This bill reduces the property tax rate that Kansas school districts can charge on taxable property, lowering it from the current rate to 20 mills for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, then gradually decreasing by one mill each year until it reaches 15 mills starting in the 2031-2032 school year. The measure directly affects school districts across Kansas by limiting how much tax revenue they can collect from property owners to fund general operating budgets, maintain public schools, and repay certain redevelopment bonds. Under the new provisions, most tax revenue collected must be sent to the state treasurer and deposited into the state school district finance fund, while districts are prohibited from using certain other tax authority mechanisms. The changes apply to all school districts in Kansas and take effect once the bill is published in the state statute book.
This bill reduces the property tax rate that Kansas school districts can levy on taxable tangible property, lowering it from its current level to 20 mills for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, with the rate decreasing by one mill each year until reaching 15 mills starting in the 2031-2032 school year. The tax revenue collected will continue to fund general school district budgets, help cover operating and maintenance costs for public schools, and pay off certain redevelopment project bonds for districts established before 1997. Additionally, the bill prevents school districts from using specific legal procedures related to tax levies, and it directs most tax proceeds to the state treasury for the school district finance fund. This change directly affects school districts across Kansas and their property tax obligations.
HB 2757 repeals multiple existing Kansas income tax credits, including those for agritourism liability insurance, alternative fuel, disabled access, and aviation-related employment. It extends the tax credit for angel investors (investors in early-stage businesses) and modifies the high-performance tax credit program to offer expanded options for rural businesses, including adjusted wage requirements. The bill directly affects businesses and investors who previously claimed these credits, particularly agritourism operators, angel investors, and qualifying rural employers. Key changes include eliminating 10+ specific credits while extending benefits for angel investors and providing new flexibility for rural business tax credit usage.
SB 512 revises Kansas' unemployment insurance rules by removing an eight-week requirement for temporary unemployment claims, eliminating an eight-week cap on such claims, and ending the secretary's authority to grant extensions. It excludes payments from compliant employer-sponsored unemployment benefit plans from being counted as "wages" for contribution calculations and removes a mechanism that previously allowed employers to avoid negative debt write-offs through voluntary contributions. The bill also prohibits charging employers in ready-mixed concrete and certain construction industries for benefit costs arising from temporary layoffs. These changes primarily affect employers (especially in specified industries) and unemployment claimants by simplifying eligibility rules and altering how employer contributions are determined.
SB 476 adds thrift stores operated by churches or religious organizations to Kansas's property tax exemption for religious and charitable properties. Specifically, it exempts real and personal property used for thrift stores that operate solely with donated goods (not consigned items) and are owned and run exclusively by the same church or religious group as part of their religious or charitable mission. This change applies only to thrift stores providing items free to those in need or using sales proceeds for religious/charitable purposes. The bill directly affects qualifying churches and religious organizations operating such thrift stores by removing their property tax burden on these facilities. It amends Kansas law to explicitly include these thrift stores under existing religious/charitable exemption rules.
HB 2773 modifies Kansas' business income tax apportionment rules for manufacturers. It creates a new election option allowing qualifying manufacturers - defined as those with payroll exceeding 200% of their average property and sales factors - to use a simplified apportionment method (property plus sales factors divided by two) instead of the standard three-factor method. This applies to all qualifying manufacturers, not exclusively alcoholic liquor producers as the title suggests. Taxpayers electing this method must file a statement with their return and are bound for ten years. The bill amends K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 79-3279 to add this provision, affecting businesses meeting the payroll threshold.
HB 2775 creates a three-year exemption from Kansas' 8% severance tax for all new oil and gas wells. This directly affects operators who drill new wells by eliminating their initial tax burden on production. The exemption applies to the standard 8% tax rate on the gross value of oil or gas produced, covering all new wells regardless of size or location during their first three years of operation. It amends existing tax law (K.S.A. 79-4217) to add this temporary relief for new well operators.
HB 2442 changes how alcohol manufacturers in Kansas calculate their state income tax. It allows these manufacturers to use a simplified "single sales factor" method - where their tax liability is based solely on sales within Kansas - instead of the standard three-factor method (which considers property, payroll, and sales). This change directly affects alcohol manufacturers by potentially lowering their taxable income in Kansas, as it removes the need to factor in property and payroll costs. The bill amends Kansas tax law to add this option for qualifying alcohol manufacturers, making the tax calculation simpler for them.
HB 2443 amends Kansas property tax law to exclude certain natural gas storage facilities from being classified as "public utilities" for tax purposes. Specifically, it applies to new facilities constructed after January 1, 2026, located entirely within a single county without crossing state boundaries. This change means these facilities would no longer be subject to the higher property tax rates typically applied to public utilities. The bill directly affects owners of qualifying natural gas storage infrastructure built after 2026. It revises K.S.A. 79-5a01 and repeals the prior definition.
HB 2475 would amend Kansas' sales tax law to grant a sales tax exemption specifically for purchases made by "radical life inc," adding this organization to the existing list of entities eligible for tax exemptions under K.S.A. 79-3606(b). This provision directly affects "radical life inc" by exempting its qualifying purchases from state sales tax, aligning them with exemptions previously available to hospitals, schools, and other nonprofits. The bill modifies the tax code to explicitly include "radical life inc" in the exemption category for purchases used exclusively for the organization's purposes. This is a targeted policy change affecting one specific entity, not a broad legislative shift. The bill remains pending in the Taxation Committee as of its introduction date.
