2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW
GENERAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONVENES IN JANUARY
written by Dan Murray , KAIA Lobbyist
The Kansas Legislature convenes on Monday , January 8th for its 90-day general legislative session . This will be the second year in the current legislative biennium , which means bills from the 2023 session carry over for consideration in addition to newly drafted bills .
We are also entering an election year for all 40 Senate seats and 125 House seats . This fact generally impacts duration of the session – legislators will strive for an abbreviated session so they can get to the business of fundraising and campaigning – and the tone and tenor of the issues they consider .
In the world of campaign palm cards , mailers and social media posts , legislators seeking reelection will look for issues that will differentiate themselves from potential opponents . Also , the majority party legislative leaders often avoid in election year sessions those issues and votes that may be considered controversial in certain vulnerable legislative districts . Striking the balance between pursuing policy goals and not putting colleagues in reelection harm ’ s way will be a theme of 2024 .
RECORD BUDGET RESERVES
The state closed the 2023 fiscal year with an over $ 2.5 billion ending balance and an over $ 1.5 billion in the state ’ s rainy day emergency fund . With state coffers flush with cash , funding state services at current levels will not be a challenge this year . The anticipated struggle will be how the administration and legislators determine to spend down the record reserves .
There will be competing ideas on whether to enhance programs , cut taxes , or a combination of both . Indeed , Governor Laura Kelly ( D ), who has long-supported Medicaid expansion , has ramped up her advocacy for this program through her “ Healthy Worker , Health Economy ” Medicaid expansion tour this summer and fall . Further , the Governor continues to call for additional funding for K-12 special education and to accelerate the elimination of the sales tax on food .
These items would take a large chunk out of the coffers . However , as they did in 2023 , we expect the
44 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER