Kansas lawmakers took two separate steps to finalize the state’s budget — and move towards ending the current veto session — with votes Friday.
Lawmakers started by finishing a public school funding plan. The bill, which finalizes funding through 2023, has recommended increases from Governor Laura Kelly getting funded through the state general fund instead of federal COVID-19 dollars. It also expands private school funding to a degree — but it avoids using a controversial savings account program towards that end. On top of that, it restricts the number of hours schools can use remote learning.
Later, lawmakers passed an omnibus spending bill with higher education as one of the key components. The bill adds over $50 million to higher education. That may not be enough, however, to meet a federal mandate saying higher education spending needs to be at least close to past levels. If the state can’t get a waiver from the federal government, it may have to add another $43 million to higher education.
The bill increases the judicial budget by close to $20 million, with much of that going to higher salaries or more employees. Lawmakers did not approve pay raises for other departments.
In addition, the bill upgrades the Kansas Department of Labor’s unemployment benefits system.
Lawmakers banned so-called “vaccine passports” — electronic records that let residents prove their vaccination status and could be used to attend businesses or large-scale public activities like concerts, festivals and sporting events.
