(Jan. 14, 2026) – Today, the Budget Committees of both the House and the Senate joined together for a briefing on Governor Laura Kelly's budget proposal. The presentation was delivered by the Division of the Budget Director Adam Proffitt. Director Proffitt highlighted the following areas of the governor's budget:

• HR 1 shifting of $12.1 M SGF to cover incremental state share of administrative costs and FEMA-shifted expenses
• Funding for K-12 education in FY 2027 and FY 2028 increases, restoration of lapsed 2025 funding and increases to special education funding
• Water plan with full funding and development of a 10-year water plan based on Taks for Fundings
• Funding to fully implement Community Support Waiver
• Funding to increase TA waiver
• Funding for home-based services for children under 21 who require life-sustaining medical equipment and technology
• State hospital funds to staff and open South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital
• Capital improvements to Kansas Neurological Institute to create behavioral health beds for children
• $5 million in FY 2026 and $5 million in FY 2027 for six hospitals with behavioral health hospital beds until the opening of the new South Central Mental Health Hospital
• $37.2 million to fund contract nursing at state hospitals
• Applying a 2.5 percent statewide pay adjustment to executive branch state employees and 2.5 percent to judicial employees

The committee also heard from the Kansas Legislative Research Department on human services caseloads. Staff highlighted:

• For fiscal year 2026, there is an increase of $431 million, including a State General Fund decrease of $68.9 million.
• The Kansas Department of Health and Environment KanCare is estimated to incur policy adjustment expenses of $789,555 across all funds and $1.5 million for FY 2027
• KDHE KanCare estimated an increase of $16.6 million for legislative adjustments and $16.6 million for FY 2027
• Managed Care Organization expenditures are estimated to increase by $2.3 billion in FY 2026 and $2.4 billion in FY 2027.
• Non-MCO expenditures estimated to increase by $1.5 billion in FY 2026 (all funds) and $1.5 billion in FY 2027

The committees are scheduled to meet tomorrow individually.