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Adjutant General and KDEM ask Legislature for state disaster funds as federal support wanes
Summary
The Adjutant General's Department and Kansas Division of Emergency Management told the Senate Ways and Means Committee the state needs reappropriated disaster funds and supplemental support as federal emergency management funding declines.
Kyle Anderson, fiscal analyst with the Legislative Research Department, summarized the Adjutant General's budget and the KDEM supplemental and enhancement requests tied to disaster reimbursements and federal funding levels.
Lieutenant Colonel Keith Marshall described the state disaster fund mechanics: when a federally declared disaster is approved by FEMA, projects are submitted and paid; typically FEMA provides 75% of eligible public-assistance costs, the state provides 10% and the locality 15%. The Adjutant General requested a $1,600,000 supplemental in FY2025 to cover the state's portion of projects currently pending reimbursement and said the agency annually requests state disaster funds to cover the state's cost-share for ongoing and appealed FEMA projects.
Marshall and department staff told the committee federal appropriations for emergency management have been constrained in recent congressional cycles as other homeland-security priorities received larger shares of the Homeland Security appropriation. The agency requested $2,300,000 in FY2026 state disaster funds paired with $17,250,000 in expected federal funds tied to declared disasters and project reimbursements.
Angie Morgan, Deputy Director at KDEM, clarified FEMA program categories: hazard mitigation, individual assistance (for people), and public assistance for municipalities, counties and certain nonprofits. She explained that when insurance covers damage the insurance payment is deducted from FEMA-eligible costs and FEMA makes final eligibility determinations; public-assistance projects (categories A–G) pay for debris management, emergency protective measures and permanent work like roads and culverts.
Marshall told senators disasters in Kansas increased in recent years: four federally declared disasters in 2024 and nine state activations that did not rise to federal thresholds. He told the committee adequate state disaster funds are important to reduce delays in recovery when federal funding is limited or delayed.
Committee members asked about specifics of eligible projects and how the state cost share is applied. KDEM staff said many projects can take years to finalize because of appeals and documentation and that the state appropriation smooths cash flows for local governments while FEMA completes its reimbursement process. The committee did not take a vote in this hearing.
