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Panel approves FY2026 indigent defense funding; $800,000 pay-parity bid for FY2027 fails
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Summary
The committee approved FY2026 and FY2027 budget recommendations for the State Board of Indigent Defense Services that add $1 million for expert witnesses and a small IT security allocation; a substitute to add $800,000 for attorney pay parity failed on a voice vote.
The committee moved and approved the State Board of Indigent Defense Services (SBIDS) budget recommendations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, adding $1,000,000 for expert witness caseloads and $75,500 for IT security cell phones for FY2026 and the same $1,000,000 expert witness allocation for FY2027. The motion for FY2026 carried on a voice vote, and the committee later approved FY2027 on the original motion after a failed substitute.
Representative Hoye proposed a substitute motion to add $800,000 to FY2027 “for fair pay equity for fiscal year 2027,” saying the additional funds would signal support for attorney pay parity and help ensure experts and counsel are available. "I would make a substitute motion, to include, also the $800,000 for fair pay parity," she said. The substitute was seconded but the Chair announced "the no's have it," and the substitute failed.
Representative Carr argued in favor of increasing pay, warning that the current funding risked undermining defendants' ability to secure adequate defense representation and noting the principle that "our system is innocent until proven guilty." The Chair responded that the subcommittee must keep its recommendation "slim" given a projected $200 million reduction on the House side and said the committee could revisit additional funding later if there is room in the final budget.
The approved recommendations include a proviso tied to SB 125 that exempts certain bids from the provisions of section 149 for the purpose of paying litigation services costs, as presented by the mover. After approving the FY2027 motion on the original terms, the Chair closed the SBIDS budget portion of the hearing and opened the Kansas Department of Transportation budget hearing.
The committee did not record roll-call tallies in the transcript; outcomes were announced by voice. The substitute motion to add $800,000 failed; the original FY2026 and FY2027 SBIDS recommendations passed as announced by the Chair.
