Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2007

Introduced
1/13/25  
Refer
1/14/25  
Report Pass
2/17/25  
Engrossed
2/19/25  
Refer
2/20/25  
Report Pass
3/17/25  
Enrolled
4/11/25  

Caption

Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2007 by Committee on Ways and Means - Reconciling multiple amendments to certain statutes.

Impact

With the enactment of HB 2007, the existing statutes concerning public record exceptions will be amended to require legislative review every five years. This aims to limit the creation of new exceptions and maintain accountability within state agencies regarding the information they are entitled to keep confidential. The bill aims to enhance the policy of open government while providing effective safeguards for sensitive information. Moreover, it reinforces the necessity for an identifiable public purpose for all exceptions to confidentiality.

Summary

House Bill 2007, titled as 'Senate Substitute for Substitute for HB 2007', focuses on reconciling multiple amendments to various statutes in Kansas. This bill seeks to streamline regulations regarding the disclosure of public records. It emphasizes maintaining a balance between transparency in government and protecting sensitive information that could harm individuals or businesses if released. The intent is to ensure that exceptions to disclosure are appropriately managed and reviewed periodically by the legislature.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 2007 appears to be largely positive among proponents of transparency and accountability in government operations. Supporters argue that by imposing more structured requirements for maintaining confidentiality, the bill will foster public trust in governmental processes. However, there are concerns raised by some stakeholders about the implications of these rules on certain operational efficiencies within agencies that handle sensitive information. The debate reflects a nuanced discussion about the necessary safeguards versus the flexibility required for effective governance.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the fear that stringent requirements might hinder agencies' ability to function effectively, particularly concerning sensitive information that is crucial for the administration of government programs. Additionally, there is a concern among critics regarding the potential for excessive restrictions on the information that can be disclosed to the public, which could undermine the very principles of transparency that the bill seeks to uphold. This balancing act between accessibility and confidentiality leads to significant deliberation among lawmakers.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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