Budget & Taxes

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 490: Authorizing the imposition of a privilege tax by a municipality for the privilege of selling alcoholic beverages, food and food ingredients and tobacco within a community improvement district.

SB 490 allows Kansas municipalities to impose a 1% privilege tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages, food, and tobacco within designated community improvement districts. This tax, collected by sellers from consumers and remitted to the municipality, funds specific community projects like infrastructure improvements. The tax rate can be set in 0.10% or 0.25% increments, expires after 22 years or when project bonds are paid, and revenue is distributed to qualifying municipalities. It applies only to businesses operating in these designated districts and does not affect existing sales taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes municipalities to impose a 1% tax on specific sales to fund community projects, creating new revenue for infrastructure spending under fiscal management.95% confidence

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2660: Making and concerning appropriations for the state board of regents for the Kansas blueprint for literacy, expanding the every child can read act reporting requirements and amending the Kansas blueprint for literacy to provide certain requirements for the state board of education, the state board of regents and school districts with regard to literacy education and reporting.

HB 2660 appropriates $8.6 million for the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy through fiscal year 2027, requiring the state board of regents to use these funds in alignment with the blueprint's strategic plan. The bill expands reporting requirements under the "Every Child Can Read Act," mandating school districts to track high-risk students, develop individual literacy plans for those at risk, and report on interventions and outcomes annually. It also requires the state board of education to designate evidence-based literacy practices, include a literacy practicum in teacher licensure, and develop a comprehensive literacy implementation plan for school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $8.6M for literacy education program, directly funding state initiative under budget management per bill's fiscal provisions.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $8.6M for literacy programs, mandates tracking at-risk students and annual reporting to improve literacy outcomes per Kansas Blueprint.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 508: Increasing the annual limit on transfers from the lottery operating fund to the community crisis stabilization centers fund and the clubhouse model program fund.

SB 508 increases the annual funding limit for transfers from Kansas' lottery operating fund to two specific disability services programs. It raises the cap from $8 million to $16 million per year (starting in fiscal year 2027) for the community crisis stabilization centers fund and the clubhouse model program fund under the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. For fiscal year 2026, the bill mandates specific monthly transfers of $625,000 and $208,333 to these funds, respectively. This directly affects crisis support services and community-based programs for individuals with disabilities in Kansas. The bill amends existing lottery fund transfer rules to prioritize these disability services with increased annual funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases annual funding limits for disability services programs from $8M to $16M, directly allocating state lottery funds to essential public services per bill's funding mandate.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases annual funding for mental health crisis stabilization and clubhouse disability programs from $8M to $16M, directly expanding healthcare services for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2784: Decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district and providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund.

HB 2784 lowers the property tax rate for Kansas school districts from 20 mills to 19 mills for the 2026-2027 school year. It directly affects school districts by reducing their local property tax revenue and requires the state to transfer funds from the general fund and budget stabilization fund to the state school district finance fund to offset this loss. The bill amends tax laws to automatically calculate and transfer the revenue difference based on the rate decrease, ensuring school districts maintain funding levels. This change applies specifically to the 2026-2027 school year as defined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces local property tax rate (20→19 mills) while mandating state fund transfers to maintain school district funding, providing tax relief and ensuring continued public education financing.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires state transfers to offset reduced school district tax revenue, maintaining funding levels despite lower property tax rate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Revenue School Funding

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 510: Requiring interest earnings of the parks fee fund to be transferred to such fund each month.

SB 510 amends Kansas law to require monthly transfers of interest earnings from the parks fee fund back into the fund itself. Specifically, it mandates that on or before the 10th of each month, the director of accounts must transfer interest calculated from the fund's average daily balance and the previous month's investment rate. This change directly affects the management of the parks fee fund, which is used for state park administration, land acquisition, and maintenance. The bill does not alter the fund's permitted uses or funding sources but ensures interest earnings remain within the fund for park-related purposes. (Procedural change; 3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures parks fee fund retains interest earnings, promoting fiscal responsibility in fund management without new taxes or spending.85% confidence

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 488: Enacting the Kansas property tax freedom act of 2026, providing for the phased elimination of property taxation and for revenue replacement grants to taxing subdivisions, establishing the Kansas fair share purchase surcharge and providing such revenue to taxing subdivisions, the state general fund and the new property tax freedom reserve fund and providing for freedom dividend rebates.

