Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2435

Introduced
1/13/26  
Refer
1/14/26  
Report Pass
2/16/26  
Engrossed
2/24/26  
Refer
2/25/26  
Report Pass
3/10/26  
Enrolled
3/26/26  

Caption

Substitute for HB 2435 by Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - Authorizing natural gas public utilities to recover certain growth-related investments in the gas system reliability surcharge, increasing the cap on the amount that the monthly fixed charge may be increased for residential customers and reducing the time for the state corporation commission to act on gas system reliability surcharge filings.

Impact

The legislation is designed to support the maintenance and enhancement of natural gas infrastructure across the state, essential for ensuring safe and reliable gas service to consumers. By enabling utilities to recover the costs of investments made to upgrade and modernize infrastructure, HB2435 aims to mitigate financial hurdles that could hinder necessary improvements. However, this might lead to increased costs for consumers, particularly if the raised cap on fixed charges translates into higher bills without transparency about how these charges relate to actual improvements in service delivery.

Summary

House Bill 2435 introduces significant changes to the regulations governing natural gas public utilities in Kansas, focusing on the gas system reliability surcharge (GSRS). The bill authorizes these utilities to recover costs associated with growth-related investments in infrastructure, aiming to ensure gas system reliability. One key provision is the raising of the cap on the fixed charge that can be applied monthly to residential customers, thus allowing for a more flexible rate structure in response to investments made by the utilities. Additionally, the bill reduces the time frame for the state corporation commission to respond to petitions regarding changes to the GSRS from 120 to 90 days, streamlining the regulatory process.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB2435 is mixed. Supporters argue that the bill is essential for modernizing infrastructure and safeguarding against potential gas supply disruptions. They emphasize the importance of a robust gas supply system as vital to both homes and businesses. On the other hand, critics express concerns that financial implications for residential customers might not be adequately addressed. They raise questions regarding the fairness of the increased financial burden, especially on low-income households, and the long-term implications for consumer costs without corresponding accountability measures in place.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the balance between necessary investments in public utility infrastructure and the enduring burdens on consumers who may face rising utility bills as a result of increased fixed charges. Stakeholders and advocacy groups are calling for greater oversight and assurance that the increased revenues will indeed be reinvested into infrastructure improvements rather than simply absorbed into the utilities’ operational costs. Key concerns revolve around the potential for diminishing regulatory scrutiny as the commission's response time is shortened, which might lead to a less thorough review of utility filings.

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 SB6

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

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 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 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 SB8

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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.