SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 123
As Amended by House Committee on Education
Brief*
SB 123, as amended, would require a veteran to have
been stationed in Kansas for at least 11 months during
service in order for the veteran, or the spouse or dependents
of the veteran, to be deemed residents of Kansas for the
purpose of tuition and fees at postsecondary educational
institutions.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.
Current law provides that for a veteran, or the spouse or
dependent of a veteran, to be deemed a resident of Kansas
for tuition purposes, a veteran must either:
●Have been permanently stationed in Kansas during
service in the armed forces; or
●Had established residency in Kansas prior to
service in the armed forces.
The bill would replace the requirement that a veteran
must have been permanently stationed in Kansas with a
requirement that a veteran must have been stationed in
Kansas for at least 11 months during service in the armed
forces. The person seeking to be deemed a resident for the
purpose of tuition would still be required to live in Kansas at
the time of enrollment.
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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org In addition, the bill would remove language that
authorizes tuition reimbursements for certain students who
were enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution
during the 2015-2016 school year.
Background
The bill was introduced by Senators Pittman and Peck.
Senate Committee on Education
In the Senate Committee hearing on February 15, 2023,
proponent testimony was provided by Senator Peck, Senator
Pittman, and a representative of the Kansas Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW). The proponents generally stated the bill
would incentivize individuals to move to Kansas as it would
ease the financial burden placed upon military families who
often do not qualify for in-state tuition rates.
Three private citizens and a representative of the
Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) provided
written-only proponent testimony, generally stating the bill
would benefit Kansas and military families.
No other testimony was provided.
House Committee on Education
In the House Committee hearing on March 14, 2023,
Senator Peck, Senator Pittman, and representatives of the
KNEA and VFW provided proponent testimony. The KNEA
representative indicated enactment of the bill could result in
increased enrollment by creating student opportunities that
may have previously been considered unaffordable.
No other testimony was provided.
2- 123 The House Committee amended the bill to change its
effective date to be upon publication in the Kansas Register.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the State Board of
Regents indicated the bill could have a fiscal effect on post-
secondary educational institutions, but the amount would vary
by institution depending on the number of students impacted.
The State Board of Regents is unable to estimate a fiscal
effect because the number of students who would qualify for
resident tuition and the number of students who would
choose to stay in Kansas cannot be determined.
Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is
not reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
Postsecondary education; residency determination; tuition and fees; veterans
3- 123