Our work in the Statehouse was even more impactful this week when we hosted folks from across the state at our Anti-Hunger Day of Action. It was a great opportunity to introduce them to the work in the Legislature and provide them with the tools they needed to ask their legislators to lead the way in ending hunger. In addition to this event, our team spent a considerable amount of time advocating on our 2026 policy agenda.
Here’s what we’re paying attention to at the Statehouse:
Ending Childhood Hunger
Next week is Kansas School Lunch Week, a time to recognize our school nutrition professionals and healthy meals for Kansas students. We urge the legislature to honor this week by supporting access to school meals – not advancing bills that make it harder for children to participate.
We are awaiting formal introduction of a Senate bill drafted by the Revisor’s Office, currently identified as 26rs258. This draft bill would require school districts to verify income eligibility for students participating in the free meal program who do not receive it through direct certification. It would also mandate legislative approval for districts to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). We will be testifying against this bill at its hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency.
To be clear, income verification is already required under federal law. Current regulations require local educational agencies to verify 3% or 3,000 applications, whichever is fewer, and explicitly prohibit exceeding that standard sample size. While states may choose an alternative sample size, federal law does not permit verification of every application. Federal law aside, this bill aims to remove kids from receiving meals at schools and creates an overwhelming administrative burden on school districts. In a time of purported government efficiency, this bill is anything but efficient.
The second part of the bill requires school districts to seek legislative approval to participate in CEP, which provides universal free meals for high-need school districts. Currently 193 Kansas schools participate in this program, including Topeka, Iola, Pittsburg, Parsons, Leavenworth, Independence, and Kansas City, KS. It makes no sense for the legislature to involve themselves in a school district’s decision to participate in a federally available program.
The attack on families who are struggling never seems to end. We’ll keep you posted when we need you to take action on this bill.
Protecting and Expanding Food Assistance Programs
As we expected, the Senate introduced SB 363, which 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 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The result would be more red tape, higher administrative costs, and eligible families losing or delaying benefits. This bill has a hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency. We will be testifying against the bill.
While a lot of this bill codifies OBBBA into state law, it also prohibits the Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment from accepting self-attestation of income, residency, age, household composition, caretaker relative status or receipt of other coverage without verification prior to enrollment. It also expands data matching for food and medical assistance, but most matches already occur more frequently than required or are not usable or feasible, adding red tape without improving eligibility accuracy.
Protecting Access to the Ballot Box
We continue to monitor HB 2438, which would restrict online voter registration to .gov websites and block nonpartisan sites like KSVotes.org. There has not been any movement on this bill yet, but please email your legislators to share your opposition to this harmful and unnecessary legislation here.
HB 2453 was introduced last week, and it would require applications for advance voting ballots be filed by the 14th day prior to election day, as well as shorten the deadline for voter registration to 23 days prior to election day. These proposed bureaucratic changes to voting only make it harder and less accessible for Kansans to vote, and do not make our elections safer. No hearing has been set for this bill.
Supporting Justice-Involved Youth
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary had a hearing yesterday on HB 2329, which would increase the cumulative detention limit for youth, expand criminal penalties, require the reintroduction of youth residential facilities (group homes), use funds from the evidence-based programs account to contract for these beds, and roll back proven justice reforms by diverting funds from evidence-based programs. The Committee received a lot of testimony, so yesterday’s hearing focused on proponents and those with a neutral stance. We submitted opponent testimony, because we know harsher, punitive interventions and unnecessary out-of-home placements don’t help youth or their families, and don’t keep their communities safe. All opponent testimony will be heard on Monday at 10:30am.
Ensuring Fairness in the Adult Justice System
The House Committee on Transportation has a hearing on Monday for HB 2467, which would prohibit convictions or sanctions for failure to comply with a traffic citation more than five years old from being considered by courts and the division of vehicles. It would also eliminate certain notice requirements related to suspended or restricted drivers’ licenses for that division. Kansas Appleseed supports this bill, because everyone deserves an opportunity for a clean slate.
This was a tough week for those of us who believe the government can be a force for good, but we are not deterred in our work. We believe in the power each of us has to hold elected officials accountable. As you hunker down this weekend during the winter storm, I urge you to send an email or make a phone call to your state legislators urging them to use their power to help their constituents thrive.
