Judicial Council seeks $5,000 hospitality authority and funds for publications and portals

The Committee reviewed a budget presentation for the Judicial Council. Molly Pratt, fiscal analyst, said the Judicial Council — a 10‑member body created to study and recommend improvements to Kansas’ legal system — is not requesting a change to its FY2026 SGF allocation (approximately $743,000) but is asking for $5,000 in official hospitality spending authority for FY2027 to provide beverage and lunch expenses for in‑person advisory and committee meetings that are longer than three hours.

Pratt said the agency’s move from fee funding to state general fund support in FY2024 changed budget presentation and that the requested hospitality authority would not increase the council’s recommended SGF allocation for FY2027; rather, it would authorize expenditures for in‑person meetings. Pratt also described adjustments for website hosting fees and the planned implementation of an online payment portal for publication sales, as well as increased print/bindery expenses to support distribution of four publications rather than three.

Laura Nordgren, the new executive director, explained the size and variability of the Judicial Council’s pattern jury instruction binders and that printing costs can fluctuate depending on supplements; she said binders and supplements are also offered online for a fee and that the office of judicial administration purchases copies for judges and attorneys.

Representative Riley asked whether the council’s meetings are open to the public; Nordgren said they are and offered to provide sign‑up information to committee staff. The committee did not take a formal vote on the hospitality request during the session.