TOPEKA - The 2022 legislative session began Monday, January 10 and senators immediately began work on a host of issues.
The major requirements for this session are to complete the redistricting process and pass a budget. One of the first bills the Senate worked on was SB 318 which would aid property owners whose property was destroyed by natural disasters. The bill does so in two ways: It creates a sales tax exemption for purchases necessary to reconstruct, repair or replace a fence used to enclose agricultural land that was damaged or destroyed by wildfire, flood, tornado, or other natural disaster occurring on or after January 1, 2021. It expands the ability of county commissions to abate property taxes on certain types of real property destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disasters. This bill was amended to include, beginning July 1, 2022, exempt from sales tax all sales of tangible personal property and services necessary to construct, reconstruct, repair or replace any fence used to enclose agricultural land.
Health care worker shortages continue to plague the country with shortages among nurses and other health care workers. In the ultimate twist of logic, some are even asking workers who test positive to come back to work, while unvaccinated who test negative will be laid off. Last year health care providers were heros and this year they are losing their jobs because of vaccination status. Kansas Senate adopted HB2477 which was crafted to address health care staffing shortages within Kansas. This bill temporarily deregulates several provisions of Kansas law and will now allow nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide medical services appropriate to their education, allow physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse anesthetists, registered professional nurses and licensed pharmacists to provide addition services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, health care providers in other states would be able to practice in Kansas. This bill will sunset in January 2023.
On Wednesday, the governor introduced her budget which outlined ways to spend taxpayer money for the fiscal year. Included in her budget were her well-known proposal to eliminate the food sales tax, which she vetoed two years ago. The governor also proposed a $250 tax rebate to Kansans, a 5% pay increase for state employees, Medicaid expansion and money for renovation of the Docking office building in Topeka, remodeling a building for the Division of Emergency Management and constructing a new armory for the National Guard in Hays.
The state is sitting on a surplus of nearly $3 billion, which makes this year’s budget process a unique one. While the election year will make it tempting to spend the money, Republicans are committed to being fiscally responsible, which means using one-time revenue for one-time expenses, paying off debt and responsible tax reductions to help Kansas families and boost Kansas economy and continue to stabilize KPERS.
Despite repeated promises from the Biden Administration that the record inflation will soon reverse, it appears that the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. This week the government announced that the inflation rate, as per its Consumer Price index, has reached 7%, the highest it’s been since 1982. The consumer price index only tells us about the past. The future is all about the Producer Price index, which measures the costs to make things.
If you are interested in following the legislature you can connect to the following links:
Kansas Legislature YouTube - Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.
Kansas Legislature Audio - Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings.
Kansas Legislature website- www.kslegislature.org has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills and past sessions.
Middle school (12 years of age or older) and high school students are invited to come to our Kansas State Capitol, to be my sponsored Senate Page for a day. The dates available are February 7 and 21 as well as March 7 and 14. There are openings for 4 pages on each day. Please contact my office, if you know a student who may have an interest in being a Senate Page.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact by email: [email protected] or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 545-S.
Rick Billingr, R-Goodland, is the 40th district senator which includes:
* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton,
Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties
*Phillips County:
Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed; Townships: Beaver, Belmont,
Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,
Solomon(part) and Towanda