Kansas Updates

Last week was a busy week in the Kansas Legislature with the turnaround deadline on February 20. This prevents bills that have not been passed in either the State House or Senate from moving forward. Harvesters opposes and has provided testimony for bills that would limit the types of food neighbors could purchase with their SNAP benefits and for a bill that would increase the administrative burden of additional verification of data for SNAP recipients.

Additionally, we are supporting an increase in budget enhancements for the Summer EBT program and the Governor’s budget proposal to cover the copay of students eligible for reduced-price breakfast and lunch. The budget passed out of the House did not include the reduced-price copay for school meals, and we encourage senators to add this back into their budget. Here are the bills we are watching in the Kansas Legislature and have provided testimony for:    

Oppose: 

SNAP choice restriction (SB 79): Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance. 

Data matching (SB 85): Directing the secretary for children and families to review and compare data for public assistance program eligibility. 

SNAP waiver restrictions (SB 161) Requiring legislative approval prior to any state agency seeking or implementing a public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or increases cost to the state or making certain changes in services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

Public benefit restrictions (SB 254) Prohibiting individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit.  

Support: 

Social Services Budget (Summer EBT) 

K-12 Budget (school meals)