Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

HB 2165 repeals Kansas law requiring executive branch agencies (those reporting to the governor) to use specific budget tracking systems. It eliminates three existing requirements: a program service inventory, an integrated budget fiscal process, and a performance-based budgeting system. This bill removes these procedural mandates from state law but does not create new policies or affect agency funding. The change applies directly to state agencies that report to the governor, streamlining their budget processes by removing these administrative steps. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on repealing existing budget requirements.

SB 181 limits annual spending growth from Kansas' state general fund by setting a yearly cap based on inflation (CPI) and population changes. It requires the state treasurer to certify this cap each year by September 1, using the previous year's total expenditures multiplied by the Midwest CPI plus population growth percentage. The bill mandates that all legislative budget measures and the governor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year must not exceed this certified cap. This directly affects the legislature when drafting budget bills, the governor when submitting budget reports, and the state treasurer's certification process under amended K.S.A. 75-3721.

HB 2301 repeals a Kansas law (K.S.A. 75-3718b) that required state agencies reporting to the governor to implement a performance-based budgeting system. This system previously mandated agencies to create detailed program inventories, adopt standardized budget processes, and track outcome-based performance measures. The bill eliminates these requirements, shifting away from tying budget decisions to measurable program outcomes. It directly affects all executive branch agencies under the governor’s authority, removing specific accountability mechanisms for how state funds are allocated and spent.

SB 99 requires state agency heads to certify, by June 30, 2025, the number of full-time positions paid from the state general fund that have been vacant for over 180 days. These certified positions are abolished effective July 1, 2025, and removed from all budget documents. The bill also lapses (removes) all 2026 state general fund appropriations budgeted for salaries and benefits of these abolished positions. This directly affects all state agencies covered by the 2025 budget, as it eliminates vacant roles and redirects their allocated funding.