Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2156

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

Establishing the education opportunity tax credit to provide an income tax credit for taxpayers with eligible dependent children who are not enrolled in public school.

Impact

The impact of HB2156 is expected to be significant on state tax revenues and educational funding frameworks. By allowing for substantial tax credits, the bill may encourage higher enrollment in private schools, potentially shifting resources away from public schools. As the funding for the credits could reduce available tax revenues, discussions surrounding equitable educational funding could arise, with concerns over whether public school systems might suffer from reduced funding as a result. Additionally, the eligibility requirements, such as requiring valid Social Security numbers for dependents, aim to ensure compliance and reduce potential fraud related to the tax credits.

Summary

House Bill 2156 introduces an education opportunity tax credit designed to assist taxpayers with dependent children who are not enrolled in public schools. For tax year 2025 and beyond, eligible taxpayers can claim a credit of up to $8,000 for each dependent child enrolled full-time in an accredited private school, or $4,000 for those in nonaccredited schools. The overall limit on credits for the program is set at $125 million for the initial year, with the potential for increases in following years based on demand. The bill aims to provide financial relief to families who opt for private education for their children, thereby promoting school choice.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB2156 include criticism from proponents of public school funding, who argue that the bill could exacerbate inequalities in the education system. Critics claim it prioritizes funding for private education at the expense of public schools. Furthermore, there is concern regarding the prioritization of limited tax credits, which may favor those who have previously benefited from such programs, potentially sidelining first-time applicants. The acknowledgment that individuals who receive scholarships under existing programs are ineligible for these credits adds to the complexity and debate surrounding educational funding policies in the state.

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 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 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 HB2002

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

KS SB6

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS SB8

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

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 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.

Similar Bills

MI HB5806

Individual income tax: credit; housing opportunity tax credits; create. Amends 1967 PA 281 (MCL 206.1 - 206.847) by adding secs. 279, 679 & 821. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5805'26, HB 5807'26

US HB2292

Economic Opportunity for Distressed Communities Act

NM HB240

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNT ACT

NM HB387

Education Opportunity Account Act

NM HB388

Low-income Education Opportunity Account Act

MT SB278

Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities

ID H0910

STATE LAND – Adds to existing law to provide for managed recreation opportunities on state endowment lands.

US HB3687

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to renew and enhance opportunity zones, and for other purposes.