House committee approves bill creating continuing appropriations as a stopgap if budgets fail

The House Committee of the Whole voted to report Senate Bill 14 favorably as amended after extended floor debate. SB 14 would establish a statutory mechanism for continuing appropriations to carry forward from the prior year in the event the legislature cannot enact a new appropriations act that survives a gubernatorial veto. Sponsors described the provision as a backstop to avoid furloughs and service interruptions during budget impasses; opponents warned it could lessen incentives to pass a timely budget and create legal and implementation questions for school finance, Medicaid caseloads and one-time expenditures.

Representative Hoffman, bill carrier, said the measure would permit appropriations from the prior year (minus one-time items) to continue if a newly passed budget is vetoed and that continuing resolution would remain in effect until legislators pass a new budget. Hoffman said the provision aims to prevent furloughs and service interruptions.

Representative Barbara Ballard opposed the bill on principle, arguing Kansas has historically passed budgets each year and the bill could encourage failure to agree; Ballard said SB 14 "would bring the absolute worst in terms of negotiating" and compared the approach unfavorably to federal continuing resolutions. Representative Helgerson offered an amendment that would withhold pay for the legislature and governor during the period continuing appropriations are in effect; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and sponsors discussed unanswered legal questions and potential lawsuits, notably in school finance, that could arise from the statute.

Other members pressed on operational details including whether one-time expenditures would be carried forward (they would not), how long a continuing appropriation could last (it would continue until a new budget is enacted), and how the secretary of administration could implement adjustments in the face of reduced federal funds. Several members voiced concerns that the bill could create disincentives to complete the budget within the regular session; others argued the stopgap avoids furloughs for state workers. Representative Hoffman moved to report SB 14 favorably as amended; the motion passed on a voice vote.