- Capitol Bee
- Posts
- Topeka Buzz: Tuesday, March 4
Topeka Buzz: Tuesday, March 4
Anyone want a flat tax?
Jason Anderson
March 04, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
This edition of the Topeka Buzz is being provided at no cost to subscribers. If you’d like to help with our hosting costs, consider becoming a Supporter. Thanks!
The 🐝 Rating System
Each bill is evaluated based on four key factors: Scope of Impact, Financial Impact, Urgency, and Controversy. These factors are weighted to reflect their influence on the bill's overall importance. Here's how the ratings break down:
🐝 Minimal Impact: Legislation with limited reach or lower urgency and controversy.
🐝🐝 Moderate Impact: Proposals with a broader or more notable influence, addressing issues of medium urgency or financial significance.
🐝🐝🐝 High Impact: Bills with widespread consequences, urgent needs, or significant public and political attention.
Daily Legislative Update 🐝
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Below is today’s morning update on published activities in the Kansas Legislature.
Table of Contents
Top Stories of the Day
Flat Tax is Back
Yesterday, Senator Tyson (R) introduced a flat income tax proposal (SB 283) which has been promptly referred to the Committee on Assessment and Taxation (which she chairs). The bill is so fresh it hasn’t arrived on BillBee just yet, but buried within the 16 pages of the bill are two major changes to state income tax rules:
A reduction in the upper tax rate from 5.58% to 5.35% over three years; and
A flat income tax rate of 5.2% for 2028 and beyond.
These tax cuts also apply to estates and trusts. There’s no fiscal analysis of the total budget impact for the proposal yet, but we can certainly reference work on past attempts at a flat tax; Senate Bill 539 from last year (also introduced, coincidentally, by Senator Tyson) would have reduced cost nearly $650 million annually once fully phased in.
There are some structural differences between the 2024 and 2025 proposals, but the net effect is the same.
LetterSwarm of the Day
With the recent launch of LetterSwarm, it’s now fast and easy to promote advocacy and letter-writing campaigns to express your view to your legislator(s). When appropriate, I’ll highlight an active “swarm” for your consideration. Today’s swarm is a request to write your state senator to oppose flat income taxes.
