(Jan. 18, 2023) – Today, the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill), discussed the allocations of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas funds and COVID-19-related expenditures.

Recovery Office Director Ethan Belshe updated the committee on the two federal bills that sent funds to each state and the role of the Office of Recovery to allocate and oversee the disbursements of those funds. In addition, the committee received an overview of the SPARK Executive Committee's recommendations and the State Finance Council approval for the following areas and amounts:

• Connectivity – $35 million
  • Broadband infrastructure investments – $30 million
  • Digital Equity Grant Program – $5 million
• Efficiency and Modernization – $100 million
  • State Efficiency and Modernization Program – $95 million
  • Local Safety and Security Equipment Grant Program – $5 million
• Health and Education – $109 million
  • Health Facilities and Program Expansion – $66 million
  • Child Care and Community Resource Capacity Accelerator – $38 million
  • Early Childhood Data Integration and System Enhancements – $5 million
• Economic Revitalization – $130 million
  • Building a Stronger Economy 2.0 (BASE 2.0) – $50 million
  • Tourism – $30 million
  • Housing – $10 million
  • Aviation and Aerospace – $20 million
  • Delivering Residents and Workforce – $10 million
  • Small Town Water and Sewer Infrastructure Assistance Program – $10 million

Conferees indicated program announcements would be released by the end of February. The committee expressed frustration with the idea submission process and suggested improved communications methods to those who have previously applied for funds.

The committee also heard from Kansas Legislative Research Department staff on the Budget Stabilization Fund and got a status update on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Laboratory Construction Status and the Docking State Office Building.