Budget & Taxes (Business Taxes)

SB 26 would exempt specific purchases made by bowling centers in Kansas from the state's sales tax. This means bowling centers would not pay sales tax on qualifying items they buy for their operations, such as equipment or supplies. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax law (K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 79-3606) to add bowling centers to the list of businesses eligible for this exemption. This change directly affects bowling centers by lowering their operating costs for qualifying purchases.

SB 280 requires local taxing entities (like cities, counties, or school districts) to obtain majority voter approval via a special election before raising total property taxes by more than the annual inflation rate, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index. It excludes new construction taxes from the calculation of the tax levy limit and does not apply to certain statutorily fixed mill rates. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, mandating voter consent for tax increases beyond inflation for all other property tax levies. This directly affects local governments seeking to raise revenue above inflation and property owners whose taxes could be impacted by such increases.

SB 32 reduces insurance company premium tax rates in Kansas and stops the practice of sending 1% of those taxes to the insurance department's service regulation fund. Instead, it requires insurance companies to pay annual assessments based on their total assets (with a $500 minimum and $25,000 maximum per company) to fund the department's regulatory activities. This directly affects all insurance companies licensed to operate in Kansas, shifting their primary funding obligation from tax remittances to these asset-based assessments. The bill amends Kansas statutes 40-112 and 40-252 to implement these changes, effective January 1, 2026.

HB 2406 expands tax exemption eligibility in Kansas for commercial and industrial machinery and equipment that was previously ineligible because it was acquired or transported into the state on or before June 30, 2006. The bill amends property tax law to allow tax exemptions for such equipment if acquired or transported after that date for business expansion or new business creation. It specifically targets equipment classified under Kansas property tax rules (subclass 5 of class 2) but excludes electric generation facilities using renewable energy. This change directly affects Kansas businesses that acquired machinery before 2006 but now qualify for exemption under the updated rules.