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SB 98 Kansas Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Providing a sales tax exemption for the construction or remodeling of a qualified data center in Kansas and the purchase of data center equipment, eligible data center costs and certain labor costs to qualified firms that commit to a minimum investment of at least $250,000,000 and meet new Kansas jobs and other requirements.

SB 98 creates a special Route 66 association of Kansas license plate for eligible vehicles (passenger cars and trucks under 20,000 lbs gross weight) owned or leased by Kansas residents. It requires an annual $25-$100 fee to the Route 66 Association (paid to county treasurers) for the plate and its renewal, with the plate being non-transferable and tied to the vehicle registration. Applicants must consent to sharing limited registration details (name, address, plate number) with the association and state treasurer. This is a procedural bill focused on commemorative licensing, not substantive policy.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSB 98 provides a sales tax exemption for qualified data centers, a targeted tax incentive to attract major investment ($250M+), aligning with business-friendly fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides sales tax exemption for data center construction/equipment, directly advancing tech infrastructure investment and economic development in Kansas.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed Apr 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by House Committee → Enrolled · 5 edits · Apr 11, 2025
MODERATE
This bill completely replaces a previous version that offered free Route 66 license plates with a new law focused on attracting large data centers to Kansas. The new legislation provides a sales tax exemption for qualified firms that invest at least $250 million and create 20 new jobs, while simultaneously prohibiting public utilities from offering discounted electricity rates to these same customers. It also mandates that all such projects be reviewed by the Kansas intelligence fusion center before receiving financial benefits.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted entirely from consumer vehicle registration incentives to large-scale industrial economic development and data center regulation.
SCOPE

Removed all provisions regarding Route 66 association license plates, royalty payments, and vehicle registration fees.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility criteria requiring a minimum investment of $250,000,000 and the creation of at least 20 new jobs within two years.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that qualified data centers must be reviewed and approved by the Kansas intelligence fusion center before receiving public financial assistance.

Added a prohibition preventing public utilities from offering discounted economic development electric rates to data center customers.

DEFINITION

Created new definitions for 'qualified data center,' 'qualified firm,' 'eligible data center costs,' and 'new jobs' to govern the new tax exemption program.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
16
Committee
10
Apr 11, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 24, 2025
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 26, Nay 8, Absent 6
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report was adopted; Yea 85, Nay 37, Absent 3
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to suspend Joint Rule 4 (k) to allow consideration adopted
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee report now available
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Sen. Larry Alley, Sen. Stephen Owens, and Sen. Mary Ware are appointed to replace Sen. Mike Petersen, Sen. Rick Kloos, and Sen. Ethan Corson on the Conference Committee
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rep. Sean Tarwater, Rep. Adam Turk, and Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton are appointed to replace Rep. Shannon Francis, Rep. Robyn R. Essex, and Rep. Henry Helgerson on the Conference Committee
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Rep. Shannon Francis, Rep. Robyn R. Essex and Rep. Henry Helgerson appointed as conferees
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Sen. Mike Petersen, Sen. Rick Kloos and Sen. Ethan Corson
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 105, Nay 17, Absent 3
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by House Committee on Transportation
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Transportation
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Received and Introduced
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 39, Nay 1
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by Senate Committee on Transportation
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Transportation
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.