TOPEKA
TAX RELIEF
Inflation and trade instability has placed pressure on the pocketbooks for Kansans, and tax relief continues to be a major topic of discussion in the legislature. In this session alone a number of ideas for advancing tax relief have been proposed. At the same time the legislature has taken several meaningful steps in reducing the tax burden for Kansans over the past four years.
Detailed below are three of the most recent tax relief successes and three new ideas for reducing taxes further:
· The first tax relief success was the elimination of the State Food Sales Tax, accomplished through House Bill (HB) 2106 during the 2022 session. This legislation eliminated the 6.5% sales tax for nonprepared food items, which costs Kansans $525 million annually.
· Second was the expansion of the property tax exemption, done through HB 2239 in the 2022 session. This bill expanded the property tax exemption value from $20,000 to $75,000, eliminating $115 million annually in state taxes on Kansans.
· Third was the 1.5 point reduction of the state’s education mill levy, enacted by Senate Bill (SB) 35 in the 2025 session. This tax, used for several state property funds, cost Kansans $81 million annually.
The first of the new tax relief ideas being considered in the legislature this session is the creation of a Property Tax Deferral Program. This program would delay payment of property taxes on primary residences for Kansans until said properties are transferred, sold, or the owner passes away.
Second is the further reduction of statewide mill levies on properties, in proportion to property valuation increases. This method would eliminate the potential for increasing property tax burden on Kansans.
A third idea is to establish a property tax voter referendum mechanism at the local government level. This proposition would enable voters, either at the municipal or county level, to vote on recalling property tax increases proposed by their respective local governments.
COMMITTEE HAPPENINGS
House Appropriations (HAPP) was very busy last week as it worked thirty-six agency budgets, heard one bill, and held an informational briefing on a new business attraction in Kansas.
On Monday, seven agency budgets were worked. Those were the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Board of Indigents Defense Services, Adjutant General’s Department, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Agriculture, and the Kansas Department of Health & Environment—Environment.
Tuesday the committee received an informational briefing on Gilley’s, a new entertainment venue in Park City, which appears to be seeing positive growth. HAPP also held a hearing on HB 2513, Claims against the State, and worked on four agency budgets: Office of Information & Technology Services, Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission, Department of Administration, and the Department of Transportation.
Wednesday saw the committee work nine agency budgets. Those were the Department of Commerce, Legislature, Legislative Coordinating Council, Legislative Research Department, Office of Revisor of Statutes, Legislative Division of Post Audit, Judicial Council, Judicial Branch, and the Attorney General.
On Thursday HAPP worked eleven budgets. These were the Kansas Highway Patrol, Department of Corrections System, Abstracters’ Board of Examiners, the State Treasurer, the Governor, Department of Insurance, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, and Wichita State University.
Friday finished the week with five agency budgets. Those were the University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas State University, Kansas State University—Veterinary Medical Center, and Kansas State University—Extension Systems & Agricultural Research Programs.
HOUSE FLOOR ACTION
Last week the Kansas House of Representatives worked four bills on the House Floor.
Detailed below are three of those bills.
First is HB 2471, which would designate a portion of Kansas Highway I-35 as the “Deputy Sam Smith Memorial Highway”, in honor of the aforementioned law enforcement officer who passed away in 2010.
Second is HB 2515. This bill would create new regulations for virtual currency kiosk operators in Kansas, like limits on transaction amounts, and task state law enforcement agencies with reporting on the industry to the State Bank Commissioner.
Last is HB 2416, which would establish immunity for motorsports venues from civil nuisance suits by property owners who have acquired adjacent property, or improved it after the motorsport venue was established.
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.
Contact My Office
Representative Troy L. Waymaster
300 SW 10th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66612
troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov
www.kslegislature.org