February 26, 2019
Legislative Update
This week, the Legislature is working to Turnaround Day, Feb. 28. This is the halfway point of the Legislature, and both houses will spend all day in their respective chambers debating bills.
Graduate Research Day is an annual event that will take place Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the State Capitol. This event features outstanding student research projects from the six state universities and provides an insight to the critical purpose of cutting edge and relevant research being conducted by students and faculty in the state's universities.
In action in the House Higher Education Budget Committee, the following recommendations were approved for the fiscal year 2020 appropriations bill.
- Approved governor's recommendations of $8.9 million for all higher education to fully restore fiscal year 2017 allotment.
- Approved governor's recommendation of $4 million for global food systems at K-State for fiscal year 2020.
- Approved an additional $10 million for all higher education for fiscal year 2020.
- Approved $500,000 additional for Comprehensive Grant Program for fiscal year 2020.
These recommendations were presented to the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21. The committee approved all recommendations and will consider these later in March as it is drafting the budget appropriations bill.
Also, last week the House Appropriations Committee passed legislation authorizing K-State to sell three pieces of property: the pecan research field in Cherokee County, four acres next to the International Grains facility in Riley County, and the old gym on the Polytechnic Campus in Saline County. The bill is now before the House of Representatives and if approved goes on to the Senate.
The Office of Government Relations hosts bimonthly Legislative Updates. Future dates include March 8, 22 and 29 and April 12. All updates are brown bag sessions at noon in the K-State Student Union's Cottonwood Room.
For information on the 2019 Kansas Legislature please visit k-state.edu/govrelations.