(Feb. 27, 2025) – Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Senator Rick Billinger (R-Goodland), continued work on the House budget bill contained in House Bill 2007.

Yesterday, the committee removed all the funds related to those items paid for by ARPA interest, including removing the $1 million for the health care upskilling and training program.

Today, the committee continued discussions on the higher education budget items. The committee heard from the following:

• Blake Flanders, CEO of Kansas Board of Regents, highlighted the need to fully fund programs, a state employee pay investment, cybersecurity, and a continuation of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy.
• Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek with Washburn University highlighted some differences with a municipal university and appropriations requests.
• Greg Nichols, Salina Area Technical College, highlighted partnerships with the K-12 partners and appropriations requests
• Matt Lindsey, president of the Kansas Independent College Association, highlighted enrollment increases, community college partnerships and economic impacts, emphasizing a need to apply consistent rules on need-aid scholarships and ensure availability to public or private colleges via the Comprehensive Grant.
• Heather Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Community College Association, highlighted business and industry needs in non-credited training options and services available to students.

The Senate made two adjustments to the House budget bill:

• Eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the executive branch
• Requirement of full-time state employees returning to the office

The committee will meet again next week to continue work on the budget bill.