Ways and Means panel restores juvenile and corrections funding, advances agency budgets

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means voted to restore multiple previously lapsed appropriations and advance several state agency budgets, with committee members saying the moves preserve programming and staffing while consolidating certain debt-service items.

The panel voted to return $10,000,000 that the House had lapsed back to the juvenile justice Evidence-Based Program Fund, to restore $4,084,496 lapsed from the Department of Corrections for fiscal 2025 and $906,795 for fiscal 2026, and to return $1,300,000 lapsed from the Kansas Sentencing Commission. The committee also advanced budgets for the Kansas Corporation Commission, the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board, the Department of Administration and the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The restorations were introduced in separate motions. Senator Owens moved to return the $10,000,000 to the Evidence-Based Program Fund, arguing the fund supports community programming created after prior juvenile justice reforms. "My first motion, as it relates to the JJOC fund, is to return the 10,000,000 that was lapsed in 2025 back to the JJOC evidence based program fund," Senator Owens said during debate.

Senator Owens also moved to restore the lapsed Department of Corrections amounts, citing staffing shortages the department experienced during the COVID-19 period and the state's prior use of contracted out-of-state beds. "We allocated $40,000,000 to pay a contract prison in Arizona to house a number of our inmates," Owens said, arguing that restoring the lapsed funds would reduce the risk of returning to contract placements.

Senator Fagg moved that the Kansas Corporation Commission budget for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 pass out favorably; Senator Peterson seconded the motion and the committee approved the budget by voice vote. Fagg later moved that the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board budget for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 also pass out favorably; that motion was seconded and approved.

On the Department of Administration budget, committee members discussed several items the House had restored in its green-sheet adjustments, including reappropriations for a licensing portal, grants for security at Jewish centers of worship, and a $26,000,000 enhancement for ERV (enterprise resource/vendor) modernization funded from ARPA state relief for the first year. The Department of Administration's debt service was also a topic: the committee heard that multiple previously authorized projects will be consolidated into a single Series 2025A bond issuance carrying an estimated $10,300,000 SGF debt service impact in fiscal 2026. Adam Proffitt, Secretary of Administration, told the committee the bonds are "new issuance" approved by the 2024 Legislature and that pricing would be determined in forthcoming market transactions.

The committee flagged a low-cost arrangement for press office space in the state capitol, prompting questions from senators about whether the Department of Administration should renegotiate rent. "I just don't think the taxpayers... are only charging $100 a year for the press to write stories about you that frequently are inaccurate," Senator Peck said, referencing testimony that press space was leased at about $8.33 per month.

The Kansas Sentencing Commission had one fiscal 2026 request to add $1,100,000 SGF for provider rate increases related to a prior legislative action. Committee members voted to return $1,300,000 that had been lapsed so the commission's enhancement requests would not be necessary.

The Kansas Department of Transportation saw a series of restorations to salary and FTE items that the House had previously restored in its version of HB 2007; committee members accepted those changes and indicated no additional amendments were needed.

Votes at a glance - Kansas Corporation Commission budget (FY2025 & FY2026): motion to pass favorably by Senator Fagg; seconded by Senator Peterson; approved by voice vote (motion carries). - Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board budget (FY2025 & FY2026): motion to pass favorably by Senator Fagg; seconded by Senator Petersen; approved by voice vote (motion carries). - Department of Administration budget (FY2026 consolidation and restorations including Series 2025A debt service): motion to pass as presented; approved by voice vote (motion carries). - Evidence-Based Program Fund (JJOC): motion to return $10,000,000 lapsed in FY2025 to the fund (mover: Senator Owens); motion carried by voice vote. - Department of Corrections restorations: motion to return $4,084,496 (FY2025) and $906,795 (FY2026) lapsed funds (mover: Senator Owens); motion carried by voice vote. Committee deferred separate consideration of a 1.5% across-the-board reduction for a later day. - Kansas Sentencing Commission: motion to return $1,300,000 lapsed funds (mover: Senator Owens); motion carried by voice vote. - Kansas Department of Transportation: House restorations to salaries/FTEs accepted; no further amendments.

Why it matters: The committee's restorations preserve program funding for community juvenile interventions, corrections staffing and medical/food contracts, and treatment options administered through the Sentencing Commission. Consolidating debt-service obligations into the Department of Administration centralizes bond servicing and creates a defined SGF debt-service request tied to Series 2025A bonds.

The committee scheduled additional work on KDADS and KDHE for the next day and adjourned.