January 25, 2021
Property Tax Transparency
One of the most major pieces of legislation that has passed this legislative session is Senate Bill 13, which is commonly referred to as the Property Tax Transparency bill. This bill passed the Kansas State Senate on Thursday, January 14, with a vote of 34-1.
This bill repeals the property tax lid, effective January 1, 2021, that applies to cities and counties that was put into place a few years ago. It would also establish notices and public hearing requirements for any taxing division that is seeking to raise property taxes.
If a taxing division is considering raising property taxes, under this bill it stipulates that they would be required to publish a notice with their intent of raising the property tax. They would need to notify the public of their intent and the date, time, and location of a public hearing on the resolution or ordinance. They would also be required to have this notificiation on their website ten days before the stated public hearing.
The bill also states that the county clerk would be required to mail a notification of the public hearing at least ten days in advance to all of the property owners that would be affected if the property tax rate is increased.
The bill would also prevent the county appraiser from increasing the property valuation as a result of normal repair, replacement, or maintenance of the existing structures, equipment, and improvements on the property.
Since the passage of this bill from the State Senate, the House Committee on Taxation is scheduled for a hearing on Senate Bill 13 for Tuesday, January 26.
“Value Them Both” Constitutional Amendment
Last year we debated what is known as the “Value Them Both” Amendment which would have placed a change to the Kansas Constitution regarding the regulation of abortions to the voters in the primary election of 2020 to the voters. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the amendment passed the State Senate, however, it did not pass the Kansas House. The amendment to the Kansas Constitution has been reintroduced in both chambers this legislative session. The House Federal and State Affairs Committee held hearings on the amendment and advanced it to the House floor. The Kansas House debated the measure on Friday, January 22, to have this placed on the ballot for voters to decide on the August 2022 election. The measure passed, 86-38. I voted, “Yes.”
Bill Hearings in Appropriations Committee
On Thursday, January 21, the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on a similar bill that was introduced last session regarding the combination of two funds into one for abandoned oil and gas wells for the state of Kansas.
House Bill 2022 states that any well that has been abandoned and not plugged according to current regulations would be plugged by the state of Kansas by utilizing the funds of the Well Plugging Assurance Fund. In the past, the ability to use these funds were in two separate accounts and this legislation would combine the two funds into one.
This bill also designates who the responsible parties are for an abandoned well in the state of Kansas.
We have also scheduled a hearing on House Bill 2021 which would allow for the construction of a veteran’s home facility, which would be located in the eastern quadrant of the state of Kansas. This bill would allow for the issuance of bonds not to exceed $17,500,000 for the construction of the veteran’s home. The maturity date on these bonds for the home shall not exceed twenty years from the date that the bonds were issued.
My intent is to have the Appropriations Committee work both of these bills next week and pass them out of committee so we can then have a debate on the House floor.
Contact Information
Anytime that one would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, one can tune in by listening to the audio footage at www.kslegislature.org.
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at [email protected]. Please contact me regarding any issues and legislation that we are discussing during session.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.
Rep. Troy Waymaster, 109th Dist., is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.