Kansas Legislative Insights Newsletter | March 2, 2026
The 2026 session has reached a turning point, and property tax reform sits at the center of the discussion. The Senate voted to advance a constitutional amendment that would cap annual valuation growth at 3%. The House took a different path, approving a bill that lets voters block local revenue increases above that mark. At the same time, the House passed a $27.8 billion fiscal year 2026 budget that trims most agencies but leaves long-term fiscal questions on the table.
Property Tax Reform: House and Senate Advance Competing Structural Approaches
Property tax reform is still the central fiscal issue of the 2026 session. This week, the Kansas Senate and Kansas House advanced materially different proposals.
Senate Proposal: SCR 1616
The Senate approved SCR 1616 on a 30-10 vote. The resolution proposes to amend Article 11, Section 1 of the Kansas Constitution, to limit annual increases in assessed value of real property and mobile homes to 3%, using 2022 as the base year.
Sen. Caryn Tyson (R-Parker), chair of the Senate Tax Committee, carried the resolution. She argued the amendment would provide predictability and protect property owners from rapid valuation spikes.
Opponents focused on a key distinction: Assessed value is only one part of property taxation. Local governments retain authority to set mill levies sufficient to fund adopted budgets. Several senators questioned whether limiting valuation growth necessarily limits tax burdens.
Because SCR 1616 is a constitutional amendment, it must receive two-thirds approval in both chambers before appearing on the ballot.
House Proposal: HB 2745
The House advanced HB 2745 on a 76-45 vote. The bill creates a protest petition process allowing voters to block local property tax revenue growth exceeding 3% each year. School districts are excluded.
Rep. Adam Smith (R-Weskan), chair of the House Taxation Committee, carried the bill. During floor debate, the House adopted two significant amendments: removal of a proposed $60 million relief mechanism for local governments and reduction of the petition signature threshold.
HB 2745 does not limit assessed value growth. It limits revenue growth if voters successfully file a protest petition.
Two Models of Reform
The Senate proposal limits valuation growth through a constitutional amendment. The House proposal creates a statutory check on revenue growth through voter action. One constrains the tax base. The other constrains revenue expansion.
What Happens Next
Each chamber could take up the other’s measure. More likely, leadership may appoint a conference committee to reconcile differences. Any conference agreement would require approval in both chambers. If SCR 1616 advances, it must still secure two-thirds support before submission to voters.
Other tax discussions continue this session, but the present debate is structural: how Kansas should impose long-term limits on property tax growth.
Debate and Discipline: House Advances Sub. for HB 2434
The Kansas House passed Sub. for HB 2434 after extended debate over school funding, spending growth, and long-term fiscal stability.
For FY 2026, the House recommends $27.8 billion in total spending, including $10.9 billion from the State General Fund. For FY 2027, the proposal totals $26.8 billion, including $10.8 billion from the State General Fund. While overall spending declines slightly in FY 2027, State General Fund levels remain well above pre-pandemic totals and reflect a decade of steady growth.
Two areas dominate State General Fund spending. In FY 2027, education receives $6.2 billion, and human services receives $3.3 billion. Public safety accounts for $667 million, and general government receives $610 million. Education and human services together consume most general fund dollars.
Floor debate centered on those priorities. Members rejected amendments to increase special education funding and to reduce copays for students receiving reduced-price lunches. Supporters argued districts and families need relief. Opponents cautioned against adding ongoing obligations to a budget already under structural pressure.
The bill also makes several structural policy decisions.
It imposes a 1.5% across-the-board reduction on most agencies funded by the State General Fund for FY 2027. The reduction does not apply to the judicial or legislative branches, correctional facilities, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Sentencing Commission, veterans' homes, the Office of the Attorney General, state hospitals, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), or KBOR institutions.
Once the Budget Stabilization Fund reaches 20% of annual tax receipts, the state will transfer interest earnings from that fund into the State General Fund to support ongoing operations.
The plan also withholds $12 million from state universities pending certification related to curriculum requirements, moves $21.5 million in Cooperative Extension Services funding to the State Finance Council pending reorganization approval, freezes university tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year, and delays a major highway project in the Kansas City area to redirect funds to other districts.
Even with a projected $1.67 billion State General Fund ending balance in FY 2027, members in both parties questioned long-term sustainability.
The House has set its position. The Senate is scheduled to work on its bill later this week. Conference negotiations will determine the final budget and the fiscal direction of the state.
Upcoming Week: March 2-6, 2026
Monday, March 2
- Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Commodity reports: Wheat, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sunflowers.
- House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee
- Hearing on SB 300: Prohibiting the Office of the State Bank Commissioner or any other state agency from becoming a receiver for a technology-enabled fiduciary financial institution that becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.
- Hearing on SB 331: Eliminating certain stipulations relating to the payment of negotiable instruments on Saturday afternoons or holidays.
