Week 9 Wrap-Up: Floor debates continue as committee work winds down

Written By Ann Bush

By Timothy R. Graham
Director of Government Relations

Genie Scruton, Leigh Ann Rogers, Timothy R. Graham and Robin Bonsall at the KNEA-Retired Ambassador table on Tuesday, March 10.

Legislative activity continued at a steady pace during the ninth week of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session as lawmakers advanced policy measures on the Senate floor while committees worked through what will likely be the final round of hearings for the 2026 session.

Several education-related bills received final Senate action during the week, including measures addressing school safety drills, recess requirements, campus free-speech policies, and proposed changes to graduation requirements. Floor calendars remained active as legislators continued moving bills ahead of upcoming procedural deadlines.

KNEA was engaged in committee work throughout the week, submitting testimony on 11 bills addressing a range of education and public policy issues while continuing to track more than 260 bill affecting Kansas public schools and educators.

Member engagement at the Statehouse also continued during the week, as KNEA-Retiree Ambassadors welcomed visitors to the Capitol and met with legislators and staff in advance of the upcoming Lucky to Have Kansas Public Schools Lunch and Rally.

Committee action and bill hearings

View all KNEA testimony submitted this session here: https://airtable.com/appj9wBhmtHP03DZG/shrSI4L3lCGkclTEJ

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.

HB 2482: Removing the requirement that the state board of education use a certain exam provider to deliver certain college entrance and career readiness exams and requiring the board to provide for such exams using any provider.

HB 2487: Defining teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under the Kansas education opportunity scholarship program.

HB 2792: Prohibiting the use of a mobile telephone while operating a motor vehicle in school or construction zones and providing penalties for violations thereof.

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.

SB 488: Enacting the Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026, providing for the phased elimination of property taxation and for revenue replacement grants to taxing subdivisions.

SB 517: Expanding the every child can read act reporting requirements and amending the Kansas blueprint for literacy to provide certain requirements for the state board of education, the state board of regents and school districts with regard to literacy education and reporting.

SB 522: Enacting the Kansas medical freedom act to prohibit the denial of an individual's access to certain services based on such individual's medical choices.

SB 496: Requiring postsecondary educational institutions to provide annual training on freedom of speech, association and exercise of religion.

SCR 1621: Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to prohibit the levy of any property tax by the state or any political or taxing subdivision of the state.

HCR 5034: Proposing to amend the constitution of the state of Kansas by establishing the freedom from taxes fund and the Kansas citizens freedom review board.

Chamber floor action

Floor debate increased during Week 9 as the Senate continued advancing policy measures ahead of upcoming legislative deadlines.

SB 419: Enacting the Kansas intellectual rights and knowledge act, providing a civil cause of action and penalties for violations of such act and authorizing students and student associations to exercise political and ideological beliefs, values and missions. 

  • Senate vote: Passed; Yeas 29, Nays 11

  • KNEA position: Oppose

  • KNEA testimony: None submitted.

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. 

  • Senate vote: Passed as amended; Yeas 24, Nays 15

  • KNEA position: Neutral

  • KNEA testimony: None submitted.

SB 263: Establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools.

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.

Members advocacy at the Statehouse

KNEA-Retiree Ambassadors hosted another welcome table at the Statehouse on Tuesday, March 10, greeting legislators, staff and visitors as they arrived at the Capitol.

Retired educators staffed the table throughout the morning and afternoon and delivered invitations to all 165 legislators and key legislative staff to attend the Lucky to Have Kansas Public Schools Lunch and Rally on Tuesday, March 17.

Thank you, KNEA-Retired.

In the news

A new episode of the Under The Dome Podcast was released Friday, March 13. It features Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Olathe, and Rep. Alexis Simmons, D-Topeka, discussing legislative activity and education policy.

The episode is available on:

YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

Educators also appeared in Kansas media coverage during the week, including this article in the JC Post.

Looking ahead

Committee hearings for the 2026 session are expected to largely conclude by Tuesday, March 17.

One hearing of interest scheduled for Monday, March 16, is SB 381, which would require instruction on communist and socialist regimes and require students to pass a civics exam to graduate. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday in Room 218-N.

The Legislature is also expected to begin Conference Committee negotiations on HB 2468 (the voucher bill) and the state budget. 

After committee work concludes, focus will shift back to floor debate, which is expected to dominate the schedule until the final regular day of the session, which is scheduled for March 27.

Additional details will be included in the Legislative Preview, which will be published Monday, March 16.

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.

Ann Bush
Next

Voucher bill moves to Conference Committee; KNEA to oppose vaccine bill in Friday hearing