The Kansas Appleseed team showed up in full force at the Statehouse this week. With the clock ticking down on this session, we are determined to advocate to the very last minute. Here’s what we’ve been working on this week:
Ending Childhood Hunger
It was a whirlwind week for our work to fight childhood hunger in the Statehouse! We started the week in the House Committee on Education on Monday, where we testified against SB 387, which would require additional income verification for free school meals, require school districts to seek legislative approval to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), and eliminate the reduced-price meal copay for students who qualify. We oppose any barriers to CEP that will decrease access to school nutrition.
On Thursday, we testified in support of SB 438, requiring eligible boards of education to consider participation in the community eligibility program, providing a financial hardship exception from such participation, and requiring the Kansas State Department of Education to assist school districts seeking such participation. We support this bill because we believe it is a positive step in more Kansas schools adopting the program. For reference, Kansas ranks 45th out of 50 states in CEP participation.
Protecting and Expanding Food Assistance Programs
SB 363, making it harder for Kansans to access food and medical assistance by adding new verification rules, limiting agency flexibility, and codifying some of the most onerous parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed the Senate yesterday, with a final vote of 25-12. The House Committee on Welfare Reform will have a hearing on this bill on Tuesday. We oppose this bill.
Protecting Access to the Ballot Box
SB 394, clarifying the signature verification requirements for advance voting ballot envelopes and providing for the repeal of advance voting statutes, except where advance voting is required by federal law, if a state or federal court issues a final order or judgment that is not subject to appeal, invalidating such signature verification requirements, passed the Senate this week. It now moves to the House Committee on Elections, where we expect it to advance quickly since the committee has already held an informational hearing on the bill.
SB 394 was most likely introduced in response to our legal efforts to protect voters disenfranchised by inconsistent voter signature verification processes. By considering this legislation, lawmakers are putting access to mail-in voting at risk for Kansas voters. For a deeper dive on this issue, read our informational brief on SB 394.
The Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs heard testimony on HB 2437 on Wednesday. HB 2437 would authorize election officials to use additional databases, with a history of inaccurate data, to verify voter registration records. This could result in removing eligible voters from the voting rolls, as it has in other states. We testified in opposition to this bill.
HB 2569, requiring actions challenging the constitutionality of an election statute to only be brought in the District Court of Shawnee County, will have a hearing on Monday before the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs. We oppose this bill because it imposes an undue burden on Kansans who do not live in Shawnee County.
Improving the Foster Care System
The Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare held a hearing on HB 2132, which would specify when a law enforcement officer shall or may take a child under 18 years of age into police protective custody. We support this bill because it expands officer discretion and allows them more opportunity to utilize the 4 Questions Tool to identify other means of separating a child from danger.
HB 2521, expanding the Kansas Tort Claims Act to include child placement agencies that contract with the Secretary for Children and Families, will have a hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Judiciary. We oppose any effort to protect foster care contractors over the children in their care, and we will be testifying against the bill.
The Senate Committee on Judiciary will also have a hearing on Tuesday for HB 2639, which would change the name of juvenile crisis intervention centers to juvenile stabilization centers, modify the intake criteria and treatment provided at such centers, and transfer monies from the evidence-based programs account of the state general fund for use at such centers. We will be testifying in support of this bill.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Education will hold a hearing on HB 2320, which would authorize children in DCF custody to attend school in any district, require their records to be transferred between districts in a timely manner, and require a transportation plan, if needed, to keep the child in their original school. We will be testifying in support of this bill.
Ensuring Fairness in the Adult Justice System
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary passed HB 2653, requiring the Kansas Secretary of Corrections to assist inmates with obtaining identification and employment-related documentation prior to release from custody. We support this bill, as it will greatly help individuals transition out of incarceration and get back to their lives.
On Tuesday, the Judiciary Committee will have a hearing on Sub HB 2595, enacting the attorney training program for rural Kansas act, providing stipends to law students who meet certain requirements and agree to practice law in rural areas, and providing loan forgiveness to lawyers who meet certain requirements and practice law in rural areas. We support this bill as an important step toward ensuring every Kansan has access to legal counsel in their own communities.
Supporting Justice-Involved Youth
The Legislature continues work on supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and appropriations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for various state agencies. Sub HB 2434 was passed by the House last week and now awaits a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. This bill recommends a lapse of $11,786,541 from the evidence-based programs account. We oppose this lapse, as it threatens the sustainability of this imperative funding that provides effective community programs to kids navigating the youth justice system.
Thank you for your support of our work!