- Hearing on SB 410: Providing that earned wage access service registrants are subject to the Kansas Financial Institutions Information Security Act.
- Hearing on SB 412: Imposing the duty to notify nonparties to a conservatorship of any court order commanding performance or safekeeping of the conservatee’s estate assets.
- House Local Government Committee
- Hearing on HB 2769: Requiring members of governing bodies of subordinate service taxing areas to be residents of such taxing areas.
- House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee
- Commerce Conversations: Aviation Day.
- Hearing on SB 334: Facilitating nursing workforce development by providing education levels for instructors at nursing schools as a requirement for state approval.
- House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee
- Hearing on SB 459: Changing the membership of the Prisoner Review Board and requiring parole hearings to be postponed if proper notice of the public comment session is not made to the victim.
- House Transportation Committee
- Hearing on SB 325: Restricting the use of material or objects covering a license plate for motor vehicles.
- House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Commodity reports: Wheat, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sunflowers.
- House K-12 Budget Committee
- Informational briefing: School funding and tax overview, Kansas Legislative Research Department.
- House Taxation Committee
- Hearing on HB 2783: Increasing the tax on electronic cigarettes and crediting the revenue to the Children’s Initiative Fund.
- House Insurance Committee
- Informational briefing: SB 360 v. federal law.
Tuesday, March 3
- Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- Hearing on HB 2477: Requiring the Kansas Department of Agriculture to publish a map on the department’s official website showing the location of all applied-for diversions of water, including requested changes in the point of diversion by more than 300 feet, and expanding the individual notice requirement to apply to all landowners within one-half mile of such diversions or changes.
- Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
- Hearing on Sub. HB 2250: Defining emergency opioid antagonist to include an expired emergency opioid antagonist for a person rendering aid to another in reasonable need of medical assistance.
- Senate Transportation Committee
- Hearing on HB 2604: Including gross vehicle weight in definitions for classes of commercial motor vehicles for driver’s license purposes, modifying the definition of commercial motor vehicle, and creating definitions of air mile and gross vehicle weight in the Kansas Uniform Commercial Drivers’ License Act.
- Hearing on HB 2522: Permitting highway construction and maintenance vehicles in construction zones to display flashing amber, white, or green lights at all times, or flashing white and blue lights under certain conditions.
- House Appropriations Committee
- Informational briefing: Conservation by Joshua McGinn, assistant secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Conservation; Amanda Scott, assistant director, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts; and Ryan Hoffman, conservation director, Kansas Corporation Commission.
- House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee
- Hearing continuation on SB 379: Authorizing the State 911 Board to establish a statewide program for emergency medical dispatch and telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medical direction, and quality assurance services.
- Presentation: KIOGA, Jennifer Mull, president.
- House Veterans Committee
- Final action on HB 2767: Establishing the Kansas Military Affairs Commission and prescribing its powers and duties.
- House Water Committee
- Hearing on SB 184: Amending the Kansas Drycleaner Environmental Response Act to modify penalties, deductible rates, environmental surcharge rates, solvent fees, and delinquency penalties.
- Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
- Hearing on property tax revenue limits.
- Senate Commerce Committee
- Hearing on HB 2343: Creating the No-Impact Home-Based Business Fairness Act and limiting municipal regulatory authority.
- Hearing on HB 2719: Creating priority status for certain rules and regulations, modifying the Kansas Rules and Regulations Filing Act, and clarifying budget department approval requirements.
- Senate Education Committee
- Hearing on SB 350: Enacting the Age-Appropriate School Device Act and authorizing parental opt-out provisions.
- House Education Committee
- Presentation: Kansas Master Teachers, Gregory Schneider, executive director of government relations.
- Informational briefing: Kansas State High School Activities Association classification practices, Kelly Williams, assistant principal and activities director, Nemaha Central High School.
- House Transportation Committee
- Hearing on SB 367: Authorizing cities to allow golf carts on sidewalks.
- House Judiciary Committee
- House Taxation Committee
- Hearing on HB 2773: Apportioning business income for manufacturers of alcoholic liquor based on investor classification.
Wednesday, March 4
- Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
- Hearing on HB 2478: Requiring criminal history checks for advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurse anesthetists applying for licensure.
- House Appropriations Committee
- Informational briefing: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
- House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee
- House Local Government Committee
- Presentation: Spencer Duncan, League of Kansas Municipalities.
- Presentation: Aaron Mays, Kansas Association of Counties.
- Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee
- Continuation of hearing on property tax revenue limits.
- Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
- Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
- Hearing on HB 2437: Authorizing additional resources for verifying voter registration records and providing an open records exemption.
- Senate Commerce Committee
- Hearing on HB 2739: Prohibiting certain municipal fire sprinkler requirements.
