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Senate passes several bills; senators debate state employee raises and budget 'deals'
Summary
The state Senate passed multiple bills—including several appropriations-related measures—and adopted a conference-committee motion; Senators Dietrich and Erickson used floor explanations to press for higher state employee pay and to criticize special-interest insertions in the budget.
The State Senate voted to pass a package of bills and heard floor explanations from multiple senators before adjourning.
The clerk read the titles of measures before the chamber, including Senate Bills 398, 408 and 480 and a set of House bills and an appropriations bill covering fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030. After the roll call, the clerk announced that 39 senators voted in favor and none opposed the passage of Senate Bills 398, 408 and 480 and House Bill 2462; House Bill 2372 passed 30–9; House Bill 2509 passed 37–2; and House Bill 2513 passed 23–6. The clerk declared those measures passed after they received the required constitutional majority.
On the floor, Senator Pettey (Wyandotte) announced a change of vote on Senate Bill 398 from 'no' to 'aye.' Senator Dietrich (Shawnee) explained a separate vote change and used her explanation to press for larger pay increases for state employees, saying, "Our greatest resource in state government is our people," and arguing a 1% raise amounts to only about $300 a year—"about $12.50 a paycheck prior to taxes"—for the lowest-paid staff. Dietrich said there are over 9,000 state employees in Shawnee County and over 40,000 across the state and urged that future budgets "put our state employees first."
Senator Erickson (Sedgwick) offered an explanation on House Bill 2513 and criticized what she described as special-interest "deals" placed into the budget. "Who is lobbying for our average constituent out there?" Erickson asked, adding, "I'm their lobbyist. And I vote no." Several senators, including Senator Blasi (Sedgwick), acknowledged legislative staff and urged more investment in staffing and IT in the legislative branch to retain employees.
The chair then recognized Senator Warren (Johnson), who moved that the Senate adopt the conference committee report on House Bill 2521 to "agree to disagree" and request a new conference committee; the motion carried. The chair appointed senators to a second conference committee for the Senate on the matter.
Before adjournment, senators announced additional conference meetings and caucus times: Senator Tyson said the House, Senate and Tax conference committee would meet immediately in Room 112; Senator Alley announced that Senate Commerce and House Judiciary will conference at 9:00 a.m. in 582 North on House Bill 2357 and that Commerce chambers would meet on Senate Bill 229 after the 10:00 p.m. meeting; Senator Erickson said the Education conference committee would meet at 8:30 tomorrow in Room 212 North; and Majority Leader Blasi set caucus times for tomorrow and urged attendance. Senator Peck (Montgomery) noted the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will conference with the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.
Senator Blasi moved to adjourn; the motion carried and the Senate adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on the stated date.
