The final week of the general session began with our leaders in the House trying to pass a budget, address some critical issues to keep Kansas government operational and adjourn the session as quickly as possible to prevent unnecessary spread of the coronavirus across the state.

With hopes of an early adjournment, House leaders called for us to cancel committee meetings after Monday. Our focus was on measures to help address the pandemic.

Those measures include Senate Bill 27 that extends unemployment benefits to 26 weeks at all levels of employment and removes the one week waiting period for benefits to begin. While most jobs will return more quickly, we expect some will be slower to return.

If you may have been impacted by a layoff or job loss you can apply for benefits at https://www. dol.ks.gov/

Senate Bill 102 allows our courts to extend certain deadlines during times of crisis. We are seeing the cancellation of jury trials and some courts have had to close.

Without the bill, over 80 people awaiting trial for murder in Wichita alone could have been freed without trial.

Others could be released when a jury could not be seated because 70 potential jurors could not be brought into one room. This bill will assure no one loses their day in court because of the public health crisis.

Senate Bill 142 allowed school districts and the state board of education more flexibility to decide how to best deliver instruction and help children complete this school year.

This was passed from the House before the Governor’s executive order relating to closing schools. Regardless of the length of closure, we want to make sure academic progress continues.

With House Concurrent Resolution 5025, we extended emergency powers for the governor and legislative leaders.

Working together, should they need to continue to extend the emergency declaration, it can be done until the next legislature convenes in January.

This resolution makes sure federal funds can flow into our state, businesses can access insurance policies that require a declaration, and state resources can be quickly and most efficiently used to help those who need it.

Tax topics included checking into whether the Department of Revenue had the authority needed to change deadlines. We made certain they could match the federal changes to the income tax deadline.

For those renewing their vehicle registration, we wanted to make sure the department had flexibility to waive penalties should county offices close through a month end. The Department of Revenue does have these abilities and we expect announcements during the coming week.

The House was ready to begin negotiations on the budget by Monday morning.

The Senate had a more robust agenda and worked hard on many good bills that we can address if we return for the veto session. They took up their budget debate on Tuesday. Negotiations went through Wednesday and a final vote and adjournment were achieved on Thursday.

The budget meets the state’s basic needs. Spending was held to conservative levels given the uncertainty of our tax revenues during the economic slowdown. We do have the highest ending balance we have had in several years (9.5 percent), which should help us get through these next months.

The veto session is set to begin April 27 if we are able to return. Sine Die, our final adjournment, follows on May 21.

Our word for the week is community. Working together for our common good needs to be central in democratic government. We all play an important role in our community.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and our community as we work through the coming weeks.

Continue to let me know your questions and where the state can help at steven.johnson@house.ks.gov.