Senate education committee hears House bills overview and budget preview ahead of hearings

The Senate Education Committee received a preview on the House'passed education bills and a high-level walkthrough of the House education budget, with committee staff urging members to prepare for three days of budget hearings next week.

A staff member from the advisor's office described three House bills already passed by the House Education Committee: House Bill 2033 (adds certain nonprofit'provided programs accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council to the list of approved at-risk programs), House Bill 2102 (a substitute bill that allows advanced enrollment for military students and corrects a citation in the interstate compact), and House Bill 2185 (amends the Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Act and the Emerge program). The advisor's office also noted House Bill 2120, passed by the House Higher Education Budget Committee, would authorize the State Board of Regents to sell two parcels of real property.

"You should have a memo from the advisor's office that has a chart with all of the nonbudget, education related house bills that have passed as of today and have been referred to a senate committee or should be soon," said the staff member (advisor's office).

Why it matters: Committee members were told the briefing is preparatory; several items will receive fuller consideration in upcoming departmental budget hearings. The House'side actions could shape what the Senate considers during appropriation debates…