Legislative Update - Week Ending 1.19.2024
Action Alert
The past week was shortened by the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. When the legislature did return to Topeka, there was an emphasis on taxes by both houses. On Tuesday, the House and Senate Tax Committees worked on a compromise bill that established a flat tax, cuts property taxes, eliminates taxes on Social Security income, increases standard deduction, and raises personal tax exemption. Then, on Wednesday, the Senate approved the bill with a vote of 25 to 11, on Thursday the House approved the bill with 81 voting in favor and 37 opposed, and the bill now goes to the Governor. Governor Kelly has indicated she is opposed to a flat tax. If she vetoes the bill, it will be a close vote to override the veto. We should know in a week or two the final result.

Education committees this week spent the majority of their time receiving briefings on topics ranging from reading instruction in schools, computer literacy, and updates from the Kansas Department of Education on financial matters.

On Wednesday, the House Education committee heard the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan legislation. It requires districts to have AED’s in all buildings, a specific number of staff trained in CPR, and an Emergency Response Plan in place. The hearing saw 4 families share their experiences of a child who had a serious cardiac event. There were fatal outcomes shared and near death experiences also. The need for AED machines to be available was emphasized in all the experiences shared by the families. There is work that needs to be done on the bill prior to bringing it up for action by the committee. Chairman Thomas is working with representatives of the American Heart Association, State School Board, KNEA, KASB, and USA to get further input. Last week, there was a survey sent out to seek information from districts on the number of machines currently in buildings, number of staff trained, and if an Emergency Response Plan is in place. If you have not responded to that survey, please do (CLICK HERE for survey). The information is needed to determine costs related to the legislation.

In looking toward next week and legislation that will be heard, here is what is on the agenda:

Monday, January 22 at 3:30 PM 
House K-12 Education Budget will hear HB 2485. The bill has to do with requiring enrollment under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act to be determined using current school or the preceding school year and requiring any distinct that closed a school building in the preceding school year to use current year enrollment for their count. This legislation has an impact on all districts. I would encourage you to share with your Legislator how this bill will impact your district.

Wednesday, January 24 at 3:30 PM
House K-12 Education Budget Committee will hear HB 2489. The bill would limit the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers. This is a clarification to legislation from last year on SB 113. This does not pertain to many districts, but if it does, I would encourage you to submit testimony or speak to your legislator.

Thursday, January 25 at 3:30 PM
House K-12 Education Budget Committee will hear HB 2506. The bill would authorize students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in activities that are regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association at such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment requirement in such resident school district. If you have a view on this legislation, I would encourage you to provide testimony or contact your legislator.

Please note when submitting testimony most committees have a deadline of submission 24 hours prior to the hearing (business hours). However, Chair Williams on K-12 Education Budget has a 48 hour requirement. For a Monday hearing, the requirement for all committees except K-12 Budget would be Friday; K-12 Education Budget would the previous Thursday at 3:30 PM.

If you have questions please contact me. Things are starting to pick up in the Kansas Legislature.
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