TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature has made a significant change in its budget process by authorizing the formation of a special committee on a party-line vote. The 23-member committee, consisting of 16 Republicans and seven Democrats, will be responsible for developing a state government budget plan before the start of the 2025 session in January.
The committee, approved by the Legislative Coordinating Council with support from Republican House and Senate members, will meet five times between the November 5 general election and the January 13 launch of the annual session. The goal is to produce a legislative draft of the budget before Governor Laura Kelly outlines her priorities in the State of the State speech.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson spearheaded the shift from using the governor’s budget to initiate spending bills. This new process gives the Republican-led Legislature more time to compare agency budget requests and previous session spending bills without waiting for the governor’s budget report.
While Governor Kelly expressed concerns about the change, House Minority Leader Vic Miller questioned the appointment of an elite committee with significant power over the budget. Republicans defend the process, stating that the special committee’s budget would be vetted by both chambers of the Legislature before being sent to the governor.
Despite debate and opposition, Republicans plan to introduce a bill making the special budget committee a permanent part of state law. They emphasize that the change is not about the current administration but about improving the budgeting process for future administrations.
The special committee’s formation marks a significant departure from tradition in Kansas, with implications for future budget planning and legislative input.
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