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House committee advances SB 44 to expand eligible institutions and boost Promise Scholarship cap to $15 million
Summary
Committee members discussed expanding the Kansas Promise Scholarship’s eligible institutions (including for‑profit providers) and raised questions about income eligibility thresholds; the committee voted to report the bill favorably for passage in committee.
The House Education Committee discussed and voted to report favorably Senate Bill 44, which amends the Kansas Promise Scholarship statute to expand the definition of eligible postsecondary institutions and raises the program's annual appropriation cap from $10 million to $15 million.
Jason (reviser), identified by the committee as the reviser/staff explaining the bill, told members the change would include institutions “that have a main campus or principal place of operation in Kansas and … offer a promise eligible program recognized by the State Board of Regents and is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency for higher education.” He also said the Senate amendment increases the annual appropriation limit from $10,000,000 up to $15,000,000.
During discussion Representative Stockstill asked whether the new definition would include for‑profit institutions. Jason replied that the new definition “does not specify whether the institution has to be for‑profit or not for‑profit. So it would include, I believe, for‑profit institutions.” Representative Wolff asked how “high wage, high demand, critical need” jobs are defined; Jason said the State Board of Regents, in coordination with the Department of Labor, identifies those jobs and he offered to verify details.
Committee members also questioned the origin of the household‑income thresholds in the statute; Jason said those figures are existing law from the original Promise Scholarship enactment and that staff would track when they became law. The transcript records the eligibility language read into the record: Kansas Promise scholarship shall only be awarded to an eligible student whose family household income equals $100,000 or less for a family of 1 or 2; $150,000 or less for a family of 3; and for households above 3, income equal to the family of 3 amount plus $4,800 for each additional family member.
Representative McNorton moved to report the bill favorably for passage and Representative Hill seconded. The chair called for all those in favor to say “aye”; the motion carried and the committee advanced the bill.
The committee discussion emphasized the program’s workforce‑development intent and whether expanded institutional eligibility might raise concerns for some traditional community college providers. Members supporting the bill framed it as a workforce development tool to help Kansans obtain credentials for high‑demand jobs; critics asked for detail on income thresholds and how expansion would affect program oversight.
Action: motion to report favorably for passage (mover: Representative McNorton; second: Representative Hill) — committee voice vote; chair announced the motion carries.
