Rep. Cyndi Howerton

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Kansas Constitution to create a new "Freedom from Taxes Fund" and a temporary Citizens Freedom Review Board. The fund would be divided into three parts to pay for the elimination of motor vehicle taxes, state property taxes, and state income and privilege taxes. Additionally, the bill establishes a board with the power to review existing tax exemptions and decide whether to keep or remove them. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, these changes would legally end the specified taxes and allow the state to use the new fund to cover the resulting budget shortfalls.

Maddy summaryHB 2670 requires video streaming services operating in Kansas to ensure commercial advertisements are not louder than the main video content they interrupt, effective July 1, 2026. It adopts the federal CALM Act standards (originally for TV broadcasts) to set volume limits for ads. The law applies specifically to internet-based streaming services targeting Kansas consumers, excluding cable operators, broadcasters, and ad-free platforms. It does not create private lawsuits for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 2454 requires landlords in Kansas to accept partial rent payments from tenants and consider all types of income (like wages, government benefits, or pensions) when evaluating rental applications, excluding federal housing assistance like Section 8. It prohibits landlords from refusing partial payments or unfairly disqualifying applicants based on income sources. Violations would be treated as deceptive practices under Kansas consumer protection law, allowing tenants to seek remedies through that enforcement system. The bill directly affects landlords and renters under the state's residential landlord-tenant law.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific segment of K-5 highway in Wyandotte County (from the junction of K-5 and N. 18th Street west to N. 38th Street) as the "Representative Marvin S. Robinson II Memorial Highway." It also redesignates a portion of Interstate 635 (from the Kansas-Missouri border south to its junction with K-5 highway) as the "Harry Darby Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Kansas Secretary of Transportation to install highway signs marking both routes, following standard procedures. This is a procedural memorial designation with no substantive policy changes to transportation law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for federal funding and authorization of a program designed to research and develop affordable, domestically made drones for public safety use. It specifically encourages the U.S. Department of Commerce to fund projects that create small, uncrewed aerial systems in the United States to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers. The document also endorses the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025, which restricts the federal government and its grant recipients from purchasing or operating DJI drones. Additionally, the resolution supports a provision requiring the Department of Defense to assess and potentially ban DJI drones within a year due to security concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Kansas to explicitly define the right to bear arms as a natural and fundamental right that includes owning ammunition, firearm accessories, and components. It requires that any government restrictions on this right must pass the strict scrutiny legal standard, which is the highest level of judicial review. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, the change would strengthen existing gun protections by clarifying the scope of items covered and the level of protection they receive.

Maddy summaryHB 2194 exempts retired teachers employed by Kansas school districts in certificate-required teaching positions from the standard employer contribution rate under the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). Specifically, it removes the requirement for school districts to pay KPERS employer contributions on retired teachers' earnings when they return to work as certified teachers. This applies to retirees working in covered positions without prearranged employment agreements, directly affecting retired educators who resume teaching roles in public schools. The change modifies K.S.A. 74-4914 to create this specific exemption for teaching positions.

Maddy summaryHB 2005 creates a 75% income tax credit for Kansas veterans deemed totally disabled, permanently disabled, or unemployable under federal standards (38 C.F.R. § 3.340). It directly benefits eligible veterans who pay property taxes on their primary residence, allowing them to claim a credit equal to 75% of those taxes. The credit cannot exceed the actual property taxes paid and is unavailable if the veteran already received a homestead property tax refund or senior relief credit for the same property. Any excess credit beyond income tax liability will be refunded, and the credit applies to tax years starting in 2025.