Topeka ? The House on Tuesday advanced a proposal giving the Kansas Board of Regents more authority, but not before getting into several fights about higher education.

After the smoke cleared, the House voted 74-43 for a bill that specifically would put the regents in charge of planning for higher education, and give them more authority in dealing with community colleges, vocational-technical schools and Washburn University in Topeka.

The House also added a provision to the bill that would require public college and university professors to disclose their consulting contracts.

Some lawmakers have complained that some professors have failed to disclose their ties to businesses when providing “expert” testimony on issues that could affect those businesses.

A final House vote on the measure is expected today. It then will need Senate approval to advance.

During debate, several lawmakers tried to amend the bill, renewing fights that have been waged all session on higher education issues.

Rep. R.J. Wilson, D-Pittsburg, tried to add an amendment that would have required the regents secure funding that was promised as part of a higher education reform bill in 1999 before the board could enact the changes that would be established by the new bill.

“This sends a strong message that you guys need to get busy and follow your priorities,” Wilson told fellow lawmakers.

But opponents of the amendment said because of the state’s fiscal crunch, it was unfair to expect either the Legislature or the regents to come up with the funds. Wilson’s amendment failed, 52-71.

Rep. John Toplikar, R-Olathe, tried to insert a provision that would limit tuition increases at public colleges and universities to three times the annual inflation rate.

Toplikar said schools such as Kansas University were preparing to nearly double tuition in the next five years.

“That’s a huge jump,” he said.

But Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing, argued that lawmakers have given universities greater budgeting responsibilities, so they shouldn’t constrain them with limits on tuition. Toplikar’s amendment failed 54-63.

Several lawmakers said they feared the regents were making a power grab.

House Minority Leader Jim Garner, D-Coffeyville, said, “This is a major intrusion by the regents into the local responsibilities of community colleges and vocational-technical schools.”

But others argued the proposals were needed to allow the regents to run more efficiently. The proposals arose from a consultant’s report that focused on the 1999 higher education reform legislation and said Kansas needed a more unified system of governing higher education.