The session’s swift pace was especially noticeable this week, as we saw several crucial deadlines pass on the legislative calendar. This was the last week for non-exempt committees to introduce bills for consideration this session. Many of the issues we work on are assigned to these committees, so we are finally able to see the full picture of where our work will be focused in the next two weeks. Below is a compilation of the bills that saw action last week or will see action next week. Rest assured, there are many other bills we are watching as we head to Turnaround Day on February 19, when all non-exempt bills need to pass out of their house of origin.
Ending Childhood Hunger
The Senate Committee on Government Efficiency passed SB 387 out of committee on Tuesday. The bill would require additional income verification for free school meals and would make it much harder for schools to use the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). In committee, two amendments were attached. The first requires that free lunch applications be verified in order for free lunch recipients to be used in the at-risk funding formula. The second would eliminate the reduced-price meal copay for Kansas kids. While we were excited to see this amendment, it is tied to a bill that would undoubtedly increase hunger and hardship for children across the sunflower state. We oppose this bill.
Take action and tell your senator to vote against this bill here.
We are excited to see HB 2637 get a hearing in the House Committee on Education next Thursday, February 12th! The bill encourages eligible school districts to consider participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, helping ensure more students have consistent access to nutritious school meals.
Protecting and Expanding Food Assistance Programs
In an alarming turn of events, the House Committee on Social Services Budget declined to fully fund the state’s portion of the SNAP administration costs. As you might recall, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires each state to increase their contributions from 50% to 75%. If lawmakers do not come up with the appropriate administrative match, there is deep concern on if the program could operate altogether.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, there are hearings on SB 363 in the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency. This bill would make 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 OBBBA. We oppose this bill. More information on SB 363 can be found here.
Improving the Foster Care System
The House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care had a hearing on HB 2589, which would prohibit the secretary for children and families from accepting anonymous reports of child abuse or neglect; however, it does allow law enforcement agencies to accept anonymous reports. It also requires informing anonymous reporters of these limits and other key reporting information, reducing unsubstantiated reports that disproportionately harm families of color. This change narrows unnecessary entry into foster care and is a major step in shifting the culture of reporting and resourcing Kansas families. We offered testimony in support of this bill.
Next Wednesday in the House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care, there will be a hearing on HB 2638, which requires that a child in custody of the secretary be provided information on their rights as detailed in the Gail Finney Foster Care Bill of Rights. We support this bill because it will ensure youth understand these rights and are provided information in a way that is considerate to their age, and individual needs.
Ensuring Fairness in the Adult Justice System
In the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, we introduced HB 2723, which would require the establishment of a court date reminder program for the purpose of sending advance notifications to those with scheduled court dates for a criminal case or an infraction and requiring all courts to send certain notifications using the program. Court date reminder programs are a simple way to help get people to court, avoiding the possibility of a failure-to-appear warrant, and reducing costs within the court system.
Next Monday, the House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice will have a hearing on HB 2653, which would require the secretary of corrections to assist inmates in getting identification and employment-related documentation prior to their release from custody. This bill will greatly help individuals transition out of incarceration and get back to their lives, and we support this change.
Supporting Justice-Involved Youth
Earlier this week, we published an in-depth report, “An Unfinished Story: Kansas Youth Justice Reform 10 Years After Senate Bill 367″, which highlights the successes and missed opportunities in truly reforming the youth justice system. Unfortunately, the Legislature is determined to weaken these reforms through recent legislative action.
HB 2329 was amended and passed on Thursday. This bill would increase youth detention limits, expand criminal penalties, and require the state to create youth residential facilities (group homes) using funds from the evidence-based programs account (funds meant to support evidence-based programs). As amended, HB 2329 would now also expand the definition of “chronic offender” and expand detention eligibility to youth being assessed for the second time in a year. We strongly oppose HB 2329.
SB 414 was also added into HB 2329. SB 414 would expand the authority of the Secretary of Corrections to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with other cabinet agencies to provide funding to residential facilities, like crisis stabilization centers, providing behavioral health crisis interventions for youth.
Despite our support for SB 414, we continue to strongly oppose HB 2329, because we know punitive interventions and unnecessary out-of-home placements do not help youth, their families, or our communities. We are disappointed to see SB 414 collapsed into this extremely harmful bill, effectively holding it hostage.
Protecting Access to the Ballot Box
We testified against HB 2453, requiring applications for advance voting ballots be filed by the 14th day prior to election day, that advance voting in person be completed by 12:00 p.m. on the Sunday prior to election day, extending the time for transmittal of advance voting ballots to 22 days prior to an election and ending the time for voter registration at 23 days prior to election day.
The House Committee on Elections passed out of committee HB 2493, requiring a person transmitting or delivering a ballot on behalf of another voter to include such person’s driver’s license number in the written statement on the ballot envelope. We oppose this bill because strong ballot collection and delivery safeguards already exist to ensure electoral integrity and accountability.
The House Committee on Elections held a hearing on HB 2491, which would require state agencies to make quarterly reports to the Secretary of State with the names and addresses of noncitizens receiving public benefits. This bill would require every state agency that provides public funds, scholarships or other publicly-funded benefits to noncitizens to report the name and address of each noncitizen recipient on a quarterly basis to the Secretary of State. We oppose this bill because it expands government data gathering without a clear purpose, puts additional strain on already overstretched agencies, and risks undermining public trust in state programs.
