House advances new state budget

House bill 2434 only adds $10 million in state aid to special education

By Ann Marie Bush

Director of Communications

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

House Bill 2434 passed with a vote of 68-53 and spends $10.8 billion in state general fund beginning July 1, compared to $10.9 billion in the current fiscal year and $10.3 billion spent in fiscal year 2025.

The House debated the budget late Wednesday, Feb. 25.

During the debate, Rep. Jarrod Ousely offered an amendment to raise state spending on special education by $50 million. It failed.

By law, Kansas is obligated to pay 92% of costs incurred by school districts to educate special education students. Currently, the state only covers 65%, which means Kansas school districts are forced to divert general fund dollars.

The Kansas Senate received Sub HB 2434 on Thursday, Feb. 26. However, the Senate also has been working on its own version of the budget and is expected to debate it soon. Eventually, a “compromise bill” will be developed with negotiators from both the House and Senate. The compromise bill will be presented to Gov. Laura Kelly.

KNEA will continue to follow legislation as the 2026 session continues. For updates, visit http://www.ksutd.org/.

Ann Marie Bush can be reached by email at ann.bush@knea.org.