Week 11 Wrap-Up: Conference reports drive final week’s activity
Kansas Legislature approves state budget bill
By Timothy R. Graham
Director of Government Relations
The Legislature concluded its final week of the regular session with activity centered on conference committee reports and final floor action.
With committee work completed, both chambers focused on resolving remaining legislation ahead of First Adjournment.
Several conference committee reports were debated on the floor, with the state budget bill, House Bill 2513, among the most notable measures for KNEA due to its inclusion of K-12 education funding and related policy provisions.
With adjournment on March 27, the Legislature now shifts into the interim period before returning for veto session, where any remaining action will be limited to constitutionally eligible items, including potential gubernatorial vetoes.
Committee action and bill hearings
View all KNEA testimony submitted this session here.
With the Legislature in its final week of the regular session, no committee hearings took place on standalone legislation. Committee work has concluded for the session, and activity shifted entirely to conference committees and floor consideration of negotiated bills.
Chamber floor action
Floor activity this week consisted primarily of conference committee reports as both chambers worked to finalize remaining legislation ahead of First Adjournment. Several measures were considered, with the state budget bill, HB 2513, among the most notable for KNEA due to its inclusion of K-12 education funding and related policy provisions.
As the Legislature concludes its regular session, either late Friday or into the early hours of Saturday, several additional education-related measures are expected to be considered as part of conference committee reports containing bundled legislation. At the time of writing, six conference committee reports have been signed and are eligible for floor deliberation, with the potential for one to three additional reports to be finalized before adjournment.
HB 2513: State budget bill establishing appropriations for fiscal year 2027 and related adjustments.
Following a delayed start to debate on Thursday, March 26, the Senate began consideration of the conference committee report. During debate, Sen. Ethan Corson, D-Fairway, made a motion to return the bill to committee, citing concerns related to education funding and policy provisions. The motion was ruled out of order by Senate leadership, and the chamber adjourned shortly thereafter. The Senate later reconvened and resumed debate, ultimately passing the measure.
The bill was then transmitted to the House, where it was debated and passed in the early hours of Friday, March 27.
The final agreement includes approximately $120 million in additional general education funding and $6 million in increased funding for special education. The bill also includes language allowing the use of prior-year unencumbered funds to support teacher mentorship and professional development programs.
The conference committee restored $10 million of the $16 million previously removed for the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) program. The bill also includes a provision requiring the Kansas State Department of Education to revert to 2024 assessment cut scores on state assessments.
An amendment adopted during Senate debate includes language prohibiting student walkouts.
The passage of HB 2513 concludes the Legislature’s primary budget work for the regular session. Budget considerations during veto session will likely focus on potential line-item vetoes issued by the governor within the bill.
To hear more about HB 2513, as well as discussion on the voucher bill, tune in to KNEA’s Under The Dome Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Looking ahead
Friday, March 27, marks the final day of the 2026 regular session, bringing legislative activity to a close until lawmakers return for veto session.
The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene on April 9 for veto session, where remaining eligible matters may be considered, including gubernatorial vetoes and any necessary final legislative action.
Additional detail on these measures and KNEA’s positions will be included in the next Weekly Look Ahead.
For ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting public education, visit Under The Dome at www.ksutd.org. The site features bill tracking, updates and additional resources to help educators stay informed and engaged throughout the 2026 legislative session.
Timothy R. Graham can be reached by email at timothy.graham@knea.org.