- House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee
- Informational briefing: CRP, CSP, and EQIP programs in Kansas.
- House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee
- Hearing on SB 418: Enacting the By-Right Housing Development Act.
- House Health and Human Services Committee
- Hearing on SB 431: Establishing remote practice of pharmacy requirements.
- House Judiciary Committee
- House Taxation Committee
- Hearing on HB 2474: Requiring review of certain public utility property valuations.
- House Insurance Committee
- Hearing on SB 55: Prohibiting assignment of benefits under certain insurance contracts.
Thursday, March 5
- Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
- House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee
- Presentation: TerraPower, Andrew Richards, vice president of government affairs.
- Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee
- Hearing on HB 2590: Enacting the Kansas Community Property Trust Act and amending the Kansas Uniform Trust Code.
- Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Hearing on HB 2593: Requiring open meetings before approval of contingency fee contracts for legal services.
- Senate Ways and Means Committee
- Hearing on HB 2393: Authorizing a charge to fund non-judicial personnel through June 30, 2030.
- Senate Commerce Committee
- House Social Services Budget Committee
- Presentation: Special Olympics Kansas, health impact and future expansion plans.
- House Taxation Committee
- Hearing on HB 2599: Exempting certain minor-owned businesses from sales tax on the first $10,000 in annual sales.
- Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs
Bill Introductions
HOUSE BILLS
Commerce
HB 2787: Alcoholic Beverages/Temporary Permits. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Rep. Tom Kessler (R-Wichita) and requested by Rep. Francis Awerkamp (R-St. Marys), would correct an inconsistency in the number of permits allowed in a year. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
SENATE BILLS
Agriculture
SB 519: Agritourism Promotion Act. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R-Shawnee), would exempt certain registered agritourism operations from local code and regulation enforcement. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Virgil Peck (R-Havana).
Judiciary
SB 520: Crimes, Punishment and Criminal Procedure. This bill, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs chaired by Sen. Mike Thompson (R- Shawnee), would create the crime of interference with the conduct of a religious assembly and provide criminal penalties and would provide for a civil cause of action for damages arising from such offense. This bill has been referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
Bill Tracking History
A history of the bills we are tracking as of March 2, 2026, can be found here.
Kansas Legislative Insights is a publication developed by the government affairs & public policy law practice group of Foulston Siefkin LLP. It is designed to inform business executives, human resources and government relations professionals, and general counsel about current developments occurring in current Kansas legislation. Published regularly during the Kansas legislative session and periodically when the legislature is not in session, it focuses on issues involving healthcare, insurance, public finance, taxation, financial institutions, business & economic development, energy, real estate & construction, environmental, agribusiness, and employment. Bill summaries are by necessity brief, however, for additional information on any issue before the Kansas Legislature, contact Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy law practice group leader, C. Edward Watson, II, at 316.291.9589 or cewatson@foulston.com. Learn more about the authors below:
C. Edward Watson, II
Editor and Government Affairs & Public Policy Law Team Leader
316.291.9589
cewatson@foulston.com | View Bio
As a partner at Foulston Siefkin, Eddie represents clients in matters before state regulatory commissions, courts, and local government bodies. He has built and maintained relationships with key individuals – including lobbyists, elected and appointed officials, and staff members – that prove valuable in advancing clients’ interests and issues. Drawing on his experience as a regional government affairs attorney for AT&T in Chicago, he helps clients navigate the maze of federal policies and agencies, advises on how processes work in Washington, and provides introductions to those who can help them accomplish their goals.
Susan (Sue) Peterson, PhD
Contributing Author and Government Affairs Consultant
785.341.6717
speterson@foulston.com | View bio
Sue, a government affairs consultant to Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy practice group, is a strategic advocate, advisor, and connection to the Kansas Legislature, government agencies, and elected officials. She has built a robust and well-established network of state and federal lawmakers, corporate/academic leaders, and policymakers nationwide. She earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from Kansas State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from KSU. Before joining Foulston, Sue served as Kansas State University’s chief government relations officer for 34 years; her experience also includes staff positions in Kansas’ executive and legislative branches.
Eric L. Sexton, PhD
Contributing Author and Government Affairs Consultant
316.371.7553
esexton@foulston.com | View bio
Eric, a government affairs consultant to Foulston Siefkin’s government affairs & public policy practice group, has nearly 30 years’ experience providing strategic direction and government relations services. As Wichita State University’s governmental relations leader for 18 years, Eric developed lasting relationships at the local, state, and federal government level around Kansas. Eric holds a doctorate in political science from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Public Administration from Wichita State University, complementing his undergraduate business degree from Wichita State.
This update has been prepared by Foulston Siefkin LLP for informational purposes only. It is not a legal opinion; it does not provide legal advice for any purpose; and it neither creates nor constitutes evidence of an attorney-client relationship.