Budget bills are through both the Kansas House and Senate. Now it’s time for conference committee members to sort through the details and hammer out a final version.
The House package, HB 2434, came out first, including almost $11 billion in the State General Fund and nearly $27 billion in total spending for fiscal 2027 starting July 1 — reflecting a 4.6 percent increase in all funds and almost 1 percent in the State General Fund from the current fiscal year. 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber says two components connected to education were among the reasons he voted in favor.
Among other components, the House bill:
*Adds a net increase of $1.3 million in State General Funds to the Office of Early Childhood
*Adds over $12 million in State General Funds for SNAP administration
*Adds almost $29 million in funds for technical and community colleges
*Adds over $75 million in funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and over $40 million for HCBS Frail Elderly waivers
*Withholds $12 million in State General Funds from universities pending certifications on DEI requirements
*Moves $21.5 million in State General Funds from Cooperative Extension Services to the State Finance Council pending certifications of reorganization plans to “meet the needs of the agricultural industry”
Schreiber says tough decisions remain ahead on the budget, especially in light of the February tax revenue report demonstrating overall collections missed last year’s numbers by over 7.5 percent and estimates by over 10 percent.
Senate Bill 315, meanwhile, sets up $10.8 billion for the State General Fund and $26.8 billion in total spending in fiscal 2027, down 3.4 percent for the general fund and 3.7 percent overall but up in both categories from the original bill. The Senate version:
*Authorizes funding and full-time-equivalent positions transferred from Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Children and Families and State Department of Education to the Office of Early Childhood
*Adds almost $19 million in State General Funds for technical and community colleges
*Adds over $56 million for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and almost $50 million for the HCBS Frail Elderly waiver
Neither budget version passed with veto-proof majorities. The Senate vote was 21-19, with 17th District Senator Mike Argabright of Olpe in favor. The House vote was 68-53. Besides Schreiber, 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Brad Barrett of Osage City both voted yes.
