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Higher‑education funding adjustments proposed; committee recesses without vote
Summary
Representative Howe presented a package of proposed reductions and language changes across higher‑education budgets, including adjustments to 2‑year student success and apprenticeship funding, technical college grants and several university items. The committee discussed the package and recessed before taking action.
Representative Howe presented a higher‑education adjustment package that would scale back several one‑time and ongoing items across the Kansas Board of Regents system and individual universities.
Howe said the package reduces 2026 funding for 2‑year college student success programs and apprenticeships to 60–75% of FY25 levels, cuts or zeros out specified equipment and grant items, and modifies appropriations for Washburn, Kansas State University, University of Kansas Medical Center and Wichita State. Howe moved the package and Representative Turk seconded; committee members debated the potential impact on community colleges and university programs but did not take a committee vote before the panel recessed for the floor session.
Debate highlights included concern from Representative Estes about the effect of cuts on smaller community colleges and their reliance on locally levied property taxes; Representative Francis noted prior increases in community college funding and warned of cumulative reductions; Representative Amix asked about tuition impacts for families; Representative Howell said the two‑year sector viewed the adjustments as reasonable and noted some funding streams were intended as non‑recurring. Representative Howe said some proposals include language to prohibit transfers from targeted units (for example, K‑State Extension or VetMed) back to main campus.
The committee recessed with the higher‑education package unresolved; the chair announced the panel would reconvene later to finish budget work, and the higher‑education adjustments may be revisited then.
