‘Voucher’ bill on its way to Gov. Kelly
House adopts conference committee report on HB 2468
By Ann Marie Bush
Director of Communications
House Bill 2468 – also known as the voucher bill – is on its way to Gov. Laura Kelly’s office after the House on Tuesday, March 17, adopted a conference committee’s report with a vote of 76-44.
The Senate adopted the report 27-12 on Monday, March 16.
HB 2468 would allow Kansas to participate in a federal tax credit program that incentivizes contributions to scholarship‑granting organizations (SGOs). It also increases the tax credit limit under the Low-Income Student Scholarship Program. While structured as a tax credit, the program functions similarly to a voucher by using public tax policy to subsidize private‑school tuition.
The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) opposed the bill in both House and Senate committee hearings.
The bill went to a conference committee on Thursday, March 12, after Rep. Susan Estes, R-Wichita, moved for the House to nonconcur with Senate amendments.
Serving on the House conference committee were Estes, Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, D-Prairie Village, and Rep. Shawn Chauncey, R-Junction City. The Senate appointed Sen. Renee Erickson, R‑Wichita; Sen. Adam Thomas, R‑Olathe; and Sen. Dinah Sykes, D‑Lenexa.
The conference committee ultimately agreed to the Senate‑amended version of HB 2468, with one change: lowering the annual aggregate limit on tax credits under the Tax Credit for Low‑Income Students Scholarship (TCLISS) program from $20 million to $15 million.
In other legislative news:
Senate Bill 382 passed the House on Tuesday, March 17, with a vote of 111-12.
SB 382: Providing for the administration and proctoring of statewide assessments to virtual school students by such students' virtual schools, adding certain third parties who contract with school districts to the definition of special teacher and providing for special education state aid reimbursement for qualified teachers who provide approved special education or related services to students with an IEP administered by such school district pursuant to a contract.
KNEA position: Neutral
A committee report recommending SB 339 be passed was received by the House on Tuesday, March 17. The Senate passed the amended measure last week.
SB 339: Requiring school districts to provide students with a certain amount of daily recess and moderate physical activity per day, prohibiting limiting or withholding physical activity for disciplinary reasons, requiring a Kansas state fitness test and designating required recess time as part of the school term.
KNEA position: Neutral
Testimony: None submitted
The Senate will debate HB 2320 on Wednesday, March 18.
HB 2320: Authorizing children in the custody of the secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families to attend school in any school district, requiring records for such students to be timely transferred between school districts and requiring a transportation plan if the child remains in the school of origin.
KNEA position: Proponent (support)
The House also received a committee report recommending SB 381 be passed as amended by the House Committee on Education. The Senate passed the amended measure last week.
SB 381: Requiring instruction to provide students with an understanding of communist and socialist regimes and ideologies and that students pass an American civics examination in order to graduate with a high school diploma.
KNEA position: Oppose
Ann Marie Bush can be reached at ann.bush@knea.org.