(Jan. 15, 2026) – Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Senator Rick Billinger (R-Goodland), received an update from the Office of Early Childhood. The committee also received an update from the Office of the Recovery on previously allocated American Rescue Plan Act funding. Andrea White from the Office of the Recovery reported that the office has lower-than-anticipated costs due to lower-than-anticipated audit expenses and indicated they are on pace to expend all funds by the required deadlines without needing to return any funds. The committee asked about the ongoing responsibilities and expenses that may be needed in the coming years for the ARPA expenditures.

The committee also heard from each department on ARPA expenditures including: the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.