Appropriations Committee advances multiple FY2026–FY2027 agency budgets, holds ARPA reallocation pending

The Committee on Appropriations met to consider budget report‑outs and voted to approve recommended FY2026 and FY2027 budgets for a series of state agencies.

Chairman Anderson presented budgets for the Emergency Medical Services Board, reporting a FY2026 revised estimate of $3,200,000 from special revenue funds — an increase of $45,672 from the approved level due to contractual services, equipment replacement and grant carryovers offset by $114,364 in vacancy savings. Anderson later moved approval of the EMS budgets for FY2026–FY2027; Representative Hoye seconded and the motion passed.

The committee added a one‑time $2,000,000 SGF mapping grant as an adjustment to the State 9‑1‑1 Board’s FY2027 recommendation, describing the grant as year two of a planned three‑year effort to complete GIS mapping for school safety after more than 400 schools applied in year one. Chairman Anderson moved the 9‑1‑1 budget and the motion passed.

Chairman Anderson also presented the Kansas Seapost and explained that recent salary and staffing changes — including a new investigator position — account for near‑term budget volatility. The Seapost budgets for FY2026–FY2027 were moved and approved.

Chairperson Mosher detailed the Kansas State Fair requests, including a FY2026 package that sought SGF support for lighting and shuttle/tent reimbursements and a FY2027 request featuring $750,000 for partial livestock barn upgrades toward an estimated $1.5 million project. The House committee restored $220,300 in previously approved ARPA funds to finish the lighting project; the committee approved the State Fair budgets but held further ARPA reallocations pending a dedicated ARPA update scheduled for the next meeting.

Committee members also reviewed fee‑funded agencies and accounts: the Board of Mortuary Arts (3 FTE), the Health Care Stabilization Fund (noting rising claims and investment issues), the Board of Nursing and the Board of Pharmacy. On the Board of Pharmacy matter, members discussed the loss of a Harold Rogers federal grant that previously funded a KTrax integrator and confirmed the agency will continue seeking federal grants rather than substituting SGF.

Votes at a glance: - EMS Board FY2026–FY2027 — moved by Chairman Anderson; seconded by Representative Hoye; motion passed. - State 9‑1‑1 Board FY2026–FY2027 — moved by Chairman Anderson; motion passed (committee added $2,000,000 SGF mapping grant for FY2027). - Kansas Seapost FY2026–FY2027 — moved by Chairman Anderson; motion passed. - Kansas State Fair FY2026–FY2027 — moved by Chairperson Mosher; motion passed (House added $220,300 in ARPA funds for lighting; $400,000 SGF added for livestock barn contingent on private match certification by 06/01/2027). - Board of Mortuary Arts — committee concurred and motion passed. - Health Care Stabilization Fund — committee concurred with adjustments; debate centered on rising claim volumes and fund performance. - Board of Nursing FY2026–FY2027 — approved as amended (see separate coverage of the nurse fund proviso). - Board of Pharmacy FY2026–FY2027 — moved by Chairman Bueller; motion passed.

Why it matters: these committee approvals advance agency budgets to the next stages of the legislative process, allocate both fee and state general funds, and set conditions (such as the livestock barn match and the temporary mapping grant) that affect local safety initiatives and capital projects.

Committee adjourned with reminders of an upcoming ARPA update and a briefing from the Midwest Higher Education Compact.