Legislative Update - Week Ending 1.26.2024
Action Alert
The weather continued to make its mark on Kansas this past week. I’m looking forward to a good week of weather soon. Probably one of the most significant bill hearings to take place in the new legislative session took place on Monday. On January 22nd, the K-12 House Education Budget committee heard HB 2485. The bill has to do with using current year enrollment or the preceding year enrollment for the district's enrollment count to determine funding. School district representatives presented both sides of the issue to the committee. Committee Chair Kristy Williams stated, “We want to fund real students in real seats.” She went on to say, “We’re going to help fund kids where those kids are.” The committee received a print-out of how districts fared last year following the passage of SB 113. 

 

HB 2485 has not been worked to pass out of Committee and move to the floor of the House to be heard. We are confident it will be passed out of Committee in the near future; changes could be made to the current bill but that remains to be seen. We know what Chair Williams wants involved in crafting this legislation. I would encourage you to contact your representative from the House to let him/her know how this could impact your district.

 

On Tuesday, January 30, the Senate Education Committee will hear an exact copy of this bill. The Senate Bill is SB 386 (another bill dealing with enrollment). I would suggest that you contact your senator to let him/her know how this impacts your district.

 

On Wednesday, the House K-12 Education Budget Committee heard 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 in SB 113. The committee heard from school districts both proponent and opponent on the bill. The Attorney General provided an opinion earlier on this bill. It stated, “Allowing the state to acquire a school building that was paid for with local funds appears to be inequitable.”

 

Also, on Wednesday the Committee heard 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 within such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment/attendance requirement within such resident school district. There were several that provided proponent testimony. Bill Faflick, Executive Director of KSHSAA provided neutral testimony telling the committee that the Board of Directors of KSHSAA would be addressing the issue and taking care of this and there is no need to pass a law on this issue. Some Committee members disagreed and felt it should be in Statute.

 

On Thursday, also in the House K-12 Education Budget Committee, the Committee heard HB 2514. This bill attempts to clarify language from the Open Enrollment bill SB 113 that was passed last year. The bill provides language on school districts accepting out of district students that are not in good standing. I provided neutral testimony with language suggestions.

…

In looking ahead to next week, the House K-12 Education Budget will have a slower week compared to the past week. The busy “Education Committee” will be the Senate Education. There are 3 hearings to be held in Senate Education next week.
 

Monday, January 29th - House K-12 Education Budget Committee will hear HB 2594. This bill establishes an Education Task Force to review and make recommendations with respect to the state’s school finance formula that will be revised by 2027. The bill also abolishes the Special Education Task Force that was created last year. There will be testimony provided to make suggestions regarding the makeup of the task force. In our opinion, there is a lack of real-world/school finance experience on the task force.  
 

Monday, January 29th - Senate Education will hear SB 387. This bill is yet another bill to clean up language and clarify points from SB 113 that was passed last year. This bill provides clarity around students staying enrolled in once being admitted through open enrollment policies. 

 

Tuesday, January 30th - Senate Education will hear SB 386. This bill is a mirror bill of HB 2485 that was heard last week in K-12 Budget. This bill requires using current year student count or one previous year. We anticipate similar testimony will be heard as what took place last Monday in K-12 Budget.
 

Wednesday, January 31st - Senate Education will hear SB 360. The bill has to do with a tax-advantaged savings program, allowing the taxpayer to elect the taxable year in which a subtraction modification for contributions to 529 qualified tuition accounts. ABLE accounts or first-time home buyer savings accounts would be applied. This bill also authorizes the State Treasurer to appoint a 529 Program Advisory Council. This bill is current being amended
 

I want to recommend again that you let your Representatives and Senators know how legislation could impact your school district. Until next week.

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