Committee approves OITS, Racing & Gaming, Administration and KDOT budgets; reauthorizes license portal and approves performance proviso after 12–7 vote

The Committee on Appropriations approved a slate of agency budgets and several provisos during its Feb. 23 meeting, advancing fiscal recommendations for FY 2026–27.

Office of Information and Technology Services: Chairperson Walsinger summarized OITS’s revised FY 2026 estimate at roughly $34,000,000 including $31,200,000 SGF on‑budget (a 0.9% increase). He said the change reflects receipt of federal cybersecurity grants of $1,500,000 and cost shifts tied to Unisys data center and cloud computing. The committee concurred with special committee recommendations that deleted one‑time and on‑budget FTE requests; Walsinger moved approval of the OITS 2026–27 budget and the motion passed by voice vote.

Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission: The committee considered a revised FY26 request of $13,400,000 (special revenue) and a supplemental package tied to the new historic horse‑racing facility in Park City. The supplemental included database upgrades, radios, fingerprinting equipment and computers; the special committee deleted $100,000 for regulation equipment but the Senate later restored that amount. The committee approved the KRGC budget by voice vote.

Department of Administration: The committee reviewed a revised FY26 estimate of roughly $195,100,000 and discussed reauthorizing $8,200,000 for the Kansas license verification portal. Chair Walsinger moved to reapprove those funds with language that any unspent money would lapse back to the State General Fund by June 30, 2026; the motion passed by voice vote.

Performance‑payment proviso and nonprofit reporting: Vice Chair Williams moved a proviso to require the Department of Administration to maintain beginning in FY 2027 a searchable inventory of nongovernmental organizations receiving state funds and to require performance metrics for grants or contracts (threshold $50,000). Under the proposal, vendors would propose measurable goals and receive 50% of funding up front and the remainder after Department verification of progress; federal subsidy programs were excluded in a friendly amendment. Committee members voiced divided views: proponents called it a transparency and accountability measure; opponents warned about administrative burden and federal program conflicts. The motion passed on a division vote, 12–7. Representative Ballard, Owsley, McDonald and Amix asked to be recorded (transcript note).

KDOT: Chairman Anderson presented KDOT’s FY26 revised estimate of about $2.3 billion (special revenue) and FY27 request near $1.7 billion, citing increases in construction, preservation and debt service; the committee approved the KDOT budget by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: OITS budget — motion approved by voice; KRGC budget — approved by voice; License verification portal reapproval — approved (motion included lapse language); performance proviso (nonprofit listing + performance payments) — approved 12–7 (division); Department of Administration budgets and provisos — approved by voice; KDOT budget — approved by voice.

Why it matters: The committee’s actions set funding levels for key state functions — IT modernization and cybersecurity, racing and gaming regulation in light of a new HHR facility, administrative functions that underpin state contracting and licensing, and transportation capital and preservation work. The narrowly divided vote on the performance proviso indicates continuing debate about how to balance transparency and administrative burden.

Ending: Committee adjourned and noted it will reconvene the next day to address rural transformation oversight and any pending bills.