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KansasHB 24022025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Senate Substitute for HB 2402 by Committee on Education - Requiring eligible boards of education to consider participation in the community eligibility provision, providing a financial hardship exception to such participation, requiring the state department of education to assist school districts seeking such participation, extending the application deadline for authorization to operate as a public innovative district from December 1 to May 1 and deeming such applications approved if not approved or denied within 45 days of submission.

Sponsored By: Committee on Appropriations

Signed by Governor

senate committee on educationhouse committee on appropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Eligible districts must review free school meals

Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible Kansas districts must consider joining the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal free school meal program. Districts with any school at or above 50% direct certification for free meals must count directly certified students at each school annually. Districts may help families support accurate counts, and the state education department must help districts with qualifying schools pursue participation. If participation is desired and causes no financial hardship, the board must approve by majority vote and direct the superintendent to proceed. Boards declining because of hardship must show that hardship at an open public meeting and approve that decision by majority vote. Joining can lower families’ meal costs, but the law does not guarantee free meals at every school.

Faster approvals for innovative school districts

Kansas districts seeking public innovative district status now apply by May 1, replacing December 1, for the following school year. The State Board of Education has 45 days after submission to approve or deny, down from 90 days. Applications are automatically approved if the board misses that deadline. Once at least two innovative districts are authorized, applicants need coalition board approval before applying to the state board. Coalition approval is automatic unless it approves or denies within 30 days after its last member receives the request. After a state-board denial, districts have 30 days from when notice is sent to request reconsideration. The state board must act within 45 days of receiving that request, down from 60 days.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Committee on Appropriations

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Committee on Education

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 516 • No: 136

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 91 Nay: 33

Yes: 91 • No: 33

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 31 Nay: 9

Yes: 31 • No: 9

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 38 Nay: 2

Yes: 38 • No: 2

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 98 Nay: 24

Yes: 98 • No: 24

House vote • 3/27/2026

Conference Committee Report was adopted

Yes: 91 • No: 33

Senate vote • 3/27/2026

Conference Committee Report was adopted

Yes: 31 • No: 9

Senate vote • 3/19/2026

Emergency Final Action - Substitute passed

Yes: 38 • No: 2

House vote • 3/18/2025

Final Action - Passed

Yes: 98 • No: 24

Actions Timeline

  1. Enrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026

    4/9/2026House

  2. Approved by Governor on Tuesday, April 7, 2026

    4/7/2026House

  3. Conference committee report now available

    3/27/2026Senate

  4. Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 31, Nay 9

    3/27/2026Senate

  5. Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 91, Nay 33, Absent 1

    3/27/2026House

  6. Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Renee Erickson, Sen. Adam Thomas and Sen. Dinah Sykes appointed as conferees

    3/24/2026Senate

  7. Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Susan Estes, Rep. Kyle McNorton and Rep. Jerry Stogsdill

    3/23/2026House

  8. Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted recommending substitute bill be passed

    3/19/2026Senate

  9. Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Cindy Holscher

    3/19/2026Senate

  10. Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Cindy Holscher was rejected

    3/19/2026Senate

  11. Committee of the Whole - Substitute bill be passed

    3/19/2026Senate

  12. Emergency Final Action - Substitute passed; Yea 38, Nay 2

    3/19/2026Senate

  13. Committee Report recommending substitute bill be passed by Senate Committee on Education

    3/17/2026Senate

  14. Referred to Senate Committee on Education

    3/19/2025Senate

  15. Received and Introduced

    3/18/2025Senate

  16. Committee of the Whole - Be passed

    3/17/2025House

  17. Final Action - Passed; Yea 98, Nay 24, Absent 3

    3/17/2025House

  18. Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Appropriations

    3/13/2025House

  19. Hearing: Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 9:00 AM — Room 112-N

    3/12/2025House

  20. Introduced

    3/6/2025House

  21. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations

    3/6/2025House

Bill Text

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