Turnaround 2025: Bills We're Watching
Jessica Herrera Russell | February 17, 2025
Lawmakers have a lot of work to complete the next few days before the “Turnaround” deadline, which is when the Legislature must consider and vote on bills classified as “non-exempt” in their originating chamber (House or Senate).
If a non-exempt* bill is not considered by the chamber, it must have leadership’s approval (“blessing”) to continue in the legislative process. If the bill is not “blessed,” then it won’t be able to continue on this year.
The next three days (Feb. 18-20) are scheduled to include all-day floor action as each chamber considers a long list of bills. Here’s where we stand on bills affecting kids and families as lawmakers enter their marathon of floor action.
(*Exempt committees include budget, tax, and federal and state affairs; all others are non-exempt.)
Normally we categorize Turnaround bills by our support level. Unfortunately, this week we could not identify any of the relevant bills we're following as ones we could support. There are still several worthwhile bills that could move out of committees in the coming weeks that we hope can make it across the finish line
Bills We Oppose that Could Come up for Votes This Week
HB 2015 and SB 79, which would, if approved by the federal government, ban SNAP recipients from purchasing candy and soda with food benefits. This punitive bill not only hurts Kansas families, but also their communities where grocery stores will be burdened with classifying a complex listing of foods as eligible or not for SNAP benefits. UPDATE: The Senate passed SB 79 29-11.
SB 85, which would require the state to use an outside vendor to continually check the financial and work status of public assistance recipients. This bill could force the state to pay for more data that Kansas is already receiving from other sources at no-cost or a lower cost to the state than what would be required. Potentially more than 100 additional staff would be required to implement the bill. This is the epitome of government waste, using taxpayer dollars to create administrative burden rather than serving the Kansans needing these programs. UPDATE: The Senate passed SB 85 30-10.
HB 2217, which would expand the authority of the Kansas Medicaid Inspector General to investigate fraud within the SNAP, TANF, and child care subsidy programs. Creating a separate investigative process like in HB 2217 is unlikely to be able to replace current processes already performed by the Department for Children and Families and would waste taxpayer dollars on redundant work. UPDATE: This bill was "blessed."
HB 2240 and SB 161, which would take authority away from experts within state agencies to make changes to complex programs for all public assistance (SB 161) or just Medicaid (HB 2240). If this bill were to become law, the state government would no longer be able to quickly respond to time-sensitive changes to complex programs. This is especially true for the complex KanCare program, for which numerous changes throughout the year must occur to respond to federal mandates and health care changes. UPDATE: The Senate passed SB 161 30-10. The House passed HB 2240 89-34.
HB 2101, which would prohibit municipalities from implementing “guaranteed income” programs, which could improve economic security within their borders. UPDATE: The House passed HB 2101 86-37.
HB 2119, which would eliminate the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program. Even though the program has been successful at building affordable housing since its implementation several years ago, lawmakers are considering nixing the program due to the cost. This program is one that Kansas cannot afford not to continue this program so that the state can address one of its biggest challenges. UPDATE: The House passed HB 2119 85-36.
SB 181, which would limit the amount of expenditures the Legislature may approve relative to the prior year’s spending. The Governor would also be required to recommend a budget within this limitation. Expenditure limitations like these arbitrarily hamper the state’s ability to respond to emergencies (either immediately or in case of future recessions).
Sub. for SB 29, which would remove local health officer and local board of health authority to shut down public gatherings during infectious disease outbreaks, but still allows those individuals to make recommendations regarding health risks of certain public gatherings. While the Committee made changes that don’t impact public health as severely, we still do not support the bill. UPDATE: The Senate passed Sub. for SB 29 28-12.
SB 75, which would give tax credits to families with children who do not send their children to public school. Parents would receive either $8,000 (for accredited schooling) or $4,000 (for unaccredited schooling) for each child, with no proof required with a family’s tax filings. UPDATE: This bill was "blessed."
Bills We Support That Have Had Hearings, but Have Not Moved Out of Committee
HB 2132, which would modify the definition of neglect to prohibit the removal of a child from their home due solely to a lack of financial resources.
HB 2074, which would reinstate renters as eligible to receive the homestead tax credit. This would help many living on low incomes who experience increased rents due to property tax increases.
Bills with No Hearings Yet, but We're Watching...
HB 2358, which would require work reporting requirements for SNAP recipients who have children ages six or older. Currently, these parents are exempted from these requirements, which make receiving SNAP benefits much more difficult. UPDATE: This bill was NOT "blessed" and will not move forward in the legislative process.
HB 2373 and SB 254, which would prohibit undocumented immigrants prohibited from receiving state benefits, including in-state tuition, pensions, and more.
SB 172, which would prohibit a school from excluding a child who has been exposed to an infectious or contagious disease without an isolation or quarantine order. UPDATE: This bill was NOT "blessed" and will not move forward in the legislative process.
HB 2210 and SB 179, which would implement a state child tax credit. These bill would target children in their earliest years, helping parents pay for child care, food, and more.
There are many bills (including some of the above) that could be “blessed” by leadership, allowing lawmakers the opportunity to make progress on them in the coming weeks. This includes bills related to early learning/child care, further restrictions on assistance programs, taxes, and more. As the Legislature continues their work this session, we will be meeting with lawmakers to ensure every Kansas kid has a voice in the Statehouse.
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