Week 2 of the 2025 legislative session is in the books. The legislature has introduced 184 bills. KNEA is tracking 27 of those bills. We’ve testified on 3 bills.
We hit the ground running with the issue of property taxes. The epic tax battle between Governor Kelly and the GOP appears to continue. One of the first bill hearings of the session was a constitutional amendment (SCR 1603) to limit property evaluation growth to 3% a year. KNEA testified in opposition to the proposal. This bill sailed out of the Senate Tax Committee and could be debated anytime in the full Senate.
The House is working rapidly on the issue of property taxes as well. The House Tax Committee had a hearing on a bill (HB 2011) that would lower property taxes. KNEA testified as neutral to this bill with strong words of caution in our testimony. This revenue stream is directly reserved for public education. The legislature wants to shift that burden to the state general fund, which is comprised mainly of income and sales tax revenue. This is not ideal.
As the week was wrapping up, it looked like it might be relatively light next week. That was wishful thinking. Late Thursday afternoon, we received word that the legislature would be hearing both a voucher bill and a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors on Tuesday. We will be providing written testimony and having members testify before the committees.
Notable Committee Membership and Activity
The House Committee on Education
Meeting Time: 1:30 p.m.
Room: Statehouse, 218-N
Chair: Rep. Susan Estes
Vice Chair: Rep. Kyle McNorton
Ranking Democrat: Rep. Jerry Stogsdill
Activity in the Week of January 20
The Committee met on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The meetings were informational in nature. They heard from Commissioner of Education Randy Watson. Watson gave a literacy update. They also listened to a presentation on school Cardiac Emergency Response plans. This included presenters from the American Heart Association. The Committee also heard from the Midwest Higher Education Compact President, Susan Heegaard.
These committee meetings can be viewed by navigating the calendar at the following link: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Month/20250124/-1
Learn more about the House Committee on Education, including bills now in committee and committee makeup, here: https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_ed_1/
The House Committee on Higher Education Budget
Meeting Time: 1:30 p.m.
Room: Statehouse, 281-N
Chair: Rep. Steven Howe
Vice Chair: Rep. Clarke Sanders
Ranking Democrat: Rep. Mike Amyx
Activity in the Week of January 20
The Committee met on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for hearings on several budget requests including budgets for the State Historical Society, The Kansas State Library, Community Colleges, Technical colleges, and private colleges.
These committee meetings can be viewed by navigating the calendar at the following link: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Month/20250124/-1
Learn more about the House Higher Education Budget Committee, including bills now in committee and committee makeup, here: https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_higher_education_budget_1/
The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Meeting Time: 3:30 p.m.
Room: Statehouse, 546-S
Chair: Rep. Jason Goetz
Vice Chair: Rep. Scott Hill
Ranking Democrat: Rep. Valdenia Winn
Activity in the Week of January 20
The Committee met on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for budget hearings for the Kansas School for the Deaf and the Kansas School for the Blind. The Deputy Commissioner of Education, Frank Harwood, also gave a presentation on the state of education in Kansas.
These committee meetings can be watched by navigating the calendar at the following link: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Month/20250124/-1
Learn more about the House Committee on K-12 Budget, including bills now in committee and committee makeup, here: https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_k12_education_budget_1/
The Senate Education Committee
Meeting Time: 1:30 p.m.
Room: Statehouse, 144-S
Chair: Sen. Renee Erickson
Vice Chair: Sen. Adam Thomas
Ranking Democrat: Sen. Dinah Sykes
Activity in the Week of January 20
The Committee met on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. They heard presentations on Special Education, the Midwest Higher Education Compact, and a non-partisan overview of school funding.
These committee meetings are available for viewing by navigating the calendar at the following link: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Month/20250124/-1
Learn more about the Senate Education Committee, including bills now in committee and committee makeup, here: https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/
KNEA Testimony Week of January 20
HB 2011 – Decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district
HB 2033 – Including programs and services provided by nonprofit organizations accredited by the international multi-sensory structured Language Education Council as approved at-risk educational programs.
By: Tim Graham, Government Relations
