Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2346

Introduced
2/7/25  
Refer
2/7/25  
Refer
2/17/25  
Refer
2/27/25  
Report Pass
3/19/25  
Refer
1/14/26  
Report Pass
2/13/26  
Engrossed
2/25/26  
Refer
2/26/26  
Enrolled
4/9/26  

Caption

Substitute for HB 2346 by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development - Establishing the Kansas sports tourism grant program administered by the secretary of commerce to provide matching grants to communities for developing and continuing sporting events and providing for funding of such grants from the state economic development initiatives fund.

Impact

The passage of HB 2346 will modify state financial assistance frameworks by establishing dedicated funding for sports tourism. This program allows the state to contribute up to $1,500,000 annually towards supporting sports events that meet specific economic criteria. This funding will likely enhance the tourism and hospitality industries, particularly benefiting local hotels and businesses during major sporting events. However, the implementation of this program may shift financial resources from other state initiatives, and given its temporary nature, as provisions expire in June 2031, stakeholders will need to monitor its long-term benefits and sustainability.

Summary

House Bill 2346 establishes the Kansas Sports Tourism Program Grant Fund to promote and support sports tourism events across the state. The bill outlines a structured financial mechanism whereby grants will be awarded to event sponsors based on their estimated economic impact and the number of hotel nights generated in connection with these events. The Secretary of Commerce will manage the program and allocate grant funds based on the demonstrated impact of each event, with a maximum annual grant limit set per fiscal year. This legislative initiative aims to bolster the state's economy by fostering sports tourism, which potentially brings in revenue from out-of-state visitors and encourages local business activity.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 2346 appears to be predominantly positive among supporters who argue that it will significantly boost Kansas's economy through increased tourism. Advocates believe that it will not only create jobs but also attract visitors to the state, thereby generating additional tax revenue. Conversely, some critics express concern about accountability and the equitable distribution of funds, especially if the grants favor larger cities or established events over smaller, emerging ones. The dialogue reflects a broader debate on the state’s priorities concerning economic development and tourism funding.

Contention

One notable point of contention involves the bill's criteria for awarding grants. Critics have raised concerns regarding the potential for bias in the selection process, particularly regarding which events receive funding. Additionally, there are worries that the focus on sports tourism may overlook other critical aspects of economic development or community needs that require state support. Overall, while the intent is to enhance sports tourism as an economic driver, the potential implications for other community programs and equitable access to the grant funds remain significant discussion points among legislators and constituents alike.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 SB8

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

KS SCR1603

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for residential property.

KS HCR5002

Providing for the adjournment sine die of the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

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