Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2022

Introduced
1/16/25  
Refer
1/16/25  
Report Pass
2/14/25  
Engrossed
2/19/25  
Refer
2/20/25  
Report Pass
3/6/25  
Enrolled
4/10/25  

Caption

Requiring special elections be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March or on the same day as a primary or general election.

Impact

The bill's impact revolves primarily around local governance, potentially affecting how municipalities plan and conduct special elections, particularly in relation to bond issues and other local matters. By restricting the timing of special elections, the bill aims to increase voter participation by consolidating elections, thus making it easier for voters to engage in the electoral process. However, the changes may also lead to frustration for local authorities and communities that require timely decisions through special elections without the constraints imposed by this new scheduling requirement.

Summary

House Bill 2022 aims to regulate the scheduling of special elections in Kansas. Specifically, the bill mandates that all special elections must occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March or align with the dates of general or primary elections. The objective of this legislation is to streamline election processes and reduce the frequency of standalone special elections, thereby simplifying the electoral calendar for municipalities and constituents alike. This bill, if enacted, will amend several sections of the Kansas Statutes to implement these changes, establishing clearer guidelines for when such elections can take place.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2022 appears to be mixed. Proponents argue that aligning special elections with general and primary elections will simplify governmental operations and encourage higher voter turnout. Conversely, there are concerns among local officials who feel that this legislation could hinder their ability to address urgent matters impacting their communities in a timely manner. The debate reflects a broader conversation about the balance between streamlining governmental processes and ensuring that local needs are met efficiently.

Contention

Key points of contention regarding HB 2022 include the possible conflicts between state-imposed scheduling and local election needs. Critics argue that this legislation restricts the flexibility that municipalities currently have to address urgent community issues through separate special elections. Additionally, there are worries that consolidating elections may dilute the focus on local measures, as they might be overshadowed by larger statewide or federal issues occurring during the same electoral events.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB4

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

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 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 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 SB3

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

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 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 SB6

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

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