Just as we expected, the past week was fast-paced, intense, and, most importantly, productive. We met with legislators to discuss our legislative priorities, submitted testimony, strategized with fellow advocates, and attended Governor Kelly’s final State of the State address. Here’s what’ we’ve been working on:
Ending Childhood Hunger
We were thrilled that Governor Kelly’s budget proposal includes $2.5 million to eliminate co-pays for the 34,400 Kansas students on reduced-price meals. We advocated for this last year and will continue this year, because ensuring access to school breakfast and lunch is a critical way to support families facing rising costs.
Protecting and Expanding Food Assistance Programs
As the legislature wrestles with the implications of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1), we encourage you to read our brief, “What the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Really means for Kansas: More Hunger, Less Stability.” Written by our Policy and Legal Research Analyst, Kelm Lear, the report highlights how the bill reduces benefit levels, tightens eligibility rules, expands work requirements, eliminates nutrition education funding, and shifts new administrative and benefit costs onto states. Codifying the BBBA would permanently embed its harshest provisions in Kansas law, regardless of future federal changes. We are watching this closely.
Both the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency and the House Committee on Welfare Reform, legislators were given presentations from the Department for Children and Families on SNAP. There was much discussion on the impending soda and candy waiver, payment error rates, and the administrative cost shift. It became clear that the consequences of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will loom over this session.
Protecting Access to the Ballot Box
We submitted testimony to the House Committee on Elections opposing HB 2438, which would restrict online voter registration to .gov websites and block nonpartisan sites like KSVotes.org. The bill would give the Secretary of State sole authority to approve sites and prevent county officials from accepting other electronic applications. This bill is yet another attempt to make it harder for Kansans to vote. Please join us in taking action against this harmful legislation by sending an email to your lawmakers.
Improving the Foster Care System
The Trump administration has directed states to end the long-standing practice of diverting Social Security benefit checks from some children and youth in foster care. Governor Kelly ended this practice in 2024, and we are asking the Legislature to codify her executive order into law. We welcome this guidance from the federal government and hope the Legislature will comply with President Trump’s request.
The House Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care heard testimony on the Judicial Council’s recently released Report on the Child in Need of Care Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) System. The report recommends centralization, lower caseloads, and improved pay and training for GALs—court-appointed attorneys who represent children in foster care. Kansas Appleseed welcomes this discussion and supports implementing these recommendations to better serve Kansas foster youth.
Ensuring Fairness in the Adult Justice System
The House Committee on the Judiciary saw the introduction of HB 2444, which would keep jail credit from applying to more than one case when sentences are served consecutively and create special sentencing for felonies committed by specific individuals while they are on probation, parole, or post-release supervision for a prior felony. It would also require secured minimum bonds to particular individuals charged with a new felony in these same instances. Kansas Appleseed opposes this bill because we know more jail time doesn’t lead to better outcomes.
Also introduced this week was HB 2467, which would prohibit courts and the Division of Vehicles from considering convictions or sanctions for failure to comply with a traffic citation more than five years old. It would also eliminate certain notice requirements for that division related to suspended or restricted driver’s licenses. Kansas Appleseed supports this bill.
Next week, we’ll spend time watching and testifying in committees, as well as welcoming 80 Kansans to our Anti-Hunger Day of Action on Wednesday. It promises to be another invigorating week!
