Committee hears testimony on HB 2180 to create Blind Information Access Fund for Newsline service

The Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications heard proponent testimony on House Bill 2180, which would establish the Blind Information Access Act and require the state librarian to contract for on‑demand digital access services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf‑blind or print‑disabled. The bill creates a Blind Information Access Fund and would direct the administrator of the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF) to transfer certified amounts into that fund; it is drafted to take effect upon publication in the statute book (07/01/2026).

Supporters told the committee the service—often called Newsline—delivers audio, electronic text and braille access to national and local publications and immediate local emergency weather alerts. Tom Page demonstrated navigation, described synthetic voices and speed controls, and highlighted local weather alerts as a life‑safety feature. "If we had had this for her, it would have been such a blessing," former senator Mary Ware said, recounting how her mother's life narrowed after losing vision and citing National Federation of the Blind data that nearly 70,000 Kansans would qualify as blind under the 2016 estimate.

Proponents and program coordinators said the proposal would provide a stable funding stream and outreach capacity. Tom Page and Rob Taylor (Newsline coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas) said the bill's request would cover the service and one state library FTE to expand local content and do outreach; Tom estimated roughly $100,000 for service and an FTE, and committee staff noted the budget bill includes roughly $96,276 SGF for FY27 under House Bill 2434. Rob Taylor suggested that shifting Newsline funding to KUSF could free SGF money to bolster interlibrary loan services.

Staff and agency witnesses addressed funding mechanics and administrative readiness. Nick Myers, the committee reviser, explained the bill requires the state librarian to estimate and certify the service cost; after certification the KUSF administrator would transfer that amount into the new fund. Steve Garrett, deputy chief of telecommunications for the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), said KCC staff are neutral on the policy and view administration of KUSF programs as an implementation matter; Garrett estimated the bill's cost (~$100,000) would have an "insignificant" effect on the KUSF assessment rate.

Committee members asked practical and scope questions: whether interlibrary loan programs were being reduced (staff said they would look into it), whether KUSF contains separate buckets for particular programs (KCC explained program components such as high‑cost support and Lifeline), and how many Kansans might benefit (witnesses estimated at least the 70,000 blind designation and guessed an under‑100,000 total when adding visually impaired and print‑impaired groups). The reviser said staff will confirm budget bill recommendations and follow up with committee members.

The hearing closed without a committee vote. Committee staff recorded written testimony from other proponents and neutral parties and will provide requested budget follow‑ups.