Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB343

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/20/26  
Refer
1/21/26  
Refer
2/19/26  

Caption

Requiring the state board of regents to adopt rules and regulations to prohibit state moneys from being allocated for certain low-earning outcome programs and prohibiting political subdivisions from allocating state moneys for certain low-earning outcome programs.

Impact

If implemented, SB343 will significantly influence how educational institutions operate, particularly those that offer programs deemed to generate low earnings for graduates. This could lead to a re-evaluation of where state funding is allocated and may encourage institutions to modify their curricula or focus on programs that align more closely with the desired earnings threshold established by the state regents. As a result, this legislative action could directly affect student options and the types of programs that institutions may continue to offer, which in turn could have lasting implications for job markets and workforce development in the state.

Summary

Senate Bill 343 seeks to address the allocation of state funds for postsecondary education, specifically targeting what it defines as low-earning outcome programs. The bill mandates the state board of regents to adopt regulations prohibiting the allocation or expenditure of state moneys, which may include various forms of educational funding and financial aid, for programs that do not meet specific earnings criteria. The intention is to ensure that state resources are utilized effectively, favoring programs likely to result in better economic outcomes for graduates.

Contention

The bill's focus on limiting funding for low-earning programs may engender debate among educators, politicians, and advocacy groups regarding the implications of such restrictions. Critics might argue that this approach could disproportionately affect programs that serve broader educational and community needs, not necessarily tied to immediate high earnings. Additionally, concerns could arise about the potential narrowing of educational opportunities and the reinforcing of socioeconomic disparities as access to certain programs may become limited without funding, which may hurt students from lower-income backgrounds.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 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 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 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 SB8

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

KS HB2002

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

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.