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The 🐝 Rating System
Each bill is evaluated based on four key factors: Scope of Impact, Financial Impact, Urgency, and Controversy. These factors are weighted to reflect their influence on the bill's overall importance. Here's how the ratings break down:
🐝 Minimal Impact: Legislation with limited reach or lower urgency and controversy.
🐝🐝 Moderate Impact: Proposals with a broader or more notable influence, addressing issues of medium urgency or financial significance.
🐝🐝🐝 High Impact: Bills with widespread consequences, urgent needs, or significant public and political attention.
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:
Mater Dei Catholic School
Catholic Education Foundation
Catholic Diocese of Salina
All Saints Catholic School
Catholic Diocese of Wichita
Kansas Policy Institute
Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
Holy Savior Catholic Academy
St. Patrick Catholic School
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School
St. Patrick Catholic School (Chanute)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (Arkansas City)
St. Anne Catholic School
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
Kansas Catholic Conference
Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School
Private School in Shawnee (Admissions Director)
Teacher, Catholic School System
9 private citizens
Opponents:
Kansas Association of School Boards
United School Administrators of Kansas
Kansas Interfaith Action
Kansas NEA
Kansas PTA
Game On for Kansas Schools
Bardavon
1 current State Legislator
2 liaisons from the Kansas State Board of Education
1 local school board member
52 private citizens (including parents, taxpayers, teachers, retired educators, and others)
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.
Adult Use Cannabis Proposal
Representative Miller (D) introduced a bill in the House Committee on Federal and State Affairs yesterday to bring regulated adult cannabis use to Kansas. (Miller is the ranking minority member on that committee.) Kansas has stood apart from its neighboring states for years now in its resistance to regulating cannabis–even for medical uses.
This newly introduced legislation, known as the Adult Use Cannabis Regulation Act, would bring Kansas in line with a growing number of states allowing and regulating adult cannabis use. It sets up a comprehensive framework under the Department of Revenue and its Alcoholic Beverage Control division to license, oversee, and tax all aspects of the cannabis market—from cultivation and product manufacturing to testing, transporting, and retail sales. The bill is structured to address public safety and product integrity through strict requirements on lab testing, inventory tracking, and secure business operations. It provides for criminal history background checks, registered-agent requirements, and residency stipulations for key people associated with any licensed cannabis enterprise.
The measure also introduces a state tax on cannabis transactions and deposits the proceeds into a dedicated Cannabis Business Regulation Fund, potentially earmarked for various public needs. Additionally, the act coordinates updates to existing controlled-substance statutes so that licensed participants and consumers acting in line with the law would no longer face state-level criminal penalties. All told, the bill’s expansive approach underscores its goal: to regulate the cannabis industry responsibly, protect consumers, and ensure that the economic benefits flow back into Kansas communities.
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Bills and Resolutions
UPDATE: Summaries of these bills are now published on BillBee. The links below go directly to each bill’s writeup.
Bills Under Consideration
House Bills on the Floor for Consideration
Senate Bills on the Floor for Consideration
Final Action on Bills and Concurrent Resolutions:
General Orders (Bills Under Consideration):
SR 1713 – Recognizing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
New Bills Introduced
House Bills:
Taxes, Fiscal Policy, and Economic Development:
🐝🐝🐝 HB 2405: The legislation regulates adult-use cannabis delivery and business practices.
Session Highlights for March 10, 2025
House of Representatives
The House, presided over by Speaker Hawkins, convened at 11:00 a.m.
Roll Call:
119 members were present, with Reps. Martinez, Neighbor, Sawyer, and Wilborn excused for verified illness and Reps. Poetter Parshall and Simmons excused by the Speaker.
Bill Actions:
Committee Actions:
Additional Notes:
Prayer Highlights: Delivered by Monsignor Stuart W. Swetland, emphasizing gratitude for officials and support for the marginalized.
Announcements: Appointment of Rep. Brownlee Paige to replace Rep. Martinez on the Committee on Judiciary; formation of Select Investigative Committee in response to complaints against Rep. Ford Carr.
Senate
The Senate, presided over by Vice President Tim Shallenburger, convened at 2:30 p.m.
Roll Call:
37 senators were present, with Senators Erickson, J.R. Claeys, and Thompson excused.
Bill Actions:
Committee Actions:
Select Committees: Appointed members to investigate complaints against Rep. Ford Carr.
Additional Notes:
Prayer Highlights: Delivered by Rev. Dr. Nori Rost, emphasizing justice, unity, and prosperity.
Point of Personal Privilege: Senator Haley recognized the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for their scholastic and community service endeavors.
Announcements: Appointments by Governor to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority; establishment of Select Investigative Committees in response to formal complaints.
Upcoming Actions
House of Representatives
Session Time: 11:00 AM
Committee Updates:
Appropriations (9:00 AM): Hearing on HB 2398 regarding funding for the State Historical Society to plan the master plan for the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park.
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications (9:00 AM): Presentation on Evergy Projects by David Campbell, Chairman and CEO, and Chuck Caisley, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs.
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development (1:30 PM): Hearing on HB 2346 establishing the Kansas Sports Tourism Grant Program.
Education (1:30 PM): Hearing on HB 47 requiring school districts to publicly list board members' contact information and other related provisions.
Health and Human Services (1:30 PM): Final action on previously heard bills.
Higher Education Budget (1:30 PM): Meeting on call of the chair.
Transportation (1:30 PM): Hearing on SB 36 and related transportation bills.
Senate
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