24 January 2025 | Health Early Learning Education Economic Security Tax and Budget

2025 Statehouse Snapshot: Week 2

Kansas Action for Children
January 24, 2025

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Another Tax Duel between the House and Senate?

Property tax relief remains a top priority in both the Kansas House and Senate, though the two chambers seem to be at odds with how to provide it. On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation voted 6-3 to move SCR 1603 out of committee. This measure would propose amending the Kansas Constitution to limit increases in taxable valuation assessment for residential properties. That same day, the House Committee on Taxation held a hearing on HB 2011, a bill that would reduce the statewide school finance mill levy from 20 to 18.5 mills.

While HB 2011 is the more efficient approach to property tax relief, many in the Committee were visibly shocked by the fiscal note, which would balloon from $67.4 million in FY 2026 to $266.7 million in FY 2030. This explosion in cost to the state is because of the bill’s proposed revenue cap generated by this mill levy tied to school year 2025-2026 levels in all future years. If the bill were instead indexed to inflation, the state’s share would be reduced.

However, we continue to prefer more sustainable, targeted options to ensure some tax relief reaches those most in need. We remain committed to the implementation of a state child tax credit and the expansion of the Homestead Tax Credit to include renters and other demographics currently excluded. Such policies will make Kansas more competitive in attracting new residents and do more to ensure the success and well-being of children across the state.


Immigration Becoming Focus for Legislature

The Legislature is beginning to follow the new federal administration with increasing focus on immigration.

SCR 1602 is a resolution encouraging Governor Kelly to “fully cooperate” with the policies of the Trump administration in enforcing federal immigration laws. The resolution was debated and passed out of the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs this week with minor amendments, keeping the original language largely intact.

While SCR 1602 holds no legal power, it runs congruent with efforts on the House side to target legislative issues impacting non-citizen Kansans, as the House Committee on Elections held a hearing on HB 2020 – a bill requiring the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles to submit reports of non-citizen licensure to the Secretary of State. HB 2020 establishes current practice between the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Secretary of State into law, but the bill language could face legal scrutiny as it grants the Secretary of State power to remove citizens and potential non-citizens from the voter file.

These two pieces of legislation are no means the end to the immigration conversation at the state level. We expect the Legislature and the Attorney General’s Office to broaden their directives on immigration issues that affect Kansas kids and families.


Economic Security Conversations Taking Shape

The House Welfare Reform Committee (WRC) received a presentation from legislative staff about statutory changes to safety net programs over the years. We have detailed how the 2015 HOPE Act drastically reduced the number of Kansans eligible for assistance, but this presentation was a good reminder how tenacious the Legislature is to whittle away at family support programs. As recently as 2023, lawmakers enacted strict work requirements for food assistance for Kansans on the verge of retirement and forced families to choose between forfeiting child care assistance or entering into unnecessary, and often harmful, child support agreements.

More committees are taking aim at programs relied upon by low-income families, as the House Commerce Committee introduced a bill to repeal a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) that the Legislature approved in 2022. The 2022 bill was passed in hopes of addressing the extreme affordable housing shortage that Kansas is facing. The credit has already resulted in 2,200 new affordable units being built, and repealing the credit now would stall progress and leave low-income Kansas families with few affordable housing options.

A bright spot this week, though, was the Department for Children and Families introducing legislation to clarify that living in poverty does not constitute child neglect. This would prevent the state from removing children from their homes based solely on financial status. There has been a national movement around this idea, and we hope to see this bill become law ins Kansas!


Education Budget Work Starting

Lawmakers from the House Committee on Social Services Budget heard from the Department for Children and Families about their enhancement requests to reduce child care tuition for families, sustain agency programs, and work toward improved processes within the system.

Increasing investment of state dollars toward child care tuition assistance can waive copayments for an increased number of families across the state, resulting in better access and affordability for many households. And continuing programs like the Child Care Workforce Registry offers child care educators a platform to more easily track and maintain their professional development.

But unfortunately, lawmakers doling out state dollars don’t seem too inclined to go beyond a bare bones budget, and any additional requests don’t seem likely to be granted.

The K-12 education committees continued to learn about how the education system is impacting students. From learning about school finance requirements to necessary facility repairs, the House K-12 Education Budget Committee learned of the capital repairs needed for the School for the Deaf and School for the Blind. Both campuses face significant challenges, including condemned gas lines running under the facilities, aging roofs, and heating systems.


Avian Flu and Political Agendas

This week, the House Agriculture Committee received a comprehensive briefing on how Kansas has responded to ongoing avian flu outbreaks in birds and other types of outbreaks at dairy farms. Lawmakers were curious to learn more, including the known risk to humans. If the avian flu becomes a greater concern for public health, hopefully the appropriate lawmakers have enough information to act quickly.

For health committees, members continue to learn from state agencies and health groups about some of the health needs in our state. Unfortunately, those committees do not yet seem to have an appetite to pursue solutions to address health challenges Kansas families face, like affordable health insurance, finding providers in local communities, and more. Instead, we see legislation introduced to further political agendas that fellow advocates have been able to defeat in past years.

As session continues to race forward, we will continue to seek opportunities for impactful solutions that will address the actual health needs of Kansas children and families.


KAC's Legislative Interns

This week, three University of Kansas students began their roles as Kansas Action for Children’s interns for the legislative session. They will increase our team’s capacity to monitor committees and floor action, as well as assist us in our work to communicate to Kansans about what’s happening in the Statehouse.

Go read more about them on the KAC website here.


What to Expect in Week 3

As budget conversations continue to progress, KAC will weigh in on two agency budgets next week:

  • Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Tuesday

  • Kansas State Department of Education on Wednesday

Both agencies oversee programs that affect nearly every Kansas family, and we’re looking to lawmakers to use state resources to maximize kids’ potential.

We’re also likely to see the Senate take up two resolutions — SCR 1602, immigration-related, and SB 1603, constitutional amendment proposal focused property valuation tax caps.

If you’re in Topeka on Thursday, January 30, you can join the Immunize Kansas Coalition for its all-day Advocacy Day in the Capitol! Sign up here if you’re interested. And check out the new project from KIFA and IKC highlighting the importance of vaccines from a faith-based lens at www.lovevaccinates.org.