Appropriations committee advances multiple agency budgets, rejects $10 million for literacy initiative

The House Committee on Appropriations on Jan. not specified advanced recommended budget actions for multiple agencies after budget report-outs from subcommittee chairs, and it rejected a separate motion to add $10 million to the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy for fiscal year 2026.

The committee adopted the Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee recommendations for the Kansas Department of Credit Unions and the office of the State Bank Commissioner, approved the Higher Education subcommittee recommendations for the Kansas Board of Regents (including restorations for two‑year and technical colleges), approved a recommended budget for the State Library, and approved appropriations for the Kansas State School for the Blind and the Kansas School for the Deaf as provided in HB 2007. Separately, a motion by Representative Hoye to add $10 million SGF to the Blueprint for Literacy failed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the actions set funding and proviso priorities that affect community colleges, technical schools, K‑12 literacy initiatives, library grants and state regulatory functions for banking and credit unions. Committee members raised recurring concerns about growing fee fund balances, deferred maintenance at state institutions, and program implementation details for new or expanded initiatives.

Credit unions and bank oversight Chairperson Mosier reported the Agriculture and Natural Resources subcommittee recommended adopting budgets for the Kansas Department of Credit Unions for fiscal years 2025–2027. The department requested…