Kansas Board of Regents and university presidents outline FY2026 requests: student affordability, cybersecurity, K‑State 105, veterinary funding among top asks

Kansas Board of Regents staff and the presidents of the state’s public universities presented detailed FY2026 budget requests and system priorities to the Senate Ways and Means committee after the committee completed preliminary amendment votes on HB 2,007.

Brianna Horton, fiscal analyst for higher education in the legislative staff, gave an overview of the Regents’ portion of HB 2,007 and listed the Board’s supplemental and enhancement requests. Horton said the Board’s FY 2026 enhancement package includes a major student affordability request and a set of capital and operating initiatives. "The agency requests $90,100,000 SGF for KBOR student affordability," Horton said, and she outlined the proposed allocation: $46,000,000 for system‑wide cost increases; $27,500,000 for the SGF pay plan increase; $14,400,000 for need‑based aid; $1,800,000 for market pay adjustments at Washburn University; and $200,000 for open educational resources.

Horton also summarized other Regents requests included as enhancements or supplemental items: $10,000,000 for IT and cybersecurity, $10,000,000 for continued investment in two‑year colleges, $6,400,000 for the NIST playbook (student success playbooks), $11,700,000 for student success initiatives at two‑year colleges, funding requests for Washburn labs and operating grant enhancements, $51,000,000 for a joint research initiative called "1 Health" among the three research universities, $21,000,000 for regional growth and development (split among Emporia State, Pittsburg State and Fort Hays State), $5,000,000 for a K‑State 105 initiative, and requests for community college capital outlay and a pilot program for skilled workforce education ("Hired") among others.

University leaders followed Horton’s presentation with institution‑level remarks and additional requests. Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason highlighted regional needs and asked the committee to support part of the Regents’ regional university package. Mason said Fort Hays experienced long enrollment growth prior to the pandemic but now faces persistent funding gaps. "I am not here asking for funding to close the gap, but I'm asking that we have some progress in terms of the board supported request of the $8,000,000 and the corresponding dollars for the other regionals," Mason said, describing plans to use additional dollars for technology, labs, workforce initiatives and affordability.

Kansas State University President Richard Linton described K‑State 105, a multicounty outreach and economic growth initiative that the university requests to continue at $5,000,000. Linton said the program had reported early metrics including hundreds of businesses engaged and hundreds of jobs created in the first reporting period. He also sought $7,500,000 recurring for the College of Veterinary Medicine to address operational shortfalls and facility needs.

University of Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod (transcript name variant) emphasized KU’s research and workforce role and highlighted the state investment in the KU Cancer Center: the university reported a $75,000,000 state match (leveraged with philanthropy and federal support) to create a consolidated cancer research and clinical facility. Girod said the resulting project would consolidate research now spread across multiple buildings and attract additional federal and private investment.

Wichita State President Richard Muma described growth in applied research and partnerships, including aviation and biomedical projects, and noted WSU’s interest in exploring an oral health (dental) education program and a feasibility study for a dental school. Emporia State President Ken Hush, Pittsburg State President Dan Shipp and WSU and K‑State leaders each summarized campus priorities tied to Regents requests: facility renovations, student success initiatives, workforce training and targeted scholarships. Emporia State noted a nursing facility nearing completion after prior bonding, and Pittsburg State highlighted recent investments in research equipment that helped attract a private employer to its research park.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about FTE changes, particular projects and timelines. Senators indicated they would reserve more detailed questions until after all presentations were complete and staff provided supplemental lists and materials.

The presentations provide the Senate with a detailed accounting of Regents and institutional asks the committee will confront in conference negotiations on HB 2,007, including a large student affordability package, cybersecurity and infrastructure requests, targeted regional investments and recurring asks for compensation and specialized program expansion.

Quotes in this article are taken verbatim from the committee transcript and are attributed to the speakers who made them during the committee meeting.