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- Topeka Buzz: Tuesday, March 11
Topeka Buzz: Tuesday, March 11
Over 150 pages of opposition testimony poured in against SB87. Also: Democrats introduce an Adult Use Cannabis bill. Does it have any chance?
Jason Anderson
March 11, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
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Daily Legislative Update 🐝
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Below is today’s morning update on published activities in the Kansas Legislature.
Table of Contents
Top Stories of the Day
Education Bills in Focus
This week, the House Education Committee busily debates several bills previously passed by the Senate. Testimony was received yesterday for SB87, which expands private school vouchers, and is scheduled to receive continued testimony today with final action tomorrow. Over 30 pieces of testimony have already been published from yesterday:
Proponents:
| Opponents:
|
Over 150 pages of opposition testimony have been published. So far. And there’s a second round of testimony scheduled today.
Momentum behind SB87 rests largely on a belief that broadening the existing tax-credit scholarship program will give families more education options. Proponents emphasized their schools’ willingness to serve diverse student populations, including those from low-income households (which, of course, public schools also do). Representatives from scholarship-granting organizations praised how current law opens doors for families who might not otherwise afford private education, citing success stories of students they say have thrived under smaller class sizes and mission-driven learning environments.
Opponents expressed apprehension about diverting funds from public schools. They stressed that every tax dollar lost to private education ultimately weakens a district’s ability to fund special education and other key programs for at-risk youth. Multiple organizations urged lawmakers to focus on fully supporting public school obligations—especially the state’s commitment to special education—instead of offering expanded tax breaks for donors contributing to private tuition funds.
Further, public education advocates argued that private institutions are not required to meet the same accountability standards or accept all students regardless of their learning challenges. Some suggested that many families who technically qualify for scholarships cannot manage additional transportation or enrollment costs, effectively leaving the state to cover tuition for families more capable of affording private school. Testifiers on both sides acknowledge that the decision will have far-reaching consequences for Kansas students, particularly those in underserved and rural communities where resources are already stretched.
I share these concerns. Although private and religious schools (and, apparently, the Kansas Policy Institute) have a strong desire to make education more flexible, the stakes for public school funding, equitable access, and accountability remain significant.
Final action on SB87 is expected soon.
LetterSwarm of the Day
It’s too late to submit testimony to the education committee, but you can still contact your representative. A fast way to do this is the following Swarm, which can be used to send a letter to your state representative. (Feel free to tweak the letter, or add explicit references to SB87.)
You’ll need to register for an account so the system can look up your representative and their address.
