Government Efficiency

HB 2738 directs Kansas' Secretary for Children and Families to request or update a federal waiver application that would allow the state to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using benefits to buy candy and soft drinks. The bill amends state law to facilitate this waiver request, specifically targeting food commonly marketed as candy or soft drinks. This change would directly affect SNAP recipients in Kansas, restricting their ability to purchase these items with government benefits if the waiver is approved. The bill itself does not change current SNAP rules but enables the state to seek federal approval for this restriction through a procedural amendment.

SB 151 requires Kansas' Secretary of Health and Environment to request a federal waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by July 1, 2025, to end participation in four specific Medicaid services under the KanCare demonstration program. These services include expanded behavioral health care, residential/substance use disorder treatment, continuous eligibility for parents, and extended coverage for youth transitioning out of children's health insurance (CHIP). If CMS grants the waiver, Kansas must immediately stop funding these services; if denied, the state must reapply annually. The bill directly affects Kansas Medicaid beneficiaries currently receiving these services through the KanCare program.

SB 428 requires Kansas' Secretary for Children and Families and Secretary of Health and Environment to create formal data-sharing agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) upon written request. These agreements would enable the state to share relevant data with federal agencies to support programs like food assistance (USDA) and healthcare (HHS). The bill mandates that state secretaries comply with written data requests from federal agencies within 30 days after such agreements are in place. This bill directly affects Kansas state agencies that administer public assistance programs and federal agencies managing national benefit programs.

HB 2788 establishes a 7-member business enterprise program oversight task force to review Kansas' program supporting blind vendors operating on state property. The task force must study program administration, vendor recruitment, fund handling, and compliance, and submit a report to the legislature by July 2027. The bill also renames the program, transfers funds from a "vending facilities account" to a new "business enterprise program fund" in the state treasury, and authorizes legislative audits of the program's finances and operations. This bill directly affects blind vendors licensed under the Randolph-Sheppard Act who operate state property vending facilities.

SB 256 requires all full-time Kansas state employees to work in person at their assigned office, facility, or field location by July 1, 2025. Agency leaders may grant exceptions for nonstandard work hours, unreasonable in-office requirements, or space constraints. Agencies must report all exceptions to the Department of Administration by August 1, 2025, and the Department will submit a detailed legislative report by October 1, 2025. This bill directly affects all full-time employees across Kansas state agencies.