This bill proposes to amend the Kansas Constitution to completely ban the state and all local governments from levying any property taxes. The measure would directly affect all property owners in Kansas by eliminating the legal authority to collect these taxes on real estate, personal property, and other taxable assets. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would remove the existing system that currently classifies and assesses different types of property at specific percentages of their value.
HB 2641, the Kansas Property Rights Protection Act, requires state and local governments to pay landowners compensation when government actions (like approving projects or enacting land-use rules) reduce property value. It mandates 110% compensation for temporary impacts (e.g., construction delays) and 150% for permanent value loss (including a buyout option if value drops over 10%). Governments must pay within 90 days or face daily penalties, and can later seek reimbursement from developers responsible for the project. The law excludes actions solely for public health/safety (e.g., nuisance abatement) but covers most development projects like wind farms or data centers.
SB 416 allows Kansas cities and counties to inspect privately owned residential properties without the occupant's permission under two specific conditions: when an administrative warrant (court-issued for code enforcement) is obtained, or when there is probable cause of an immediate threat to health or safety. This change modifies existing law by removing the prior requirement for resident consent for routine interior inspections, directly affecting homeowners and renters in incorporated cities or unincorporated county areas. The bill does not apply to mixed-use properties or standard construction inspections like building permit reviews. It repeals the previous consent-based requirement for such inspections while maintaining existing processes for new construction and commercial properties.
SB 391 prevents Kansas cities and counties from passing local laws that require landlords to accept tenants using housing vouchers or restrict landlords from considering a tenant's income source (like housing assistance). It specifically bans ordinances that force landlords to lease to voucher recipients, limit security deposits, or require automatic tenant rights. The bill ensures landlords can use standard screening criteria, including income source, when deciding tenants. This directly affects landlords, local governments, and tenants who rely on housing assistance programs.
HB 2504 prevents cities and counties in Kansas from banning landlords from refusing to rent to prospective tenants who receive housing assistance (like vouchers), consider credit or eviction history, or set security deposits. It allows landlords to use their own criteria for tenant screening and refuse to offer a right of first refusal. However, the bill explicitly permits cities or counties to still ban discrimination against tenants or applicants who receive veterans benefits. This directly affects landlords (by expanding their screening flexibility) and tenants using housing assistance or veterans benefits (by limiting local protections against certain landlord decisions).
HB 2187 requires government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit. It prohibits using eminent domain for recreational trails or park facilities and deletes the legislature's power to condemn property for economic development. If the good faith offer exceeds an appraiser's award, the property owner can appeal to retain the higher amount, but the agency cannot appeal to reduce it. These changes aim to strengthen property owner protections by mandating upfront compensation and narrowing eminent domain use.
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 283 lowers Kansas individual income tax rates starting January 1, 2026, and ends multiple tax credit programs. It discontinues credits for the High Performance Incentive Program, Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit, and payroll tax benefits from the Promoting Employment Across Kansas Act. The bill also repeals other targeted credits, including those for environmental compliance, agritourism liability insurance, and abandoned well plugging. These changes directly affect Kansas taxpayers and businesses that previously claimed these specific tax credits.
SB 124 restricts Kansas cities' ability to annex land without owner consent and expands landowners' options to challenge annexations. It requires written permission from landowners to annex unplatted farm land of 21 acres or more, or any land under 20 acres, and bans annexing narrow corridors of land solely to access noncontiguous areas unless the corridor has a separate purpose. Landowners and nearby cities can now challenge annexations within 30 days, arguing the annexation was unreasonable, the service plan was inadequate, or the process was irregular. These changes apply to all annexations under Kansas law, affecting landowners and cities involved in boundary expansions.
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SB 262 requires Kansas government agencies and public utilities to make a good faith compensation offer to property owners at least 30 days before filing an eminent domain lawsuit, which cannot be reduced later. It prohibits using eminent domain for economic development projects or for recreational trails and park facilities, narrowing "public use" to only true public purposes. If the good faith offer exceeds the appraiser’s award, the property owner may appeal to receive the higher amount, but the agency cannot challenge this in court. These changes amend Kansas eminent domain law to strengthen property owner protections during condemnation proceedings.
