By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Local Republican legislators said property tax relief will be a top issue as the Kansas Legislature began its session Monday.
Kansas Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, give a sneak peek at key issues slated for the Kansas Legislative Session.
Rahjes, who represents the 110th district, which includes parts of Ellis County, outlined priorities for the 2025 legislative session, including education, agriculture, water policy and tax relief.
"Water is still a huge issue," Rahjes said. "I think the top issue will be taxes."
Rahjes said his conversations with Kansans have highlighted a strong desire for property tax relief, which will be a focus of legislative efforts.
He also pointed to the state's financial reserves as a potential source for funding this relief. Broader discussions will address caps on real estate values and additional measures to reduce Kansans' financial burden.
Billinger, 40th District, lists the budget process, the effects of recent tax cuts, university funding and property taxes as key priorities for the 2025 session.
Billinger said Kansas has received federal funds as budget committees have focused on reducing and paying off debt. Billinger is the chairman of both the Legislative Budget Committee and Ways and Means Committee in the Kansas Senate.
"I believe our rainy day fund has over $1.8 billion. That will keep us in good shape for a long time to come," Billinger said.
Billinger said Kansas is spending $400 million more than its revenue, partly due to tax cuts and payments to Panasonic, a technology provider of electric batteries.
Wasinger also recognizes property taxes as a significant concern and said her focus is on reducing budgets and curbing increases.
"I think the election proves that most Kansasans want property tax relief. We will absolutely be addressing that at the state level," she said.
Rahjes and Wasinger said water is another issue for Kansas in the 2025 session, which will focus on developing sustainable solutions and strategies.
"I think you will continue to see the Legislature work with other partners on a good water policy and a long-term funding mechanism beyond the next year or two," Rahjes said.
"We are taking care of funding water issues in the state to ensure we continue to have water for future generations," Wasinger said.
Billinger said there are funding disparities for Fort Hays State University and emphasized the importance of securing resources for the college.
"Fort Hays gets less than other universities of similar size," he said. "It's really a question of fairness."
K-12 education and support for rural schools remain consistent discussion topics in the Kansas session.
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and transferring control of education to the states.
Rahjes said whatever action Trump takes, he hopes to review state test scores, school sizes and special education in the session.
"There will be discussions for a Kansas solution to continue K-12 regardless of what happens from a federal level," he said.
Rahjes said agriculture is another key focus for the Kansas Legislature, including renewable fuels, updates to agricultural regulations and foreign ownership.
"We'll probably have a bill that will be cautious but protect good corporate citizens in Kansas that were here long before Chinese ownership," he said.
Rahjes said health care discussions should focus on improving affordability and accessibility, especially in Kansas' rural areas.
Wasinger adds there is a need to reduce the waiting list for services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Wasinger also said she supports the Help Not Harm Act, a bill aimed at prohibiting gender reassignment surgeries and hormone therapy for anyone younger than 18.
"Anyone who's raised children knows that they don't always know what they want until they get a little bit older," she said.
Wasinger said Democratic Kansas Governor Laura Kelly previously vetoed the bill, but Wasinger hopes to make progress on the issue in 2025.
Billinger said there have been concerns about Kelly's spending practices, particularly citing unauthorized fund allocations.
"I don't think it's a secret," Billinger said. "She wanted to build a practice football facility for the Kansas City Chiefs. There was never any legislation or authority to do that."
Billinger said the funds allocated for the facility were returned following a review.
You can learn more about Rep. Ken Rahjes, Sen. Rick Billinger and Rep. Barb Wasinger and Gov. Laura Kelly on their websites.