Appropriations committee advances budget recommendations for multiple state agencies; KU Medical Center cancer center, KBI headquarters and scholarship changes,

The Committee on Appropriations met and introduced three bills before approving budget committee recommendations for several state agencies, including the Kansas Department of Labor, the Kansas Insurance Department, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (CAPERS), the University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

Representative Francis introduced three bill requests: RS 0580 to change the specialty medical loan program and specialty medical loan repayment fund, RS 0802 on behalf of the Department of Administration relating to employee award and recognition and hiring/recruitment/retention bonuses, and 25 RS 0556 to establish the Kansas Technical College Operating Grant Fund administered by the Kansas Board of Regents. All three bill introductions were seconded and carried by voice vote, with the committee recording the introductions as officially made.

The committee then heard a sequence of budget report-outs and made motions to adopt the budget committee recommendations for each agency.

Department of Labor Chairperson Walsinger summarized the Department of Labor revised 2025 estimate as $2,159,400,000 in expenditures and 446.3 full-time equivalent positions, including $17.8 million from the state general fund (SGF) and $193.8 million from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Walsinger said the agency expects higher unemployment payments in 2025 and requested transfers into unemployment benefits and capital outlay items such as replacement of air‑conditioning units at the Topeka office. The budget committee deleted a $1,000,000 reappropriation for unemployment system training but then added back $445,000 (including $267,000 SGF) to replace three AC units at the Southwest Topeka office and added $1,000,000 from the Kansas Sheltered Workshop Transition Fund to administer a transition grant program required by SB 15 (2024).

Members questioned higher estimates tied to increased claims, hybrid remote-work arrangements, and ongoing customer‑service hold times. Representative Rogers asked whether agencies had returned to in‑office staffing; Walsinger said agencies reported hybrid schedules, and Walsinger said the governor’s office will follow up. Representative Tarwater and others noted the new unemployment system rollout and higher call volume after layoffs and federal identity‑theft safeguards.

Chairperson Walsinger moved the budget committee recommendations for the Department of Labor for fiscal years 2025 and 2026; the motion was seconded by Representative Amick and passed by voice vote.

Kansas Insurance Department Walsinger reported the Kansas Insurance Department requested a revised 2025 estimate of about $44 million from special revenue funds. The department projects increased payments to local units from the State Firefighters Relief Fund, higher building rental and…