally on Tuesday, March 17.

The sixth week of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session was defined by the approach of the Turnaround deadline. As committees paused most hearings, attention shifted to extended floor debate in both chambers.

A “bathroom bill” requiring anyone using a multi-occupancy bathroom in government-owned buildings, including schools, to use the facility that matches their biological sex at birth became law Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The midpoint of the Kansas Legislative Session functions much like the halftime of the year’s work under the dome. 

In action late Friday afternoon, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bathroom bill - Substitute for Senate Bill SB 244.

Week five of the Kansas Legislative Session was heavy on activity and light on predictability.

Anyone paying attention to committee agendas over the past few days knows one thing is for certain - nothing about this week is settled. 

The schedule that the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) is publishing right now is accurate at this moment - but it will almost certainly change.