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Our summary of the 2025 Legislative Session

What grade did the 2025 Republican supermajority-controlled KS Legislature earn when it comes to supporting public education in Blue Valley? Some of the state’s most influential Republican legislators hail from Blue Valley and Johnson County. Certainly they voted for our kids and their neighborhood public schools, right? Read our summary below and tell us what you think.


Here are our thoughts, as parents and community members who’ve advocated for our neighborhood public schools since 2105: the actions of the MAGA Republican supermajority in the 2025 Kansas Legislature did not support Blue Valley students and did not adequately fund Special Education (which especially harms Blue Valley, with its large SPED population). KsLeg also cut numerous programs that previous legislatures - comprised of both Republicans and Democrats - had put in place to support students, teachers, and public education.


KsLeg enacted Brownback-style income tax cuts by overriding a veto from Gov. Laura Kelly, coming right behind income tax cuts made last year that are still taking effect.


They worked on voucher-style programs designed to encourage families to enroll in private schools rather than public schools - although no voucher bills passed this session. We credit the many education advocates and community members who made their voices clearly heard on this issue.


KsLeg shortened the time for mail ballots to be returned, disenfranchising mail voters, and talked about more ways to limit voting. Kansas now has one of the shortest vote-by-mail timelines in the nation.


Boundaries were overstepped as legislation was passed attempting to dictate curriculum (the job of the elected State Board of Education) and district spending decisions (the job of locally-elected Boards of Education).


Many legislators and education advocates were concerned by the speed of the session - one of the shortest in history - which caused legislation to be rushed through without time for debate and without giving voters a chance to weigh in. 


If you moved to Blue Valley for the schools and these legislative actions concern you, email your legislators today! Find them here: https://ksleglookup.org Before sending an email, it’s worth your time to read the more detailed information below, with sources cited.


MORE TAX CUTS SPELL LOWER REVENUE TO FUND SCHOOLS:


After the KsLeg overrode Gov. Kelly’s veto, income tax rates on individuals and businesses will be cut drastically, predicted to cost the state over $1 billion annually. This is after a large income tax cut in 2024, the effects of which on state revenues have not been completely seen. Public schools are NOT yet fully funded since Special Education costs are not funded (see below). 


(Reminder: Brownback’s legislative allies cut school funding in precisely this way: they claimed to fund schools in the budget, but slashed revenue with irresponsible tax cuts. This meant funding for schools - and roads, and state agencies, etc. - had to be cut.)


Which Blue Valley-area legislators voted FOR this irresponsible tax cut and voted to override Gov. Kelly’s veto? 

Kellie Warren, TJ Rose, Chris Croft, Sean Tarwater, and Carl Turner. 


PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHER-STYLE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO LEAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:


5 voucher bills were introduced, one (SB 87) was “killed” but 4 voucher bills remain active. Because 2025 was the first year of a 2-year legislative cycle, bills not voted on can be acted on the next year. Why did SB 87 “die?” We think Kansas voters let their legislators know they oppose giving tax money to private schools. Although SB 87 passed the Senate, it did not have enough votes for a veto override and was not acted on in the House. 


Which BV-area legislators voted to fund private schools with voucher-type schemes? Kellie Warren and TJ Rose voted FOR voucher bill SB 87; Sen. Cindy Holscher voted AGAINST. https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb87/ 


2014 KS SUPREME COURT RULING IS THE ONLY REASON PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED:


Legislators who don’t like it when the Kansas Supreme Court requires them to uphold the state Constitution succeeded in putting another Constitutional Amendment on the August 2026 primary ballot. SCR 1611 would make the position of Kansas Supreme Court Justice an elected position, instead of the current research-backed merit-based selection process. Like the “Value Them Both” amendment that failed in Aug 2022, Republican sponsors of the plan have strategically placed the amendment on the Aug. 2026 primary ballot - when statistically more Republicans will vote, overall turnout is lower, and voters are often more conservative. If passed, this amendment could majorly impact public education in Kansas, since a 2014 decision by the KS SC is the only reason legislators have funded public schools to the court-mandated minimum of “adequacy.”


LIMITS ON VOTING RIGHTS MAY BE JUST THE BEGINNING:


Voters will have 3 fewer days to turn around a mail ballot from the time it’s mailed by the election office, to the time it must be returned there. Legislators changed the cutoff for ballots to be returned to 7 pm on Election Day - but did NOT add any days on the front end of the window. This will disenfranchise college students, military members, those who travel on business, and disabled and homebound voters who vote may mail. Legislators talked about ending early voting altogether, and said they may attempt that next session.

Which BV-area legislators voted to DECREASE your voting rights? 

Kellie Warren, TJ Rose, Chris Croft, Sean Tarwater, and Carl Turner. 


BUDGET AND TAX CUTS COMBINE TO PUT STATE REVENUES BACK INTO THE RED:


“When coupled with the five-year, $2 billion slash to income taxes from last year’s special session, and assorted new legislation that would deliver tax cuts...puts the state on a course to blow through billions in reserves and face a budget shortfall within three years” - Remember what we said above about how Brownback’s tax experiment resulted in numerous cuts to public education. 


PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOT FULLY FUNDED UNLESS SPECIAL EDUCATION IS FULLY FUNDED:


The budget did NOT include enough money to fully fund Special Education excess costs; therefore it did NOT fully fund public education. Special Education remains seriously underfunded. Next year’s predicted SpEd shortfall is $440 million statewide. KsLeg added only $10 million. Last year the KsLeg said they’d reimburse $73 million in 2025, but they reneged on that promise. Blue Valley Schools spends millions of dollars out of the general fund yearly to fund what the state doesn’t provide in SpEd costs. This hurts every BV student, because funding is taken from General Education to fund necessary SPED costs.


LITERACY SUPPORT PROGRAM FUNDED AND DEVELOPED LAST YEAR WAS CUT THIS YEAR:


The budget removed funding for Blueprint for Literacy, which was just developed and funded last year. This plan to train teachers in evidence-based reading instruction cost just $10 million yearly - now it’s gone. (Passed during an election year; cut the following NON-election year. Fund and develop one year, cut the next: Fiscally responsible?) https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/04/16/capitol-update-nikki-mcdonald-literacy-257603/ 



KSDE PUBLIC SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAM CUT FROM BUDGET:


Since 2018 KsLeg has provided funds to KSDE “to develop and adopt statewide standards for making all public schools and attendance centers operated by school districts in this state safe and secure” until this year’s budget, which did NOT provide Safe and Secure Schools grants.


KSLEG SUGGESTED SCHOOLS SHOULD USE OPERATING FUNDS TO COVER WHAT THE STATE BUDGET HAS COVERED FOR YEARS:


Items cut from the state budget will either go away or will be funded by school districts’ general funds - which are NOT intended to, nor are funded well enough, to cover these items. Past legislatures have initiated and funded the programs listed above and others; this session saw many cuts to programs - along with income tax cuts for wealthy Kansans and businesses.


WHAT NOW? 


Contact your legislators, even though the session has ended, and no legislative seats are up for election this year. Let your State Senator and KS House Rep know that maintaining excellent public education is a priority for you. Tell them you’ll be watching their votes next session.

Talk to your neighbors and fellow school parents. Be sure they know the importance of their votes to our Blue Valley Schools and community. Invite them to follow our page and read Blog posts. 


Find your legislators and their email addresses here: https://ksleglookup.org 


Additional Sources:











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