Week 5 Wrap-Up: Showing up in a shifting week
By Timothy R. Graham,
Director of Government Relations
Week five of the Kansas Legislative Session was heavy on activity and light on predictability.
ROBIN BONSALL/KNEA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Thursday, Feb. 12, began as a quiet day Under the Dome.
Going into the week, the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) planned to testify on seven bills affecting public education. As often happens this time of year, committee schedules shifted, hearings evolved, and not every bill unfolded as originally advertised.
Still, KNEA followed through - submitting testimony on all seven measures and delivering in-person testimony where it mattered most.
Changes to the game plan
Not every hearing proceeded as scheduled.
House Bill 2142, which would have required districts to adopt an independent review process for bullying complaints, was canceled before it could be heard. It was slated for a hearing in by the House Committee on Education on Thursday, Feb. 10, and then Thursday, Feb. 12. Both were canceled. KNEA had prepared opposition testimony and submitted written remarks for the record.
Senate Bill 181, establishing a statutory cap on State General Fund spending, was technically heard - but only as a procedural vehicle. Substantive debate on the policy didn’t occur.
The bill was first introduced on Feb. 4, 2025. In an emergency final action on March 20, 2025, it passed the Senate with 32 yeas and eight nays. The following day, it was received and introduced into the House and then referred to the Committee on Appropriations, where it remained until this legislative session.
KNEA submitted opposition testimony outlining concerns about the long-term implications such a cap could have on public education funding. Even when the process shifts, preparation matters. Written testimony ensures the voice of educators becomes part of the official legislative record - whether or not extended discussion takes place.
This week’s central committee debate
The only oral testimony delivered by KNEA this week came on Senate Bill 381 in the Senate Committee on Education.
SB 381 would require expanded instruction on communist and socialist regimes and mandate that students pass a civics exam modeled after the United States naturalization test as a condition of graduation. The bill applies to public, private and parochial schools.
The Senate Committee on Education had a hearing on the bill Wednesday, Feb. 11. There were six individuals who offered testimony in opposition and seven who offered testimony in support. The Committee on Education recommended SB 381 be passed.
KNEA testified in opposition, raising concerns about legislative mandates on curriculum, the layering of additional graduation requirements, and the precedent of prescribing specific instructional frameworks through statute rather than through the Kansas State Board of Education and local governance processes.
The hearing drew significant interest and discussion, highlighting the ongoing tension between legislative oversight and educational expertise. The full hearing may be viewed at:
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260211/-1/21736.
KNEA testimony begins at timestamp 1:52:45.
Other bills addressed this week
In addition to SB 381, KNEA submitted testimony on the following measures:
House Bill 2482
House Committee on Education – Neutral (written testimony)
The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget had a hearing Tuesday, Feb. 10, on HB 2482, which removes statutory language tying Kansas to ACT-specific assessments and allows the State Board of Education to select any nationally recognized college entrance and career readiness assessment.
KNEA maintained a neutral position, emphasizing flexibility while preserving no-cost access for students.
House Bill 2320
House Committee on K-12 Education Budget – Support (written testimony)
HB 2320 strengthens school stability protections for children in the custody of the Department for Children and Families by requiring rapid transfer of records and improved coordination on transportation when placements change. The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget had a hearing Wednesday, Feb. 11, where KNEA was one of five proponents of the bill. KNEA supported the bill as a practical step to protect vulnerable students.
Senate Bill 383
Senate Committee on Education – Neutral (written testimony)
A hearing took place Tuesday, Feb. 10, on SB 383, which modifies special education reimbursement provisions related to contracted providers. KNEA was one of six to submit neutral testimony on SB 383, while there were three proponents of the bill. KNEA continues to monitor potential impacts on district budgeting and service delivery.
House Bill 2637
House Committee on Education – Oppose (written testimony)
HB 2637 would require school boards eligible for the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to formally consider participation in the program. KNEA opposed the bill in written testimony based on concerns about local control and additional procedural mandates placed on districts. The House Committee on Education had a hearing on the bill on Thursday, Feb. 12. KNEA was one of five in opposition to HB 2637, while there were six proponents of the bill.
Floor Action
Significant debate also took place on the floors of both chambers.
House Bill 2468, the voucher measure, received full debate and final action in the House. The bill proposes opting Kansas into a federal tax credit program designed to subsidize private education through scholarship-granting organizations.
KNEA has long opposed policies that use public funds or tax policy to finance private education without equivalent public accountability. Such programs divert public resources away from the public school system that is constitutionally required to serve all students and operate under clear transparency and nondiscrimination standards.
After debate, HB 2468 passed the House on a vote of 70-49. On Friday, Feb. 13, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
In the Senate, Senate Bill 387 advanced following floor debate. The bill places new requirements on school districts related to participation in federally authorized meal programs, including provisions affecting the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
KNEA opposed SB 387 based on concerns about student access to meals, potential federal compliance risks, and the creation of new unfunded administrative burdens for local districts. After debate, SB 387 passed the Senate on a vote of 22–18.
Members at the Statehouse
On Feb.12, several members of the KNEA Special Education Taskforce traveled to Topeka to engage directly with lawmakers. Throughout the day, they held one-on-one meetings with legislators to discuss the realities of special education funding, staffing challenges, and the day-to-day impact of policy decisions on students and educators.
Taskforce members also observed House floor debate, including final action on the voucher bill. Watching debate unfold in real time provides valuable insight into how education policy is ultimately shaped and decided.
Members also attended multiple committee hearings, further strengthening their understanding of the legislative process and reinforcing the importance of educator presence at the Capitol.
When educators show up, conversations change. Policy discussions become grounded in classroom reality rather than theory.
Next week
Next week marks Turnaround Week, the halfway point of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session. By the end of the week, most bills must pass out of their chamber of origin in order to remain alive for the year.
Turnaround reshapes the legislative landscape. Some proposals accelerate quickly toward final action. Others quietly stall. We will take a deeper look at what Turnaround means in the Weekly Look Ahead, which will be posted Feb. 16.
KNEA will also be closely monitoring floor debate next week, with particular attention to probable budget discussions in both the House and the Senate.
As the session moves into its second half, KNEA will remain engaged, present and responsive.
Stay updated at www.ksutd.org.
Timothy R. Graham can be reached by email at timothy.graham@knea.org.