Welcome to the 2025 legislative session. It is an honor to represent the citizens of the 40th Kansas Senate District. This will be my nineth year as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and I will continue as the Chairman.
In the past, both the House and Senate worked on the Governor’s budget simultaneously. This session, Ways and Means and the Appropriations committee will not wait on the Governor’s budget; we will work on the legislative budget instead of the Governor’s budget. The budget process will start in the House, which was the process years ago. After the completion of the House bill, the plan is to pass the bill to the Senate on approximately February 13.
This year I will also serve on a new committee, Government Efficiencies, which will focus on outdated government rules, policies, regulations, and ways the state can do better saving tax dollars.
The Committee of Efficiency has launched a Government Efficiency portal on the Kansas Legislature’s website to receive input from the public. Citizens may also opt to simply send e-mails to [email protected]. The portal, which is a simple form, can be accessed at: https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansacoge/.
“One of the reasons we created COGE was to receive ideas directly from Kansans on how government can operate more efficiently and effectively. This easy-to-access portal allows the public to submit ideas that the committee can then study and potentially turn into legislation,” said Senate President Masterson.
The annual March for Life Rally was held in Topeka last Wednesday. Hundreds of Kansans marched to the State Capitol, where they were joined by dozens of pro-life legislators. The event highlighted the pro-life legislative successes of the past two years and acknowledged the work ahead for the movement, while mourning the 19,467 lives tragically lost in Kansas to abortion in 2023.
The Do No Harm bill passed the Senate and the House this week and has now gone to the Governor for approval. The Do No Harm will protect children in Kansas from harmful drugs and transgender surgery.
SB35 which would eliminate the 1.5 mill levy for state educational and institutional buildings. The 1.5 mill levy is the only instance in which the state government puts property tax revenue into the state general fund, all other property taxes are local in nature. The money for the impacted buildings would be made up from the state general fund. This is a demand transfer which means it is included in the budget every year. This 1.5 mill elimination will equate to approximately a $75 million reduction in property tax for the state taxpayers. The bill passed the Senate 38-2 and has been passed to the House for consideration.
SB10, which passed 37-3, would exempt an array of residential vehicles from property tax, including motorized bicycle, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, watercraft, snowmobiles, and trailers. The bill was supported by county appraisers who said it would create efficiencies and lower costs, as often the resources required to assess these vehicles exceeded the revenue collected. School districts impacted by this exemption would automatically receive equivalent revenue from the state general fund. This bill has also been sent to the House for consideration.
My office has several dates available for 6th graders through high school to serve as a page. Working as a page in the Kansas Legislature is an excellent way to learn more about the legislative process. If your child is interested in being a page for my office the following dates are available: February 17, March 3 and March 10.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: [email protected] or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.
I will try to keep everyone up to date as to what is happening under the dome.
Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the 40th District senator.