SB 488 proposes phasing out property taxes in Kansas over three years: limiting mill levies to 50% of 2025 levels in 2026, 25% in 2027, and eliminating them entirely for all property starting in 2028. To offset lost revenue for local governments, it creates a new "Kansas fair share purchase surcharge" on retail transactions (7.6% for purchases under $20 or $1.60 flat for $20+), with the collected funds distributed to school districts, counties, cities, and other taxing subdivisions via revenue replacement grants. The bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2026 for the tax changes to take effect. It also establishes a "property tax freedom reserve fund" to manage these transition funds and provides for "freedom dividend rebates" to residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPhases out property taxes (tax reduction) and replaces with retail surcharge to maintain revenue for local governments, directly addressing tax structure and fiscal management per topic description.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill redirects retail surcharge revenue to school districts, ensuring continued funding despite property tax elimination, directly supporting education funding needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Sales Tax

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2752: Setting standards for patient and caregiver identification cards to ensure legal access to medical cannabis, establishing the Kansas medical cannabis agency within the department of health and environment and removing cannabis from the Kansas uniform controlled substances act.

HB 2752, the Kansas Health Freedom Act, establishes the Kansas medical cannabis agency within the Department of Health and Environment and removes cannabis from the state's controlled substances list. It requires medical providers to certify patients for medical cannabis use, sets standards for patient and caregiver identification cards, and creates a tax fund from cannabis sales to support research and public health initiatives. The bill also allows for the expungement of certain cannabis-related convictions and protects patient rights, including firearm ownership and access to medical care. This law directly affects Kansas residents with qualifying medical conditions, their caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax fund from cannabis sales to support research/public health initiatives, funding essential programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes medical cannabis agency under health department, funds public health initiatives via cannabis tax, and improves patient access to medical treatment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2714: Providing for a decreased gallonage tax on beer and cereal malt beverages that are produced and packaged within the United States.

HB 2714 reduces Kansas' gallonage tax on domestically produced beer and cereal malt beverages from $0.18 to $0.06 per gallon. This change applies specifically to products manufactured and packaged within the United States, while imported products remain subject to the higher $0.18 rate. The bill amends Kansas Statute 41-501 to establish this reduced tax rate for eligible domestic producers. It directly affects brewers, manufacturers, and distributors of U.S.-made beer and cereal malt beverages within Kansas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces tax rate for domestic beer producers from $0.18 to $0.06/gal, providing tax relief to eligible manufacturers under KS Statute 41-501.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2786: Approving an election held by Ellsworth county to impose countywide retailers' sales tax for the purpose of financing the costs of construction, equipping and furnishing of a law enforcement center and courthouse improvements.

HB 2786 approves an election held by Ellsworth County to impose a countywide sales tax. The tax revenue will fund construction, equipment, and furnishings for a new law enforcement center and courthouse improvements. The tax will expire once all project costs are fully covered by collected revenue. This directly affects Ellsworth County residents through the sales tax and the county government through funding for specific public safety facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesApproves county sales tax to fund public safety facility construction, directly increasing tax revenue for government spending on essential infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement center and courthouse infrastructure via sales tax, directly supporting criminal justice system operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Law Enforcement

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2656: Establishing the no kid hungry in schools program to reimburse school districts for the cost of providing certain meals to students attending public school.

HB 2656 establishes Kansas' "No Kid Hungry in Schools" program, requiring public school districts with high student poverty rates to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students. The state reimburses districts for the cost difference between federal meal reimbursements and the federal free-meal rate, covering up to one breakfast and one lunch per student daily. School districts must participate if they qualify under federal poverty thresholds for free meal eligibility, and must offer two federally reimbursable meals per student per day. The bill amends existing school meal funding laws to implement this state-level reimbursement system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState allocates budget funds to reimburse school districts for meal costs, increasing public service funding through state fiscal responsibility.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReimburses districts for free meals, ensuring access to nutrition for students in high-poverty schools, directly supporting educational access and funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides free school meals to high-poverty students, addressing nutritional health access as part of public health programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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