Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2385

Introduced
2/14/25  

Caption

Authorizing cities and counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question and to levy such tax if approved by the electors of a city or county, requiring resubmission of the question, if approved, to the electors every 10 years, allowing certain credits and exemptions against the tax, providing for deductions by public and private employers of the tax from employee earnings and providing that revenue from any such tax be pledged for certain purposes.

Impact

Implementation of HB2385 could significantly alter the financial landscape for local governments in Kansas, providing them with a new revenue stream to support public projects. This income could ease reliance on property taxes as at least 50% of the revenue from these earnings taxes must be applied to reduce property tax requirements. By allowing local governments to impose targeted taxes on nonresidents, the bill nurtures local control and financial independence, which some proponents see as a positive step toward addressing specific community needs.

Summary

House Bill 2385 introduces a framework that allows cities and counties in Kansas to propose a local earnings tax specifically targeting nonresidents working within their jurisdictions. This tax, if approved via a local ballot measure, would not exceed 1% of the annual earnings of nonresidents. The revenues generated from this tax must be allocated primarily towards infrastructure projects or, in the case of counties, for general county purposes. Additionally, the bill stipulates that these earnings taxes must be resubmitted for voter approval every ten years, ensuring that local electorates have a say in the continued imposition of this tax.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, HB2385 is not without its controversies. Critics may argue that by introducing earnings taxes on nonresidents, local governments could deter business investments or employment opportunities as companies might view such taxes unfavorably. Furthermore, the requirement for voter approval adds a layer of complexity and could lead to inconsistencies in tax implementation across the state. The question of fairness and equity may also arise, particularly among those who believe nonresidents should not bear additional tax burdens when they do not contribute to the local economy as residents do.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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 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 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 SB8

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

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 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

No similar bills found.