Kansas Wildfire Assistance
This past December, devastating fires swept through the state of Kansas, most namely the four-county fire that affected many in the 109th Kansas House district. Governor Kelly issued a disaster declaration prior to the wildfires which allowed the state of Kansas to partner with the U.S. government to assist those in need. On December 20, the Adjunct General for the state of Kansas briefed the Legislative Budget Committee that the state has been in direct contact with Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA), and that the damage threshold from the wildfires had been exceeded.
After the fires destroyed property, livestock, and livelihoods of many in the district,36th Dist. Senator Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, and I toured the devastating results of the fire and met with many on how the state of Kansas can assist. The discussions that Senator Bowers and I had with those affected prompted both of us to introduce similar legislation in both chambers prior to the beginning of the legislative session to assist those in need.
In years prior, the state of Kansas has initiated a sales tax exemption for the farmers and ranchers that lost fencing due to wildfires. The four-county fire alone generated a loss of nearly 5,000 miles of destroyed fencing.
House Bill 2464 and Senate Bill 318 were introduced to allow for the sales tax exemption of fencing materials that were lost due to a wildfire; however, it would ensure that this provision would not expire, which had occurred in the past. I testified in favor of House Bill 2464 in the House Tax Committee. On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the committee passed House Bill 2464 for debate on floor of the House. Then on Thursday, January 20, 2022, the Senate passed Senate Bill 318.
Governor Kelly’s State of the State Speech
On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, Governor Kelly presented her State of the State Speech to a Joint Session of the Kansas Legislature. The Governor released her objectives for the coming year, especially regarding the state budget and taxation.
The following morning, the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees were briefed by the Director of Budget on the specifics of the Governor’s budget details. Some of the details enveloped with the Governor’s budget included tax relief in the form of sales tax reduction to zero on food sales and a tax filer rebate, one-time investments, dissolution of creative accounting tactics, and increased spending for education, public safety, mental health, and a five percent pay increase for state employees. We will be analyzing the Governor’s budget during the next few months.
Bills Introduced in the House
In addition to the introduction of House Bill 2464 that I introduced prior to the beginning of the 2022 Legislative Session, there were many other bills introduced during our first two weeks. Listed below are the details of those bills:
* House Bill 2482 would discontinue the sales tax exemption for vehicles purchased through leasing or for rental purposes;
* House Bill 2479 makes it unlawful to capture or possess the Ornate Box Turtle;
* House Bill 2480 relates to the financing of public water supply projects;
* House Bill 2484 provides for a zero percent state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients. This bill would also allow for cities and counties to levy a sales tax rate. This is the proposal that Governor Kelly mentioned in her State of the State speech.
* House Bill 2477 codifies the Executive Orders by Governor Kelly which extends renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate, or registration. This bill was necessary to address the Executive Orders and to protect our healthcare professionals and adult care homes. This bill passed the House Floor on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 106-5. I voted “yes.”
We also have in the respective committees the bills that were introduced during the 2021 Legislative Session that we may still consider. The Appropriations Committee currently has about twenty of those bills.
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.
Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, is the Kansas House Appropriations Chairman and 109th District state representative which includes:
* Osborne, Russell, and Smith Counties
* Barton County: Cities:
Albert, Claflin, Galatia, Odin, Olmitz and Susank; Townships: Beaver, Cheyenne,
Clarence, Cleveland, Fairview, Grant, Independent, Logan, Union, Walnut and
Wheatland
* Jewell County: Cities:Burr Oak, Esbon and Mankato; Townships:
Athens,Browns Creek, Burr Oak, Calvin, Center,Erving, Esbon, Harrison,
Highland, Holmwood, Ionia, Limestone, Odessa,Walnut and White Mound
* Lincoln County: Cities: Lincoln Center(part) and Sylvan Grove; Townships: Battle Creek, Beaver(part), Cedron, Elkhorn(part), Golden Belt, Grant, Hanover, Highland, Indiana, Marion, Orange, Pleasant, Valley and Vesper
* Rush County: Cities: Bison, Otis, Rush Center and Timken; Townships: Banner,Center,Garfield, Illinois, Lone Star, Pioneer and Pleasantdale