Rep. John Carmichael

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to amend the Kansas Constitution to require voter approval for any property tax exemptions. If passed, the change would shift the authority currently held by the state legislature to the electorate, meaning voters would directly decide whether specific groups or properties receive tax breaks. The measure does not create new exemptions itself but establishes a new rule for how future exemptions must be approved. It directly affects Kansas voters, property owners, and local governments by altering the process for determining tax relief.

Maddy summaryHB 2632 raises eligibility thresholds for Kansas seniors (65+) and disabled veterans to qualify for property tax refunds. It increases the household income limit from $50,000 to $75,000 and the homestead appraised value limit from $350,000 to $500,000 for tax years starting in 2026. The bill also adds an automatic cost-of-living adjustment to the income threshold each year. This change directly affects more Kansas residents aged 65+ or disabled veterans who previously earned too much or owned homes exceeding the old value limits.

Maddy summaryHB 2678 would establish Kansas' first legal medical cannabis program, allowing licensed businesses to cultivate, process, and sell cannabis products for medical use to qualifying patients. It requires the state to expunge past cannabis-related criminal records and imposes an excise tax on sales, with funds directed to child care, economic development, mental health, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates. The bill creates new licensing systems for cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, while exempting medical cannabis use from certain drug possession laws. It directly affects patients with qualifying medical conditions, licensed cannabis businesses, and the state's criminal justice and social service funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution condemns the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its affiliated agencies, asserting state sovereignty against federal overreach. It calls for transparency and accountability, honoring those who have died due to ICE enforcement actions or custody. The resolution highlights concerns about violent, militarized tactics, warrantless entries, and systemic deficiencies in training and oversight that have led to injuries and deaths. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement of disapproval and a demand for reform.

Maddy summaryHB 2679 would establish a legal framework for the regulated sale and use of cannabis by adults 21 and older in Kansas. The bill creates licensing requirements for cannabis businesses (including growers, manufacturers, retailers, and testing facilities), mandates the clearing of past cannabis-related criminal records, and imposes an excise tax on cannabis sales. Revenue from this tax would fund child care, economic development, mental health services, low-cost housing, and property tax rebates through a new "cannabis business regulation fund." The law would replace existing cannabis laws and require businesses to follow specific safety, labeling, and operational standards.