April 5, 2023
Hello from Topeka.
We will be at first adjournment this week and then off for two weeks and come back to finish work on the budget and look at what bills the Governor will veto and see if action will be taken to override. Here are a few of the highlights from the last week:
House Budget - Over the last several months budget committees have been hard at work finding efficiencies and ensuring our state is in a healthy position. This past week, the House approved its version of the state’s budget. Our budget spends less than the Governor’s budget recommendations and leaves the state with roughly $1.5 billion in a rainy-day fund to help weather the tough times. Here are some key areas where the House differed from the governor’s recommendation: In the governor’s budget recommendation, $220 million would be transferred from the state general fund to the Build Kansas Matching Grant Fund providing a state match for federal infrastructure dollars. The House instead split that transfer into four yearly transfers of $55 million, developed means-testing for entities requesting grants, and added oversight from the legislature. The House added $2 million to the Alternatives to Abortion Program to enhance resources that promote childbirth. This allows struggling mothers to obtain all the information they need when decisions about childbirth are being made. The House added targeted funding to help those in need of home and community-based services, such as those in the intellectual and developmentally disabled community; the frail elderly; and our nursing homes. We hope that this increase will allow Kansans to get the care that so many rely on. The House removed the transfer of $50 million from the State General Fund to the Governor’s office which would have given her the oversight of the state’s match when agencies apply for federal grants.
Comprehensive Tax Package - The Kansas House passed a comprehensive tax package that will not raise taxes on any Kansan. The tax package will result in a simpler tax code that has a single rate, no matter your income. To give relief for low-income Kansans, we have increased the level at which taxes kick in by thousands of dollars, meaning that many people in our state will not pay anything in income tax. We also increased the standard deduction and tied it to inflation so Kansans can have some relief during hard economic times. It was important that we spread the tax relief across as many people as possible, and this package accomplishes that. Many homeowners in our state have been hit hard by rising property tax bills. Our new package will increase the residential property tax exemption from $40,000 to $80,000, giving around $80 million in property tax relief directly to Kansans. The grocery sales tax rate decline has already begun but is not set to phase out for another couple years. The plan passed this week will move the total elimination date to July 1st of this year for the state portion of sales tax on groceries. This will save the average Kansas household $310. I did vote in favor of the plan, although there were some things that could have been better but in order to move forward it was the best that could come out of our side.
Promise Scholarship Expansion - House Republicans passed a bill last week that expands scholarships offered under the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act to those studying transportation, elementary education, and secondary education. The scholarships offered by this program assist Kansans attending college in-state who will remain and work in Kansas for two years following graduation. HB 2132 provides educational opportunity for students who wish to join our workforce in needed areas for our state.
Establishing the Office of the Child Advocate - Children across our state deserve to be protected and be heard. The House voted this week to establish the independent agency, The Office of the Child Advocate. This advocate hears and investigates complaints from within the Kansas child welfare system. The Child Advocate helps children and families receive coordination within the system and helps resolve issues that occur. An oversight board of 11 members ensures that the Office of the Child Advocate is carrying out their duties and remaining privileged and confidential. We want to provide as many resources as we can that help children who are dealing with the child welfare system.
Fighting the Manufacture and Sale of Fentanyl - The threat posed by fentanyl increases every day. As this drug quickly becomes a leading cause of death among young people, we are taking action to mitigate the damage that has been seen across the country. House Republicans passed legislation again reaffirming our commitment to a safe and secure Kansas by increasing penalties for those who manufacture fentanyl. Fentanyl manufacturers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law with level 1 felonies that carry presumptive prison times.
These are just some the things that were discussed and passed last week. You can read about all the bills that passed or the status of the remainder that could be taken up next year by going online to kslegislature.org. If you would like to contact me: Email is: [email protected], phone during the session (785) 296-7463 or you can always try my cell number at (785) 302-8416.
Thanks for reading. It is my honor to serve you.