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Daily Legislative Update 🐝
Friday, March 21, 2025
Below is today’s morning update on published activities in the Kansas Legislature.
Table of Contents
Top Stories of the Day
Property Tax Annual Increases Capped at 3%
House Concurrent Resolution 5011, which will cap annual property tax increases at 3% per year, passed the Kansas Senate yesterday with the two-thirds majority necessary to approve the constitutional amendment. The resolution is now headed to the November 2025 ballot, where a simply majority would approve the change.
Unlike California’s Proposition 13 (which also caps annual property tax increases), this resolution maintains continuity in the assessed property value even when transferring or selling the property to a new owner. It is a much more aggressive form of property tax restraint, and poses significant long-term fiscal challenges for the state. The stress will be particularly noticeable at the local and county level, where property taxes often provide the majority of revenue for school and county budgets.
Here Come the Tax Cuts
There was a flood of tax-related legislation run through votes in the Kansas Senate and House yesterday:
Senate Votes:
SB 259: Automatic tax decreases based on revenue increases.
Yes: 30 Republicans, 0 Democrats
No: 1 Republican, 9 Democrats
SB 181: Limits Kansas state budget growth using the Consumer Price Index and population.
Yes: 30 Republicans, 2 Democrats
No: 1 Republican, 7 Democrats
SB 39: Establishes gold and silver as legal tender.
Yes: 26 Republicans, 2 Democrats
No: 5 Republicans, 7 Democrats
House Votes:
All of these votes received veto-proof majorities.
Senate Votes to End Daylight Savings Time
In a veto-proof majority, the state Senate approved SB 1 which proposes standardizing year-round on Central Standard Time. The transition is contingent on Missouri passing similar legislation, or Federal action. The bill now moves to the House.
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Administrative Notes
Both the House and Senate are in session today (on a Friday!) and are expected to have a full day of voting.
I will be traveling for work most of next week; the Buzz will continue, but it will likely be in a “just the facts” tempo.
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