Week 3 Wrap-Up: ‘Bathroom bill,’ testimony and KTOY team visits Statehouse
Members of the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year team were recognized at the Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
By Ann Marie Bush
KNEA Communications Director
The third week of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session included contentious debate between Republican and Democrat legislators regarding the “bathroom bill” and advocacy on numerous educational issues by the 2026 Kansas Teach of the Year team.
Here are a few highlights from week three:
House Substitute for Senate Bill 244 – ‘Bathroom bill’
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 is now in the hands of Gov. Laura Kelly.
Two days after House Substitute for Senate Bill 244 passed out of the House Committee on Judiciary, the House passed emergency action Wednesday to take a vote after debating the bill rather than waiting a day like rules require. House Democrats delayed passage of the bill by more than six hours by proposing multiple amendments.
Early Wednesday evening, House Substitute for SB 244 passed 87-36, sending it to the Senate, which concurred with the bill with a vote 30 to 9.
The bill passed both chambers with the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
KNEA in favor of HB 2487 – Expanding Kansas Education Opportunity Scholarship Program Act
The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) was one of three proponents for HB 2487, which was heard on Thursday, Jan. 29, by the House Committee on Education.
The bill could expand the Kansas Education Opportunity Scholarship Program Act to include paraprofessionals. This bill was introduced Jan. 21, 2026, by the Committee on Education on behalf of the Kansas State Board of Regents (KBOR). It defines teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for the scholarship under the Kansas Education Opportunity Scholarship Program.
“As the Committee considers this bill, KNEA would ask that it be written to include all classified school personnel,” Timothy R. Graham, KNEA Director of Government Relations wrote in his testimony. “This would include extending eligibility to other essential school employees such as secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, and food service staff who are critical to the daily operation of Kansas schools.”
KNEA opposes SB 387 – School lunch reporting
KNEA offered written testimony opposing SB 387 during a Thursday, Jan. 29, hearing in the Senate Government Efficiency Committee.
The bill could require school districts to verify the household gross earned income of students who qualify for free meals under the National School Lunch Program. The bill could also require legislative authorization before districts could participate in certain federal assistance programs.
The bill creates federal compliance risk for school districts and also creates new, unfunded administrative burdens for school districts, Graham wrote in his testimony.
In total, there were 39 opponents, three proponents and two neutrals.
Advocacy
The 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY), Rachel Marlow, and the seven members of the KTOY team visited the Kansas Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 28, to be introduced on the Kansas House and Senate floors and to be recognized for their contributions to teachers.
Marlow and the team, all KNEA members, also gave presentations to the Senate Committee on Education.
Alliance UniServ Director Jonathan Wright also spent time at the Statehouse this week participating in budget discussions and advocating for faculty members at the Kansas School for the Deaf.
KNEA-R members volunteered at the KNEA Ambassadors Table at the Statehouse on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
KNEA will remain engaged at the Statehouse and keep members informed as the session moves forward. Follow along at http://www.ksutd.org/.
Ann Marie Bush can be reached by email at ann.bush@knea.org.