Committee delays recommendation on governor—s budget after nonprofits press for domestic-violence and child-victim funding

The Committee on General Government Budget voted to delay its recommendation on the Office of the Governor budget until 9 a.m. tomorrow after several nonprofit conferees urged increased state funding for domestic-violence intervention, child advocacy centers and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Legislative Research Department analyst Dylan Deer told the committee that the agency—s FY2025 request totals about $67.2 million, roughly $3.8 million (6 percent) above the approved budget, and that there were no differences between the agency request and HB 2007. "There is no yellow sheet with this budget because there are no differences between the agency request and the, HB 2007," Deer said. He explained a $1.9 million State General Fund reappropriation and itemized timing-related carryovers: roughly $1.1 million for domestic-violence prevention grants, $337,000 for child advocacy center grants, $109,000 for CASA grants and about $367,000 for governor—s office operations.

Deer and agency witnesses also described federal grant timing and a federal funding spike in FY2021 tied to ARPA money that flowed through the governor—s grants office. Deer said the governor—s grants office—s revised FY2025 federal estimate adds about $3.8 million and one FTE to manage grants, and that the office is beginning to wind down the Office of Recovery, deleting five Recovery FTEs in 2025.

Will Lawrence, Governor Kelly—s chief of staff, told the committee the governor—s main office sought a flat operating budget and no enhancements. "We—ve tried to keep this as simple as possible over the years," Lawrence said, adding the recovery office still contains several million dollars in expenditures as it winds down.

A series of nonprofit leaders asked the committee to add state funds to replace declining federal grant dollars and to expand services. Michelle McCormack, Executive Director of the Kansas Coalition Against ****** and Domestic Violence, asked members to view the line item as supporting both prevention and essential crisis intervention services. "These dollars actually are the most comprehensive dollars that support the intervention services as well as prevention," McCormack said, describing helplines, shelter, hospital response and long-term counseling supported by the grants. She requested a $2,000,000 state investment above the House recommendation to address unmet need; she said more than 4,600 Kansans were unable to access shelter in 2024 because programs were at capacity.

Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic and ****** Violence Services in Hays, described the rural service shortage and asked for more funding for housing, mobile advocates and high-risk team protocols. "In my community, in Ellis County, we have a shelter. We have 1 shelter bed for every 5,250 people in northwest Kansas," Hecker said, explaining how lack of shelter often forces survivors back to unsafe situations.

Casey Dahlke, executive director of Children—s Advocacy Centers of Kansas, asked for a $3,800,000 increase: about $3,000,000 to expand services at existing centers and the remainder to establish new centers where none exist. "In 2023, we're serving just around 4,000 children and their families," Dahlke said, and she said 32 percent of the state lacks access to a child advocacy center.

Dina Gage, state director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Kansas, requested just over $1,200,000 to support CASA volunteers who provide one-on-one advocacy for children in the child-welfare system.

Committee members pressed staff and witnesses on the source and timing of federal funds, the mechanics of ARPA commitments and how long grant awards remain available. Representative Lynn Melton asked whether domestic-violence programs were being cut; Deer and witnesses clarified that available money had shifted between federal and state sources and that the legislature had increased SGF support as some federal funds declined.

After the conferee testimony, Representative Turk moved — and Representative Melton seconded — to postpone the committee—s recommendation on the Office of the Governor until tomorrow morning so members could review the aggregate requests and related materials. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The committee did not adopt any appropriation changes on the floor; the action was a postponement to allow further review.