Ways and Means roundup: committee adopts a slate of budget provisos, funding shifts and procedural positions

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on May 20 considered and voted on numerous procedural and substantive budget provisos, adopting a package of motions that will form the Senate's negotiating positions in conference with the House.

Committee members approved motions on a range of issues, including a deletion from the pay-plan adjustment, new language on lapsing FTE (full-time equivalent) funding, technical amendments for the Board of Regents, limits and investment authority for the budget stabilization ("rainy day") fund, and a number of funding source and reappropriation clarifications across agencies. Several narrowly contested or procedural motions failed after debate.

Why this matters: the committee's votes set the Senate's official positions heading into conference with the House on HB 2007 (the budget bill) and related provisos, affecting state agency budgets, special grants and how certain funds may be invested or spent.

Key outcomes

- Salary adjustment: The committee adopted Senator Klase's motion to delete $1.6 million (including $1.5 million SGF) tied to a 1% step adjustment for positions more than 10% above market; the motion was seconded by Senator Owens and carried.

- Lapsing FTEs: Senators approved a Klase motion that would require agencies to lapse funding for positions that remain vacant during the fiscal year; the idea was framed as an accounting/transparency change rather than a hiring freeze.

- Board of Regents: Technical amendments and new no-limit fund language for use of incoming federal or other funds (including reappropriation language and reconciliations for specific campus items) were approved after clarifying questions; duplication for one Fort Hays item was identified and handled.

- Rainy day fund and investments: The committee voted to cap the budget stabilization fund at $1.75 billion, authorize the state treasurer to invest amounts exceeding 50% of that cap in KPERS, and direct interest above the cap into the State General Fund. A related proviso to suspend the 2025 transfer to the budget stabilization fund was also approved (then modified to apply to 2025 only after later clarification).

- KBI proviso: A motion adding language to allow bonding authority to include purchase of land for the KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) new facilities passed without opposition.

- Judiciary / Larned fire equipment: The committee adopted language restoring $500,000 to the judiciary budget so that funding for Larned fire equipment would come from SGF rather than the judiciary budget.

- Commerce / EDIF & Sunflower Summer: The committee restored four previously-zeroed Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) items and specifically resumed funding for the Sunflower Summer program at $3 million (up from the House position of $1 million), prompting policy debate over sunsetting and means-testing.

- Community colleges: A motion to cut certain two-year college items to zero (making them conferenceable) failed after extended debate; multiple senators argued the cuts would leave rural and technical programs deeply underfunded.

- Conservation district aid: The committee added $1.75 million from the State Water Plan Fund to the conservation district aid account to match language in SB 36.

- Capitol press office rent: The committee adopted a motion to change how non-state entities occupying office space in the Capitol are charged, increasing the fee structure (the motion passed on voice vote after discussion about press access and the role of local media).

- JAG-K funding: The committee approved shifting $10.9 million in JAG-K (Jobs for America's Graduates-Kansas) funding so the program would be funded through the Department of Education rather than the Department for Children and Families and Department of Corrections.

- Kansas Lottery sports-wagering contract: The committee added language preventing use of the fund to enter or renew a contract until state negotiators ensure terms favor the state and maximize revenue; motion approved.

- Cheney Lake Marina / DWP: The committee approved a $200,000 ARPA-interest grant for the Cheney Lake marina to address dock repairs and prevent imminent collapse.

- Kansas Highway Patrol training center: The committee restored $1,000,000 in repairs for the Salina training academy but substituted the State Highway Fund as the funding source rather than ARPA interest; that substitute passed.

What the votes do not do

Most votes set the Senate's negotiation position. Few measures created new ongoing programs; many were technical, reappropriation or funding-source clarifications. Several proposals were explicitly left for conference negotiation with the House.

Where debate centered

Debate focused on fiscal tradeoffs (which programs to restore or zero out), the proper source of funding (SGF, ARPA interest, fee funds or special funds), and policy questions such as whether tourism subsidies (Sunflower Summer) should be continued without sunset provisions or means tests and whether community colleges and rural training programs had already been cut too deeply.

Ending note

Committee staff will incorporate the adopted amendments into the Senate's substitute for the House budget bill for printing and distribution. The committee recessed after a roll call to finalize the package.