After a challenging session, Kansas children’s advocates look to better policies in the 2022 Legislature

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Adrienne Olejnik is the vice president at Kansas Action for Children.

Let’s talk about 2022.

Yes, I know that we’re not even halfway through 2021. But this most recent legislative session set up plenty of possibilities for next year.

You might have heard grumbling about this recently concluded session, and I’m not going to claim it was easy. But our team at Kansas Action for Children kept close watch. We attended committee meetings. We monitored floor action. We followed news coverage in outlets like the Kansas Reflector.

Underneath the fighting and unpleasantness, progress was made. Even better policy was proposed and awaits action from committees and chambers. Kansas kids and families stand to benefit.

In the months ahead, Kansans should work with their representatives and senators to make sure they take up this unfinished business in January 2022.

PROGRESS MADE

Explaining federal relief: The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that without child care, many adults simply can’t work. KAC advocated for federal relief in the child care sector. We worked with national and state partners to spread the word about funds in the various stimulus packages. With this spring’s American Rescue Plan, $50 billion will go toward early learning programs, a sector that lost one in six jobs. With this support, Kansas providers will have access to funding they need to stay open or re-open — so the rest of our economy can, too.

Anti-vaccine efforts defeated: We were one of 29 organizations and individuals testifying against Senate Bill 212, an anti-vaccine bill, in the Senate health committee. Currently, trained medical professionals collaborate to update the list of required vaccines for Kansas schools and child care facilities. But SB212 cut out the experts, putting kids’ health in the hands of politicians. The bill also was amended to prohibit employers from requiring vaccines — even in health care settings. The committee passed the bill, and the child vaccination part of its contents were introduced on the floor as an amendment. Thankfully, advocates’ work paid off and the attempt failed, 17-18 in the Senate.

Tax calamity averted: Short-sighted tax bills threatened to undo the progress we’ve made since tax reform passed in 2017. Remember, state revenue funds our schools, hospitals and roads. This session, we watched Senate Bill 22 balloon from a $175 million package when it was passed out of committee to $500 million when it was passed by the Senate. The bill included tax breaks for big business and higher-income Kansans, but it was inflated by amendments that made it shockingly expensive and irresponsible; the House did not take it up. Another tax bill, Senate Bill 50, ultimately passed both chambers. Although problematic, it will cost the state less than the defeated SB22.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Access to critical supports: House Bill 2371 removes a requirement that parents seek child support enforcement before they can access child care assistance or food assistance. It also eliminates the work requirement from those programs for parents enrolled in an educational program. In other words, it removed barriers to programs that keep kids and their parents healthy and learning. KAC and fellow proponents submitted nearly 40 pieces of testimony. A bipartisan majority supported it in committee — but the full House didn’t take a vote. These simple changes would support our fellow Kansans as we all recover from the pandemic, and the House must take up the bill next year.

Expansion remains elusive: Medicaid expansion has always been the right thing to do in Kansas, for moral, financial and practical reasons. Yet again a Medicaid expansion bill was introduced and didn’t receive a hearing. KAC has been particularly concerned that the legislature continues to deny Medicaid expansion because an increasing number of Kansas kids remain uninsured — an estimated 43,000 in 2019. While most of these kids may already qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, expanding Medicaid is critical to reversing the trend. The American Rescue Plan adds up to $450 million in incentives to expand — more than enough to cover the cost.

Restoring a critical credit: Before 2013, Kansas had a refundable food sales tax credit, meaning filers whose credit amount exceeded their tax liability received the difference in their refunds. Nonrefundable credits are less helpful for low-income Kansans, who often do not owe enough in taxes to benefit. The shift to nonrefundable credits dramatically decreased the number of filers using the credit. Kids and their families paid the price. House Bill 2091 would reinstate the refundability of the credit and help thousands. Despite only favorable testimony, the bill didn’t even get a vote in the committee.

As you can see, child advocates supported good policy and helped lead the charge against bad policy in the 2021 session. But there is so much left to accomplish, and so much good that our Legislature can do for Kansas kids and families. We’ve mapped out the path ahead.

Let’s get it done together. Will you join us in holding our elected leaders accountable to making better choices in 2022?

Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.