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K-State Today

January 23, 2019

Legislative Update

Submitted by Sue Peterson

The Kansas Legislature convened at the State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 14. At the opening session, 125 new and returning members of the House of Representatives took the oath of office administered by the Kansas secretary of state.

Earlier that day the Inauguration Ceremony for Gov. Laura Kelly, Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers, statewide elected officials and judges was held on the steps of the State Capitol.

Wednesday, Jan. 16, Gov. Kelly delivered her State of the State Address, and details of her budget were released the following day. Details can be found here

Recommendations for higher education:

  • Restores operating funds originally reduced in FY 2017 $8.9 million for all Regents institutions — $1.8 million for Kansas State University.
  • Recommends a 2.5 percent pay increase for state employees.
  • Restores $5.0 million to the Global Food Systems Research Grant for Kansas State University.

Interim Dean of Agriculture and Interim Director of K-State Research Ernie Minton will present the Annual Agriculture Report to the Senate and House of Representatives Agriculture Committees on Thursday, Jan. 24. In addition, Dean Minton; Associate Interim Director Martin Draper; Assistant Director of Family and Consumer Sciences Paula Peters; and Agriculture Economics Professor Art Barnaby will brief the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee on the recently passed Farm Bill.

The Office of Government Relations hosts bi-monthly Legislative Updates. Future dates include Feb. 1, Feb. 15, March 15, March 29 and April 12. All updates are brown bag sessions at noon, in the K-State Student Union's Cottonwood Room.