(AP) — Kansas legislative leaders plan to send members of the House and Senate budget committee on a tour of higher education campuses later this year.

A bipartisan council of the Legislature’s top leaders Monday approved six days of visits.

Lawmakers will visit Fort Hays State University and the other five public universities, plus one community college and one technical college. Legislative leaders also will participate in the tour.

Senate President and Wichita Republican Susan Wagle said she hopes the visits will provide “two-way communication.”

The GOP-dominated Legislature voted earlier this year for cuts in higher education funding totaling $44 million over the next two fiscal years.

House Minority Leader and Lawrence Democrat Paul Davis said lawmakers need to understand the effects of the cuts.