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Board hires Little Government Relations as Topeka liaison; firm warns of accelerated 2025 session and new legislative budget approach
Summary
The board’s legislative committee introduced Stuart Little and Mallory Lutz of Little Government Relations. The firm briefed the board on an accelerated legislative calendar, a shift toward a legislative baseline budget and multiple K‑12 funding policy items to watch, and board members said they will work to keep families informed.
The Olathe Board of Education introduced Stuart Little and Mallory Lutz of Little Government Relations as the district’s legislative liaison in Topeka and heard a preview of the 2025 Kansas legislative session, including an expedited schedule and changes to the budget process that could reshape school funding discussions.
During a presentation to the board, Stuart Little said the 2025 session will move quickly and called attention to a new approach in which the legislature will produce a baseline legislative budget and then consider additions to that base. "We're probably going to cut a month off the legislative session...everything will go very quickly," Little said, describing a compressed timeline for moving policy and budget items through each chamber.
Little and Mallory Lutz outlined several K‑12 topics the district will track: a multi‑year K‑12 funding task force that could reshape the state funding formula, special‑education funding and related parental‑movement provisions, the nonpublic scholarship program and charter/authorization questions, and items tied to parental participation, curriculum materials and suspension/expulsion policy. Little noted that committee chairs changed and that several new committee chairs now represent the Kansas City metro and Johnson County area, a factor he said the district should consider in outreach.
Board process and community outreach
Board member Miss Steele (introduced the presentation) said the board’s legislative committee vetted the contract and recommended Little Government Relations because of the firm’s experience and balance. Board member Miss Reagan said she looks forward to working with the firm and emphasized the board’s role in helping the district’s families understand Topeka decisions and how those votes affect the Olathe attendance area.
Why this matters
Little advised the board to expect rapid floor deadlines (roughly three to four weeks per chamber for most bills) and to be prepared for political dynamics including a legislature with a strong majority party. He warned that the shift to a legislative baseline budget could reframe how additions to the governor’s budget are discussed in Topeka.
Next steps
Little Government Relations offered to return with ongoing updates during the session and to work with district leadership and the board to keep the community informed. Board members asked how task force hearings will be broadcast and discussed stakeholder outreach during the session. No board action beyond the informational briefing was recorded at the meeting.
