Topeka Buzz: February 6, 2026

A proposal to replace all property taxes with a regressive consumption tax. Also: a new Education Inspector General?

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Jason Anderson
February 06, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes

Topeka Buzz 🐝
Friday, February 6, 2026

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Kansas Considers Eliminating All Property Taxes

Two related measures introduced yesterday would end property taxation in Kansas—one a constitutional amendment with no replacement plan, the other a companion bill with a novel transaction-based funding mechanism.

SCR 1621: The Constitutional Ban

SCR 1621 proposes adding a constitutional prohibition on any tax on real or personal property by the state or any local government. Property taxation would end after December 31, 2027, with tax years 2026–27 available for a phased elimination if the Legislature provides one.

The amendment overrides current constitutional rules on property classification, assessment ratios, and exemptions—stating the new ban controls if there's a conflict. Critically, the resolution creates no replacement revenue, no state aid formula, and no transition plan. Future legislation would need to address how to fund K-12 education and local services.

No state has ever eliminated all property taxes. North Dakota voters rejected a similar proposal 63-37% in November 2024, and a prior attempt failed there 76-24% in 2012. I'd be surprised to see SCR 1621 survive a committee hearing on its own—but SB 488 changes the calculus.

SB 488: The Replacement Mechanism

SB 488 is the implementing legislation for SCR 1621. It only takes effect if voters approve the constitutional amendment, but it attempts to answer the obvious question: how do you replace billions in local revenue?

The answer: a new statewide "Kansas fair share purchase surcharge" beginning January 1, 2027.

The rate structure is unusual:

  • Purchases of $20 or more: flat $1.60 per transaction

  • Purchases under $20: 7.6% of purchase price

That flat fee creates some odd math. A $20.01 purchase pays an effective rate of 8%. A $100 purchase pays 1.6%. The structure effectively functions as a regressive consumption tax that hits frequent small-dollar purchasers hardest.

Exemptions include: SNAP-eligible groceries, prescription drugs, motor fuel, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, child care, K-12 tuition, and items purchased for resale.

The collected “surcharges” would be distributed quarterly:

  • 48% to school districts (proportional to 2025 property tax revenue)

  • 35% to counties, cities, and other local governments (same basis)

  • 12% to state general fund

  • 5% to a "property tax freedom reserve fund"

The reserve fund backstops 2026-27 transition grants to local governments. If it exceeds $500 million after the transition, the excess gets rebated to Kansas income tax filers as a "freedom dividend."

The Bottom Line

Together, these measures represent the most ambitious property tax restructuring proposal in Kansas history (and possibly the nation). Unlike the North Dakota measure that voters rejected, SB 488 at least attempts to provide replacement revenue. Whether that revenue is adequate, stable, and fairly distributed is the core policy question.

Worth watching closely.

SB 491: Creates Education Inspector General

The "Haylee Weissenbach Protecting Students Act" would create an Office of Education Inspector General (OEIG) inside the Attorney General's office to investigate educator and staff misconduct across public and nonpublic K-12 schools.

The OEIG would have significant powers: subpoena authority, access to personnel records and facilities, and the ability to issue cease-and-desist orders and civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation. Schools must link to a secure anonymous reporting portal, and the office must open investigations when specific triggers are met including two complaints against the same person in 12 months, use of NDAs tied to misconduct allegations, or evidence of suppressed reports.

The bill creates the Office of Education Inspector General (O-EIG) inside the Attorney General’s office to audit, investigate, and review public and nonpublic K-12 schools. It requires quick reporting of suspected crimes, a public misconduct registry for certain cases, and fingerprint-based background checks for school employees. Students, families, school staff, districts, the State Board, and local law enforcement would all be affected.

Key requirements for schools:

  • Report suspected crimes to law enforcement immediately—internal investigations can't begin until that report is made

  • Report credible allegations to KSDE within 7 business days

  • Provide trauma-informed support services within 5 school days at no cost to families

  • Check a new public misconduct registry and NASDTEC clearinghouse before hiring

  • Complete annual training and certifications

The public misconduct registry would list licensed and unlicensed staff found to have engaged in misconduct or convicted of certain crimes—searchable online and linked from OEIG, KSDE, and AG websites.

Starting July 1, 2026, all applicants for educator licensure or school employment must undergo fingerprint-based state and national criminal background checks.

The bill explicitly bans "passing the trash"—schools cannot help employees obtain new positions when they know or have probable cause to believe the employee engaged in sexual misconduct with a student, including through misleading references or confidential settlements.

New Bills Introduced

Business & Commerce

  • 🐝 HB 2725: Adds district court judges to state drug testing

Criminal Justice

  • 🐝🐝 SB 494: Expands stalking law, police rules, and protections

  • 🐝🐝 SB 493: Criminalizes online grooming and solicitation

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2723: Require statewide court date reminders

  • 🐝🐝 SB 492: Require agencies to share officers' misconduct records

  • 🐝 HB 2724: Waives expungement fees for low-income petitioners

Education

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2710: Schools must post parental-rights info; parents can sue

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2717: Require school attendance starting at age 6

Elections & Government

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2726: Lower removal threshold for retained judges to 40%

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2733: Requires continuous residency for many elected offices

