Week 8 Wrap-Up: Budget debate, committee hearings continue

By Timothy R. Graham
Director of Government Relations

Legislative activity continued at a steady pace during the eighth week as committees advanced policy proposals and the Senate devoted extended floor debate to its version of the state budget.

Hearings throughout the week addressed a range of education-related measures while lawmakers continued preparing for the next procedural deadlines later this month.

Much of the week’s floor activity centered on debate over the Senate’s budget proposal. After several hours of discussion and multiple amendments related to public education, the chamber narrowly approved its version of the spending plan and sent the measure forward for negotiations with the House.

In addition to budget work, the Senate also advanced legislation addressing student use of personal electronic communication devices in schools. Committees continued hearing bills related to school governance, funding mechanisms and student policies as lawmakers worked through remaining legislation ahead of the March 20 Second Chamber Consideration deadline.

Committee action, bill hearings

View all KNEA testimony submitted this session here.

The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) is currently tracking more than 260 bills during the 2026 legislative session. Committee activity this week included hearings on multiple measures addressing school funding, governance and student device policies.

SB 387: At-Risk Income Verification and Community Eligibility Authorization
The House Committee on Education held a hearing Monday, March 2, on Senate Bill 387. KNEA submitted testimony in opposition.

The measure would require school districts to verify household gross earned income for students qualifying for free meals under the National School Lunch Program for purposes of calculating at-risk funding under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act. The bill would also prohibit districts from seeking or implementing authorization under the federal Community Eligibility Provision without legislative approval beginning July 1, 2026. 

SB 491: Education Inspector General and Misconduct Registry
The Senate Committee on Education had a hearing Monday, March 2, on Senate Bill 491. KNEA submitted testimony in opposition.

The proposal would establish an Office of Education Inspector General within the Office of the Attorney General with authority to audit and investigate school districts and accredited nonpublic schools. The bill would also create reporting requirements, an anonymous reporting portal, a public misconduct registry, and civil penalties. 

SB 350: Age-Appropriate School Device Act
The Senate Committee on Education had a hearing Tuesday, March 3, on Senate Bill 350. KNEA submitted testimony in opposition.

The proposal would establish statewide limitations on digital device use in public schools, including grade-level restrictions, device safety standards, parental opt-out provisions, and defined daily usage limits. 

SCR 1616: Constitutional Amendment on Property Tax Assessment Limits
The House Committee on Taxation had a hearing Wednesday, March 4, on Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616, proposing a constitutional amendment to limit assessed value increases for real property and certain residential mobile homes. KNEA submitted testimony in opposition.

SB 438: Community Eligibility Participation Requirement
The Senate Committee on Education had a hearing Thursday, March 5, on Senate Bill 438. KNEA submitted testimony in opposition.

The proposal would require local boards of education to formally consider participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and adopt a resolution either affirming participation or declaring financial hardship in an open meeting. 

Chamber floor action

Floor activity increased during this week as the Senate debated major legislation and continued work toward upcoming procedural deadlines. Debate on the state budget consumed much of Tuesday’s floor calendar, while additional policy legislation advanced later in the week.

SB 315: State Budget (Fiscal Year 2027)
The Senate debated Senate Bill 315, the chamber’s version of the state budget for fiscal year 2027, for more than seven hours before approving the measure.

Several amendments related to public education were offered during debate. Three amendments addressing the school finance formula, reduced-price school meals, and additional special education funding were rejected. Two amendments affecting public education were adopted.

One amendment removed more than $16 million in funding for the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) program in public schools and redirected $1 million of that funding to special education services. Another amendment created a complaint process and potential financial penalty for school districts experiencing organized student walkouts without parental consent.

Because the House and Senate typically pass different versions of the state budget, the next stage of the process will involve a conference committee negotiating a final agreement between the two chambers.

• Senate vote: 21–19

• Governor action: Pending

• KNEA position: Monitoring

• Next step: Conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate.

Senate Sub for HB 2299 — Student Personal Electronic Communication Devices in Schools

In emergency final action Thursday, the Senate approved Senate Sub for House Bill 2299, legislation addressing student use of personal electronic communication devices in public schools and accredited nonpublic schools.

The Senate Committee on Education advanced the measure Wednesday, March 4, after replacing the contents of the underlying bill with provisions originally introduced in SB 302. This legislative process, often referred to as a “gut and go,” substituted the original contents of the bill with new language before sending it to the Senate floor.

The substitute bill would require school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies regulating student use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day. The measure also includes provisions addressing communication between school employees and students through social media platforms and modifies statutory language related to accredited nonpublic schools.

An additional amendment added liability protections for school districts and educators for damage that may occur to personal devices while they are stored by schools or confiscated during enforcement of school policies.

• Senate vote: 32–4

• Governor action: Pending

• KNEA position: Neutral

• Next step: House consideration of whether to concur with Senate amendments.

In the news

The Kansas Reflector reported March 3 on legislation addressing student walkouts and protest activity in schools. The article examined provisions included in Senate debate on the state budget that would create a complaint process and potential financial penalties for school districts experiencing organized student walkouts without parental consent.

Coverage of the proposal can be found here.

Looking ahead

The Legislature will return next week with continued committee work and additional floor activity as lawmakers move closer to the March 20 Second Chamber Consideration deadline. Budget negotiations are also expected to continue following Senate passage of its version of the state spending plan.

Measures expected to receive attention include:

• HB 2745: Addressing property tax revenue limits and voter approval requirements.

• SB 489: Establishing a universal homestead property tax exemption.

• SB 488: Proposing phased elimination of property taxes under the Kansas Property Tax Freedom Act. 

• HCR 5034: Proposing a constitutional amendment restructuring state taxation and creating a tax review board.

• SCR 1621: Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting property taxation.

• HB 2482: Addressing college entrance exam provider flexibility for state-funded assessments.

• HB 2320: Addressing school enrollment and record transfer provisions for students in DCF custody.

• HB 2487: Defining scholarship eligibility for teachers and paraprofessionals.

Additional detail on these measures and KNEA’s positions will be included in the Weekly Look Ahead on Monday, March 9.

Visit Under The Dome at www.ksutd.org for bill tracking, testimony updates, member resources and more. Be sure to listen to the weekly podcast for analysis and watch for Action Alerts as needed. Member legislative tools and engagement resources remain available on the site throughout the session.

Timothy R. Graham can be reached by email at timothy.graham@knea.org.