Legislative Update: Week Six
Turnaround Week is always a hectic week, with much of the legislature’s time spent on the floor voting on bills that advanced out of committee. Both chambers adjourned for a four day weekend, which gives us time to closely review where the bills we’ve been advocating for – and advocating against – stand. Unfortunately, it was a tough week on issues central to our work. However, because this is the first year of the legislative biennium, many bills not worked in committee this year will be carried over to 2026, which makes us optimistic that we still have pathways for success.
Bills Advancing: These bills are advancing this year, and we’ll continue to monitor them over the next few months.
Improving the Child Welfare System
HB 2075, requiring that a permanency hearing for a child in custody of the secretary be held within nine months from such child’s removal from the home and every six months thereafter. This bill passed out of the House and is headed to the Senate. We support this bill.
HB 2311, prohibiting the secretary from adopting and enforcing policies for placement, custody and appointment of a custodian that may conflict with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity and creating a right of action for violations. This bill passed out of the House and is headed to the Senate. We oppose this bill
Reforming the Justice System
HB 2228, requiring the secretary of corrections to assist inmates with obtaining identification and employment related documentation prior to release from custody. This bill passed out of the House and is headed to the Senate. We support this bill.
HB 2325, authorizing judges to commit youth offenders to detention for technical violations of probation, increasing the cumulative detention limit for youth offenders and increasing criminal penalties for youth offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders. This bill was blessed by leadership and remains alive. We oppose this bill.
HB 2329, providing for increased placement of youth offenders in non-foster home beds in youth residential facilities, requiring the secretary of corrections to pay for the costs associated with such placements and authorizing the secretary to make expenditures from the evidence-based programs account. This bill was blessed by leadership and remains alive. We oppose this bill.
Ending Hunger
HB 2007, the state’s budget, passed out of the House this week. The budget did not include the reduced-price copay for school meals (our proposal to provide free schools for nearly 36,000 students). The Senate will receive the budget next week, and we encourage you to reach out to your senator to tell them to insert this back into the budget.
SB 79, directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance. This bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House. We oppose this bill.
SB 161: Requiring legislative approval prior to any state agency seeking or implementing a public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or increases cost to the state. This bill passed out of the Senate and is headed to the House. We oppose this bill.
SB 254: Prohibiting aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit in accordance with applicable federal law. This bill has a hearing on Thursday, February 27. We oppose this bill.
Protecting the Courts
SCR 1611, proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for direct election of supreme court justices and abolish the supreme court nominating commission. This bill has a hearing on Tuesday, February 25. We oppose this amendment.
Bills Not Advancing This Year: The bills listed below did not advance out of committee, but remain on the calendar for next year.
Improving the Child Welfare System
HB 2076, reducing the authorized amount of days that a child may be placed in a secure facility and eliminating the court’s option to extend such authorization. We support this bill.
HB 2132, modifying the definition of neglect to prohibit the removal of a child due solely to an issue of poverty and requiring more than one demonstrated fact of imminent harm due to a lack of financial resources for removal. We support this bill.
Reforming the Justice System
HB 2178, eliminating the SNAP drug felony ban. We support this bill.
HB 2326, adding consideration of whether an offender has custody of their minor children or if they are a legal guardian or custodian of a minor child to the factors considered for diversion and dispositional departures. We support this bill.
SB 110, prohibiting the use of restraints on youth during hearings unless deemed appropriate by the court. We support this bill.
SB 111, eliminating youth fines and fees. We support this bill.
SB 187, requiring certain records and files be automatically expunged from a youth’s record. We support this bill.
Ending Hunger
HB 2358, a bill requiring able-bodied adults and work registrants without dependents under six years of age to participate in an employment training program as a condition of receiving food assistance. We oppose this bill.
SB 123, providing state general funds for school meals programs and prohibiting local boards from collecting money for such meals. We support this bill.
We are continuing our work to find opportunities we can to keep our issues front and center in the Statehouse and in communities across the state. We are headed back to Topeka on Tuesday and are even more resolved to keep advocating for a compassionate, progressive, and prosperous state – for all!
