Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2618

Introduced
2/2/26  
Refer
2/2/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/25/26  
Refer
2/26/26  
Report Pass
3/12/26  
Enrolled
3/26/26  

Caption

Requiring the state board of education to report to the legislature on federal moneys received by the state, ending certain educational reporting requirements and applying expiration dates to other educational reporting requirements.

Impact

The bill is expected to have significant implications for the educational framework in Kansas, particularly regarding the interaction between state and federal funding mechanisms. It grants the state board the authority to streamline processes concerning the allocation of federal funds while ensuring that school districts remain accountable for these resources. By repealing outdated reporting requirements, the legislation aims to promote efficiency and reduce the administrative burden on educational institutions.

Summary

House Bill 2618 mandates the state board of education to submit reports to the legislature regarding federal financial assistance received or distributed. The intention behind this legislation is to enhance transparency and accountability concerning federal funds, which may include grants and scholarships aimed at educational programs. Additionally, the bill seeks to simplify educational reporting requirements and includes expiration dates for certain reporting mandates, optimizing the reporting process for school districts and education agencies across the state.

Sentiment

The discourse surrounding HB 2618 has generally leaned toward support, primarily from legislators who emphasize the need for enhanced financial oversight within the education sector. Advocates argue that clearer reporting structures will not only benefit educational institutions but also provide the legislature with essential data to make informed decisions regarding budget allocations and funding priorities. However, there remains concern among some stakeholders regarding the adequacy of tracking mechanisms for federal funds and the potential risk of diminishing oversight in the allocation process.

Contention

Despite the broadly favorable view of the bill, some points of contention have emerged. Detractors have voiced concerns that eliminating certain reporting requirements could lead to a lack of accountability for federal funds, risking misallocation or improper use. As the bill progresses, the balance between streamlining procedures and ensuring robust oversight will be critical topics of discussion among stakeholders, including educational leaders and legislators.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

KS SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.