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HB 2402

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.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates a temporary Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education to study Kansas postsecondary needs and issue recommendations on goals, structure, affordability, access, and efficie

Enrolled and presented to Governor on Monday, March 30, 2026
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Bill Summary · HB 2402

Summary — HB 2402 (2025): Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education (Kansas)

Main purpose

HB 2402 establishes a temporary Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education to study Kansas postsecondary education and to develop long‑term goals, structural recommendations, and strategies to improve access, affordability, enrollment, completion, and organizational efficiency. The Commission must deliver a preliminary report and a final report to the Legislature.

Key provisions

  • Creates the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education composed of 17 members (see membership below).
  • Charge: study, discuss and make recommendations on:
    • Long‑term goals and priorities for higher education;
    • Governing structure, financing, costs, savings, and possible consolidation of Board of Regents institutions, community colleges, and technical colleges;
    • Accessibility and affordability;
    • Strengths and weaknesses of postsecondary institutions;
    • Strategies for enrollment and degree completion;
    • Strategies for right‑sizing/streamlining higher education with a student focus.
  • Reports:
    • Preliminary report due to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026.
    • Final report due on or before January 1, 2027.
  • Term: members’ terms expire January 1, 2027; vacancies filled by same appointing authority.
  • Meetings: may meet at any time/place in Kansas or by remote means at the call of the chair; quorum = nine members; actions by majority of those present.
  • Chair: jointly appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
  • Member reimbursements (expenses, mileage, subsistence) paid by the Kansas Board of Regents per K.S.A. 75‑3223(e).
  • Staff support: Kansas Board of Regents, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Legislative Research Department, and Division of Legislative Administrative Services to provide assistance as requested.

Membership (17 total)

  1. Appointee of the Chairperson, Board of Regents
  2. Appointee of the Governor
    3–5. Three House members (two majority‑party appointees by Speaker and Majority Leader; one minority appointee by Minority Leader)
    6–8. Three Senate members (two majority‑party appointees by President and Majority Leader; one minority appointee by Minority Leader)
  3. Regional universities representative (jointly appointed by President of the Senate and Speaker of the House)
  4. “Big three” research universities representative (jointly appointed)
  5. Appointee, Kansas Association of Technical Colleges
  6. Appointee, Kansas Association of Community Colleges
  7. Student (appointed by Speaker Pro Tem)
  8. Parent of a student (appointed by Vice President of the Senate)
  9. Higher education expert (jointly appointed by President of the Senate and Speaker of the House)
    16–17. Two public members (one appointed by Speaker of the House; one by President of the Senate)

Fiscal impact

  • Board of Regents estimates additional State General Fund costs:
    • FY 2026: $76,000 (assumes 18 meetings — 12 one‑day and 6 two‑day); breakdown: $58,000 mileage; $7,000 subsistence; $11,000 lodging.
    • FY 2027: $38,000 (assumes 9 meetings — 6 one‑day and 3 two‑day); breakdown: $29,000 mileage; $3,500 subsistence; $5,500 lodging.
  • Legislative Administrative Services: no fiscal effect to Legislature budget (members reimbursed by Board of Regents).
  • Kansas Legislative Research Department: may incur additional, unestimated costs for mileage, food, and lodging when staff travel to Commission meetings.

Who is affected

  • State Board of Regents (administrative/reimbursement responsibilities and staff support).
  • Public universities, regional and research institutions, community colleges, technical colleges (subject of study; may be affected by recommendations).
  • Students, parents, and higher‑education stakeholders (policies on access, affordability, enrollment/completion could change).
  • State General Fund (modest, one‑time operating costs for Commission activity).

Procedural status / context

  • Introduced February 4, 2025; referred to Committee on Education.
  • Requested by Representative Rahjes; committee testimony included proponents (legislator and community college association) and neutral testimony from the Board of Regents.
  • The Commission is temporary (member terms end Jan 1, 2027) and is required to deliver two reports to the Legislature within the next two years.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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