Weekly Look Ahead: KNEA testifying in opposition to HB 2468 and HB 2420
By Timothy R. Graham
KNEA Director of Government Relations
Week two of the 2026 legislative session is not slowing down.
The Kansas Legislature is moving quickly, and several education-related bills are scheduled for hearings this week. The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) will be offering testimony on multiple measures while closely tracking others that require careful review and assessment.
This week, KNEA will be before both the House and Senate Committees on Education.
House Bill 2468
At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Room 218-N, the House Committee on Education will hear House Bill 2468, a voucher-related proposal that would allow Kansas to participate in a federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations and increase the tax credit limit under the low-income student scholarship program.
While described as a tax credit, the program functions similarly to a voucher by using public tax policy to subsidize private school tuition. KNEA opposes the bill and will provide oral testimony in opposition.
House Bill 2420
KNEA also opposes HB 2420, which would require parental consent before school districts could provide certain school-based mental health services. The bill requires both verbal and written notification, requires written or electronic consent, and establishes civil penalties for violations. While suicide risk assessments would still be allowed when a credible risk exists, KNEA has concerns about implementation, liability, and delays in students accessing timely support.
KNEA will provide oral testimony in opposition of HB 2420 at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in Room 218-N.
Additional education bills
The Senate Committee on Education will hear several additional education bills that KNEA is actively reviewing.
Senate Bill 338 (Wednesday, Jan. 21: Expands statutory definitions by including home schools within the definition of private schools and formally defining what constitutes a home school under Kansas law.
Senate Bill 339 (Thursday, Jan. 22): Requires school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily recess time for students in kindergarten through fifth and designates that time as part of the school term.
Senate Bill 341 (Thursday, Jan. 22): Addresses postsecondary courses taught in secondary schools and sets requirements for agreements between school districts and community colleges or technical colleges.
These hearings are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Room 144-S on their respective days. KNEA is reviewing these bills closely and assessing possible testimony.
Budget and policy briefings
Education committees will also dedicate significant time to budget and policy updates this week:
The K–12 Education Budget Committee will begin hearings on the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).
The Higher Education Budget Committee will hear from multiple Regents institutions, including The University of Kansas, KU Medical Center, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.
Committees in both chambers will receive briefings on the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The House Committee on Education had an informational hearing on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The House Committee on Education will have a Blueprint for Literacy informational hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Room 218-N. The Senate Committee on Education had a briefing on the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and there will be a presentation on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Room 144-S.
Some previously heard bills may be up for final action.
KNEA will monitor these discussions closely, as both budget decisions and policy priorities continue to take shape.
KNEA engagement at the Statehouse
Beyond committee hearings, KNEA is remaining active at the Capitol:
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, KNEA had members in attendance at Literacy Day at the Capital and Equality Day events.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, KNEA will co‑host a legislator lunch through the Working Kansas Alliance (WKA).
Retired educators will return to staff the Retiree Ambassador table, welcoming legislators and visitors as the session ramps up.
KNEA will continue monitoring developments closely and keep members informed as the session unfolds.
Timothy R. Graham can be reached by email at timothy.graham@knea.org.