Housing (Affordable Housing)

HB 2621 would create a new property tax exemption in Kansas for real estate owned by nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing. This exemption would be added to Kansas tax law (K.S.A. 79-201), specifically applying to properties used exclusively for housing meeting state affordability standards. It directly affects nonprofits developing or managing affordable housing projects by eliminating their property tax burden on qualifying properties. The bill amends existing tax exemption categories, which currently include religious buildings and schools, to include affordable housing nonprofits. This policy change would reduce operating costs for qualifying housing developments without altering current affordability definitions.

HB 2619 would create a sales tax exemption for manufactured homes, mobile homes, modular homes, and construction materials/services used by contractors to build or remodel affordable housing projects for qualifying nonprofit organizations. The bill amends Kansas' sales tax code to add this specific exemption, directly reducing costs for contractors working on affordable housing developments. This policy change applies when projects are sponsored by nonprofits meeting defined affordability criteria. The exemption covers both the homes themselves and related construction materials/services purchased by contractors.

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.

HB 2408 modifies Kansas property tax law to require tax assessors to consider restrictions on properties leased by county-recognized community land trusts when determining fair market value for tax purposes. This directly affects affordable housing properties owned by such trusts, which lease land to low-income residents under federal Section 42 housing programs. The bill adds a specific provision (section l) to the definition of fair market value, mandating that lease restrictions on these properties be factored into tax assessments. This change aims to lower taxable value for these properties, potentially reducing tax burdens on affordable housing providers. The policy is a concrete adjustment to tax valuation standards, not a new tax or subsidy.

HB 2119 discontinues Kansas' state tax credit for affordable housing projects that also receive the federal 4% low-income housing tax credit, effective July 1, 2025. This bill ends new allocations of the credit after June 30, 2025, but allows existing allocations made before that date to continue through their full credit period. Developers of qualifying affordable housing projects that received credit allocations prior to July 1, 2025, can still use those credits until their allocated term ends. The law specifically targets projects already receiving federal 4% tax credits, not general affordable housing developments.