Joint Committee recommends HB 2007 budget items for multiple state agencies; large correctional proposal highlighted

The Joint Committee on State Building Construction on Wednesday recommended House Bill 2007 budget allocations for a long list of state agencies for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 and approved each recommendation by voice vote. Committee members also discussed capital requests from the Department of Administration and a major capital proposal from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The committee voted—by voice, without a roll call—to recommend HB 2007 funding packages for the State Historical Society, Board of Regents and its universities and medical center (including the University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical Center), Wichita State University, Kansas State University and related entities (veterinary medical center, extension and agricultural research), Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, and other listed institutions for both FY2025 and FY2026 where noted. Members also approved a recommendation to permit debt payments for the Kansas State Extension Systems and Agricultural Research Program for FY2025.

Why this matters: the committee’s recommendations feed into the Legislature’s final appropriation process and set funding priorities for campus repairs, capital projects and a handful of major projects that would require separate debt or bond actions if pursued.

Key details from the meeting

- Curtis House purchase: Jennifer Light, fiscal analyst for the State Historical Society, told the committee that the $300,000 for the Curtis House purchase “was included in an omnibus bill last year for the 300,000 SGF,” and that the society is finishing title work and moving to complete the purchase. The committee voted to recommend the Historical Society budgets for FY2025 and FY2026.

- ARPA deadlines and Department of Administration projects: Steven Wu, fiscal analyst with the Legislative Research Department, summarized the Department of Administration capital requests and debt-service schedule and deferred project questions to Frank Burnham, deputy secretary of operations. Burnham confirmed that ARPA-funded procurements were “obligated or encumbered by December 31, 2024,” and that those obligations must be spent by the end of 2026.

- Kansas Department of Corrections capital requests: Department of Corrections staff presented an extensive list of capital requests the agency said it had included in its estimate. Notable items included a $453,000,000 SGF request to build a new Hutchinson Correctional Facility; $20,000,000 in matching funds the department seeks for the Lansing Career Campus to leverage an additional $20,000,000 in private donations (the Legislature previously appropriated $10,000,000 for FY2024 and $10,000,000 for FY2025); and multiple requests for facility rehabilitation, demolition of selected old Lansing buildings, and new warehouses and service buildings. Committee members flagged financing questions and noted that debt-service arrangements would be addressed through separate processes if those projects move forward.

- Mill levy and building fund clarifications: Committee members asked staff to clarify how one mill and one-half mill translate into statewide revenue. Staff and members discussed that the Educational Building Fund is tied to a one-mill levy and the State Institutions Building Fund to one-half mill; Representative Francisco and staff estimated roughly $50,000,000 statewide for one mill and about $25,000,000 for one-half mill. Committee staff said they would confirm statutory limits and any caps affecting the Correctional Institutions Building Fund; an LRD analyst noted that “by statute there is no maximum amount” for that fund, though appropriations practice can create practical limits.

- KU Medical Center bonding noted: A committee member pointed out that HB 2007 includes authorization to bond up to $100,000,000 for KU Medical Center’s cancer center renovation, equipment and development; that authorization was raised in committee discussion though the bonding mechanism would require separate debt-action processes.

- Judicial branch requests: Molly Pratt, fiscal analyst, summarized that the judicial branch seeks continued funding for a garden-level reconfiguration and a Judicial Learning Center. Cheryl Semmel, director of government relations for the Kansas Supreme Court, said the $300,000 included in the branch’s five-year capital plan was planned for expenditures in the current year and that additional detail would be provided to committee members.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendations on HB 2007)

- State Historical Society — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - Adjunct General (as listed in packet) — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - Kansas Board of Regents — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - University of Kansas — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - University of Kansas Medical Center — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026 (committee noted $100,000,000 bonding authorization in the bill): approved (voice vote). - Wichita State University — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - Kansas State University — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - Kansas State Veterinary Medical Center — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026: approved (voice vote). - Kansas State Extension Systems and Agricultural Research Program — Approve debt payment for FY2025: approved (voice vote). - Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University — Recommend HB 2007 budgets for FY2025 and FY2026 where listed: approved (voice vote). - KDADS (Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services) — Recommend HB 2007 for FY2025 and the revised FY2026 package that added $12,000,000 for Sedgwick County Hospital: approved (voice vote).

What the committee did not finalize

Several agency presentations (notably the Department of Administration’s detailed capital schedule and the Department of Corrections’ full capital package) were presented for committee review but the committee indicated it would hold formal motions for the next meeting in some cases. Committee members requested follow-up detail on ARPA interest and eligibility, debt-service timing and options for financing very large projects such as the proposed Hutchinson facility.

Members and staff said they would circulate clarifying materials and one-page summaries where needed; the committee recessed with plans to reconvene on a rescheduled date.