Over the Cattle Guard | Week 11: Budget Passed, Child Support & Tax Relief, and Protecting Kansas
This week marked the end of the 2025 legislative session, and many key bills were passed and sent to Governor Kelly for approval. We will return April 10-12 to review any vetoed bills and continue fighting for fiscal responsibility, family support, and protecting Kansas.
SB 125 – The 2025-2026 Budget: Fiscal Responsibility
One of the most significant accomplishments of this session was passing SB 125, the state budget.
📊 Key Highlights:
✔️ State General Fund (SGF) spending reduced by 1.9%, from $10.85B to $10.64B.
✔️ Education receives nearly 62% of SGF funding.
✔️ K-12 funding increased by 7%, including an additional $10M for special education.
This budget funds essential services while maintaining fiscal discipline.
📌 View the full budget breakdown here:
Kansas State Budget Details
CCR 2062 – Child Support & Tax Relief for Families
This bill makes important pro-family changes in Kansas:
👶 Child support will now be calculated from the date of conception.
💰 Retirement accounts will be considered when determining child support obligations.
🏡 Families will now receive a $2,320 tax exemption for unborn children.
This is a significant step toward supporting families and recognizing life at all stages.
HB 2240 – Limiting Government Overreach
This bill prevents state agencies from unilaterally expanding public assistance programs or increasing costs without legislative approval.
It also ensures that any changes to services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) must be approved by the Legislature or the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC).
This helps prevent wasteful spending and ensures taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.
SB 9 – Protecting Kansas from Foreign Influence
This bill strengthens national security and state sovereignty by:
🚫 Prohibiting government agencies from using drones made with critical components from foreign adversaries.
🚫 Requiring foreign entities to register if they acquire non-residential land within 100 miles of Kansas military bases.
This ensures foreign governments cannot acquire sensitive land near our military installations.
SB 199 – Fireworks & Fallen Firefighters Memorial
🎆 Expanding Fireworks Sales:
Permanent retailers can now sell fireworks year-round.
Seasonal retailers can sell fireworks from June 20 to July 7.
🔥 Honoring Kansas Firefighters:
The Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Wichita is now the official State of Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
This is a great way to support small businesses and honor the brave firefighters who protect our communities.
Looking Ahead – Preparing for Veto Session
While we made significant progress, our work is not done. We will return to Topeka on April 10-12 to review Governor Kelly’s vetoes and work to get key bills across the finish line.
Final Thoughts
This session was about restoring power to the people and ensuring fiscal responsibility. While not every goal was achieved, we made significant progress toward building a stronger, more accountable Kansas.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and engagement. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out at [email protected].
Thank you for allowing me to serve!
Best,
Dale Helwig
State Representative, District 1
