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Minutes for SB125 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Authorizing the payment of certain claims against the state.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 12, 2025
Chairperson Waymaster opened final action on SB125 to be used as a trailer bill to address hearings after the committee passed out Substitute for HB2007.
Representative Hoffman moved, Representative Wasinger seconded, the adoption of SB125.
Representative Tarwater reminded the committee members of the workforce development presentation given in committee on February 27th from an out-of-state talent recruiter that works to relocate workforce to rural areas.
Representative Tarwater moved, Representative Francis seconded, a proposed amendment to set up the Community Talent Acquisition Grant Fund in the Office of the State Treasurer and appropriate $1.5 million Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF), if available or State General Fund (SGF) if EDIF is not available, in FY 2026. Motion carried.
Representative Tarwater informed the committee of the results of a Legislative Post Audit regarding virtual school funding, and mentioned the Central Plains Unified School District (USD) Number (No) 112, as an example. When the transcripts were sent to the Kansas State Department of Education, they had some hours from the previous year on them. Instead of taking out the few items from the previous year, the transcripts were completely discarded, and the company was not given credit for the hours of education or the funding for education for any of the transcripts.
Representative Tarwater moved, Representative Francis seconded, a proposed amendment to transfer funding from the Department of Education to the Central Plains USD No. 112 for the 500 adult virtual credits that they were not paid for in the amount of $354,500. Motion carried. (Attachment 5)
Chairperson Waymaster informed the committee that he contacted the Governor's office about having the Governor's Budget Amendments (GBA) merged into SB125 and provided an overview of the procedure used in handling these potential amendments.
Jennifer Light, Fiscal Analyst, Kansas Legislative Research Department, provided a briefing of the first GBA to SB125 regarding the Kansas Historic Site Fund. (Attachment 6)
Jennifer Light answered questions from committee members.
There being no objections to the GBA, the amendment regarding the Kansas Historic Site Fund was included in SB125.
Nicole Hrenchir, Fiscal Analyst, Kansas Legislative Research Department, provided a briefing for the second GBA to SB125 regarding the Lansing Correctional Facility Recruitment and Retention.
Nicole Hrenchir answered questions from committee members.
There being no objections to the GBA, the amendment regarding the Lansing Correctional Facility Recruitment and Retention was included in SB125.
Representative Wasinger informed the committee that the lottery was established in 1980 to help all Kansans; however, the state receives the worst percentage of dollars from sports wagering through their contract with casinos. The contracts come up for renewal in FY 2027. (Attachment 7)
Representative Wasinger moved, Representative Williams seconded, an amendment for the Kansas Lottery to prevent the Kansas Lottery from negotiating, extending or entering into any sports wagering contract in FY 2025 and FY 2026. Motion carried. (Attachment 8)
Jill Wolters, First Assistant Revisor, Office of Revisor of Statutes, informed committee members about the language of the amendment.
Representative Buehler informed committee members that the Governor's Budget originally recommended as item 12, interpreter services, but it had not made it to the Social Services Budget committee for their review. Department for Children and Families testified to its need, but the budget item was missed by the subcommittee.
Representative Buehler moved, Representative Carpenter seconded, to add $375,000 SGF in FY 2026 for the DCF to support $175,000 for interpreters in the courts and judicial systems, $175,000 for interpreters between agencies, and $25,000 for interpreters in the miscellaneous category. Motion carried.
Representative Howe informed committee members there is an executive summary on the university bonding projects. The Higher Education Budget committee had an information hearing on bonding authority requests after this committee passed out Substitute for HB2007.
Representative Howe moved, Representative Amyx seconded, an amendment for bonding university projects including the requests from the University of Kansas for future student housing needs on campus and to refinance Series 2016 bonds issued by a Wisconsin agency to save money; the request from Wichita State University for their $60 million stadium project; and the request from Kansas State University to finish their Agriculture Innovation Center; and the request from Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Center for the $130 million Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Motion carried. (Attachment 9)
Representative Howe answered questions from committee members.
Representative Howe moved, Representative Francis seconded, an amendment to exempt the Kansas Geological Survey from the provision in Substitute for HB2007 which would lapse their full-time employees, to support the surveying of the Ogallala Aquifer and to employ an advanced technology-skilled workforce. Motion carried.
Representative Howe moved, Representative Wasinger seconded, an amendment to restore the federal no-limit funds regarding Crime Victim Assistance, Engineering, and Graduate Incentive Funds, Bullet-proof Vest Partnership that were lapsed out of the Substitute for HB2007 and originally from a technical adjustment request from the Kansas Board of Regents. Motion carried.
Representative Howe moved, Representative Amyx seconded, an amendment to restore SGF reappropriation language for Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, Wichita State University and Kansas Board of Regents as presented in a document provided by the Kansas Board of Regents. Motion failed.
Representative Ballard moved, Representative Buehler seconded, to appropriate $1.5 million SGF in FY 2026 for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for disease control and monies to be available to county health department across the state for free testing where Tuberculosis outbreaks have occurred. Motion carried.
Representative Williams moved, Representative Curtis seconded, to develop a Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park Task Force in the amount of $40,000 SGF for FY 2025 and FY 2026 and amend the proposal to replace the one United Government at-large member with one representative from the Young Memorial Church of God in Christ. Motion carried. (Attachment 10)
Representative Howe moved, Representative Williams seconded, to strike $750,000 SGF for the Fort Hays State University professional workforce development that was already appropriated in last year's budget. Motion carried.
Representative Waymaster moved, Representative Francis seconded, to add $10 million to the State Finance Council budget in FY 2025 for adjustments from the spring Human Services caseload estimates, with the remaining money lapsing back to the SGF if not expended. Motion carried. (Attachment 11)
Chairperson Waymaster informed the committee members how the process is going to move forward in the interim months when legislators are adjourned from the session.
Representative Hoffman moved, Representative Williams seconded, to pass out SB125, as amended, favorably for passage. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:38 a.m.
The next scheduled meeting is March 13, 2025.