  • 🐝 HB 2719: Speeds technical rule updates and priority reviews

  • 🐝 HB 2721: Removes public register for agency computer records

  • 🐝 HB 2711: Sets election timing and rules to dissolve small cities

Healthcare

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2736: Hospitals must screen patients for charity care

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2729: Requires KDHE forms and notices for abortions

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2720: Creates statewide rules for surrogate medical decisions

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2735: Lets insurers offer patient shared-savings incentives

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2727: Allows capped damages for certain abortion consent suits

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2730: MCOs must send EOBs to KanCare and CHIP members

  • 🐝 HB 2718: Protects resident pharmacy choice; bans facility fees

Infrastructure

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2728: Creates statewide energy siting rules, limits local delays

Social Services

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2734: Expedites permanency for children under 2

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2738: Directs DCF to seek SNAP waiver banning candy and soft drinks

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2731: Creates OIG-run SNAP fraud detection unit

  • 🐝 HB 2732: Show veteran service-connection on Kansas death certificates

  • 🐝 HB 2716: Allow one disability plate per vehicle owned

Taxation

  • 🐝🐝🐝 SB 489: Creates statewide $10K homestead tax exemption

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2712: Expands county sales tax authority, adds 10-year sunsets

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2713: Delay property tax for used vehicles 12 months

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2715: Delay first-year property tax on new motor vehicles

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2737: Cities may use taxpayer agreements to finance TIF projects

  • 🐝🐝 HB 2714: Lowers tax on U.S.-made beer and malt drinks

  • 🐝🐝 SB 490: Cities may add up to 1% CID tax on food, alcohol, tobacco

  • 🐝 HB 2722: Protects assets in certain resultant trusts from settlor creditors

Uncategorized

  • HCR 5030: Urging Congress to enact immigration reform.

Floor Votes

Thursday, February 5

House (2)

  • HB 2515: PASS (118 Yes, 5 No, 2 Absent). Adds consumer protections for people who use virtual currency kiosks in Kansas. Requires clear scam warnings and receipts, ID checks, fee caps, transaction limits, holding periods, refund rights, fraud controls, and operator licensing.

  • SB 254: PASS (86 Yes, 36 No, 3 Absent). Blocks people unlawfully present in the U.S. from getting Kansas state or local public benefits. Adults must prove lawful presence, agencies must run federal SAVE checks, and courts must verify immigration status at first appearance.

Senate (4)

  • SB 327: PASS (38 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent). This bill lets the Bethell joint committee on home and community-based services and KanCare hold its required January and April meetings outside the legislature’s regular session. It does not change the committee’s duties, reports, or quorum.

  • SB 299: PASS (38 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent). SB299 opens records of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission to the public, limits closed meetings to certain background and financial discussions, and lets the commission redact sensitive checks or financial details.

  • SB 348: PASS (38 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent). The bill would exempt not-for-profit retail electric utilities owned by electric cooperatives from routine State Corporation Commission oversight. Customers gain notice and petition rights for rate reviews, while the SCC keeps some limited powers.

  • HB 2331: PASS (38 Yes, 0 No, 2 Absent). Let district coroners dispose of unclaimed cremated remains after a published notice and waiting periods, limit coroner liability except for gross negligence, and require minimum continuing education for active embalmers and funeral directors.

Committee Actions

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Bills Referred (1)

  • SB 473: State allows Audubon to get 30-acre Wabaunsee parcel

Assessment and Taxation

Bills Referred (2)

  • SB 476: Exempts certain church-run thrift store property from tax

  • HB 2464: Extend aerospace tax credit sunset to 2036

Child Welfare and Foster Care

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • HB 2557 (bill be passed): Adopts updated interstate compact for child placements

Commerce, Labor and Economic Development

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • HB 2466 (bill be passed): Extend angel investor tax credit to 2031

Education

Bills Referred (1)

  • SB 477: Tuition waived for eligible Kansas first responders

Federal and State Affairs

Bills Referred (3)

  • HCR 5022: Kansas asks Congress to call term-limits convention

  • SB 484: Moves marijuana to Schedule III

  • SB 483: Publish public salaries for legislators and some spouses

Financial Institutions and Insurance

Bills Referred (2)

  • SB 472: Sets annual insurance/securities fees; ends 10% GF credit

  • SB 474: Creates state rules for short-term health plans

Government Efficiency

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • SB 387 (bill be passed as amended): Verify income for free-meal at‑risk counts

Health and Human Services

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • HB 2478 (bill be passed): Adds APRNs and CRNAs to nursing background checks

Judiciary

Bills Referred (8)

  • SB 478: Raises penalties for assaulting utility and telecom workers

  • SB 485: Count all income, seal many eviction records

  • SB 487: KBI creates statewide offender registration system

  • SB 482: Landlords must return rent if unit condemned

  • SB 479: Funds wellness programs for KHP and KBI officers

  • SB 480: Restores court control over estates of missing Kansans

  • SB 486: Allows state lawsuits for rights violations by officials

  • SB 481: Municipal judges can order competency exams

Public Health and Welfare

Bills Referred (1)

  • SB 475: Hospitals must use surgical smoke evacuation systems

Transportation

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • SB 325 (bill be passed): Ban on license-plate covers and obstructing frames

Utilities

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • SB 379 (bill be passed as amended): Statewide emergency dispatch & T-CPR program

Water

Bills Reported Out (1)

  • HB 2477 (bill be passed): Publish water-diversion map; notify nearby landowners

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