Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2019

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

Authorizing the board of county commissioners to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in a county-elected office when no candidate runs for such office.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would modify the current process of filling vacancies at the county level, allowing commissioners to make appointments rather than leaving offices unfilled. This approach is expected to enhance governmental efficiency and responsiveness, particularly in instances where crucial positions remain unoccupied due to a lack of candidates. By providing a mechanism for appointments, the legislation aims to avoid disruptions in governance and continue service to the community.

Summary

House Bill 2019 authorizes the board of county commissioners in Kansas to appoint a qualified individual to fill a vacant county-elected office if no candidates ran for that office during the most recent general election. This legislative change is aimed at ensuring that key local government positions remain filled, which could streamline operations and maintain continuity in local governance. The bill specifically pertains to positions such as members of the board of county commissioners, county attorneys, sheriffs, clerks, treasurers, and registers of deeds.

Contention

While the bill presents a solution to the problem of vacant offices, there may be concerns regarding the transparency and accountability of the appointment process. Critics could argue that allowing commissioners to appoint individuals to these positions without an election could undermine democratic principles, leading to potential favoritism or lack of public input. The balance between ensuring continuity in local governance and preserving electoral processes may be a point of contention among stakeholders.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB3

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

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 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 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 SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

KS SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

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 SB4

Requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.