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Kansas Legislature's committee to study options for changing state budget process • Kansas Reflector

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Kansas Legislature's committee to study options for changing state budget process • Kansas Reflector


TOPEKA — Leaders of the Kansas Legislature approved formation of an interim committee to study options for changing the process of developing an annual state government budget that didn’t depend on when a governor submitted a spending plan to lawmakers.

Kansas governors traditionally offered budget insights to House and Senate members during the State of the State speech at outset of legislative sessions in January, but formal budget documents wouldn’t immediately be forwarded to legislators.

Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said the interim committee would convene for two days this fall to discuss the possibility of enabling the Legislature to get rolling on development of a budget before the governor’s blueprint was delivered. He said Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s budget outline in January could be considered an alternative to the Legislature’s bill rather than a starting point for debate.

“Then we’re not on pins and needles waiting for what’s this going to look like at the end of our first week of the session,” Masterson said. “We can introduce our own budget bill. And, really, you still have both options open to you.”

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Masterson said he would appreciate analysis of whether the House Appropriations Committee could be assigned responsibility of pulling together an initial version of the state budget. It would be passed to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for potential amendments, he said. This would be a departure from a tradition of the House and Senate independently producing budget bill.

“They would start. We would finish,” the Senate president said. “That would also help us confine our session into the 90 (allotted) days. It just would be a more efficient process.”

Under the current and potential system, House and Senate negotiators would attempt to resolve differences between the two chambers. Kelly, and future Kansas governors, would retain authority to veto entire budget bills or line-item expenditures in spending bills.

Members of the Legislative Coordinating Council, which convenes when the full Legislature wasn’t in session, approved formation of the bipartisan 21-member committee to consider amending the budget process. Republicans would take as many as 15 seats on the committee, while Democrats could be appointed to at least six seats.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said the special committee could investigate the surge in budget provisions tucked into the budget by conference committees comprised of three House members and three Senate members. The six-person committees include four Republicans and two Democrats. Conference committee reports cannot be amended — only accepted or rejected.

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“I’ve been thinking a long time about the budget process and certainly the fact that most of us would agree that we have way too many provisos coming in at the end during conference committees. It happens every time,” Hawkins said.

In the 2024 legislative session, he thought there were 30 to 40 special-interest provisos shoved into the budget. More often than not, these provisions weren’t considered by the House and Senate before dropped into the bill. Several provisos during the most recent legislative session not only directed the state to spend money, but identified a specific company or recipient of that earmark.

“Most of those items never get a chance to be vetted by the budget committees,” Hawkins said.



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Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer

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Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer


With the offseason quickly ramping up, several Kansas basketball players will have a pivotal decision to make in the coming weeks. Those with remaining collegiate eligibility will have to determine whether they are returning to Lawrence or exploring other opportunities on the open market.

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The Jayhawks are no strangers to losing talent to the transfer portal, as five players departed to other schools last year (six if you include Flory Bidunga’s brief stint in the portal).

Although KU has the ability to retool its roster with transfers across the country, there are some guys whom the program would certainly like to retain. But which players will end up leaving the university for more favorable options, and how many will there be?

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Flory Bidunga: Declare for NBA Draft

Bidunga took the biggest leap of any player on the roster this offseason, seeing his scoring average nearly triple in addition to winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the most dominant rim protectors in the country and proved that by averaging 2.6 blocks per game.

After spending two years in Lawrence, Bidunga now has another critical decision to make after he nearly left last offseason. There have even been rumors of him transferring to another school, even with the NBA Draft on the radar.

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Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) drives to the basket around TCU Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Most mock drafts place him in the early-to-mid second round range, leaving some potential for his stock to rise if he returned to college. However, as an undersized center who likely won’t develop a perimeter game anytime soon, it’s difficult to see where he could improve his draft position.

Going to the NBA feels like the smartest and most logical decision for Bidunga. He would complete his lifelong dream of playing in the pros and could develop at his own pace with a team willing to invest in him.

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Bryson Tiller: Stay at Kansas

A redshirt freshman who joined the team late last season, Tiller defied the odds and earned a spot in the starting rotation despite recovering from foot surgery. He was one of Bill Self’s most trusted options and formed a double-big pairing with Bidunga.

His final month or so of the season was quite abysmal, as he saw his averages plummet and his production take a massive hit. However, it is far too early to give up on the Overtime Elite product just yet.

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Tiller has a smooth post game and a lot of good attributes to his skill set. Bringing him back should be one of the biggest priorities for the coaching staff this offseason, and if he’s promised a starting spot at power forward next year, it is reasonable to assume he returns.

Elmarko Jackson: Transfer from Kansas

Jackson has endured a rough ride in Lawrence since committing to the Jayhawks as a McDonald’s All-American three years ago. Following an underwhelming freshman season, he missed the entire 2024-25 campaign due to a torn patellar tendon before returning this season, where he didn’t fare much better than two years ago.

Coming out of high school, Jackson was viewed as a player with immense potential. But after three years at the school with virtually no improvement, it might be best for him to spend his final two years of eligibility elsewhere.

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Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) controls the ball against St. John’s Red Storm guard Oziyah Sellers (4) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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Unfortunately, allowing the game-winning basket to St. John’s that ultimately ended the season embodied what his tenure at KU has been like. That might be the last memory fans have of Jackson in the crimson and blue.

Kohl Rosario: Transfer from Kansas

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Rosario had high expectations going into the year, starting as a member of the starting five before eventually being phased out of the rotation. The Miami native was touted as a strong 3-point shooter coming into college, but massively struggled from beyond the arc for most of the year, leading to a difficult path to playing time.

Even when Rosario wasn’t hitting his shots, though, he contributed with his athleticism and on the glass as a hustle player. Rosario is absolutely someone the coaching staff should prioritize this offseason. However, it may be best for him to leave the program to look for other opportunities.

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Mar 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Kohl Rosario (7) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

He showed flashes throughout the year yet was never trusted heavily by Coach Self. He proved he belonged in the rotation in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, where he made an immediate impact when he entered and outplayed other bench options.

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Ultimately, Rosario will already be competing with freshman wings Trent Perry and Luke Barnett for playing time next year. If the coaches are not going to give him minutes, there is little reason to believe he will stay another year at KU as such a high-potential player.

Paul Mbiya: Stay at Kansas

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After riding the pine for the majority of the regular season, Mbiya showed real promise in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a season-high eight points in the Round of 64 and playing strong minutes in place of Bidunga against St. John’s in the first half as he battled foul trouble.

With his otherworldly wingspan and frame, Mbiya feels like someone who could blossom into a star long-term. Even with his raw offensive game, he has traits that should allow him to improve once he refines his skill set.

Mbiya could technically transfer this offseason without it being a massive surprise, but that stretch at the end of the year may have been enough to earn Coach Self’s trust. At the very least, he could be playing double-digit minutes per game next year as the backup five.

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Jamari McDowell: Stay at Kansas

McDowell committed to Kansas as a member of the Class of 2023, making him and Jackson the longest-tenured players on the roster. He has been a steady bench piece who plays sparingly but offers defensive intensity and outside shooting when he enters the game.

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Unlike Jackson, McDowell didn’t have the same level of hype coming out of high school and was never viewed as much more than a role player. He is best suited to play short spurts off the bench to provide an offensive spark when needed.

Given his clear love for Kansas, his situation is far different from Jackson’s. McDowell feels like someone who is content with limited minutes and simply wearing a Jayhawk uniform with pride.



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