Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2451

Introduced
1/15/26  
Refer
1/15/26  
Report Pass
2/9/26  
Engrossed
2/18/26  

Caption

Prohibiting the use of public assets by government officers and employees to advocate for or against proposed amendments to the constitution of the state of Kansas and ballot questions submitted to qualified electors.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2451 would significantly alter how government officials can engage in political activities related to constitutional amendments and ballot initiatives. This prohibition could impact a wide range of educational efforts and information dissemination that local governments and state agencies typically engage in regarding forthcoming elections or policy changes. The intention is to ensure that a clear boundary exists between government operations and political campaigning, maintaining the integrity of public resources.

Summary

House Bill 2451 aims to prohibit the use of public assets by government officers and employees for advocating either in favor of or against proposed amendments to the Kansas state constitution, as well as any ballot questions presented to qualified electors. The bill addresses a critical issue concerning the intersection of public resources and political advocacy, ensuring that government funds and assets are not utilized to influence electoral outcomes or constitutional revisions.

Contention

The primary points of contention surrounding HB 2451 revolve around concerns of free speech and the role of government in electoral processes. Supporters argue that the measure is necessary to prevent misuse of taxpayer-funded resources for partisan purposes, while opponents may contend that such a restriction limits the ability of government entities to inform the public about important issues that can affect their quality of life. Debates may also arise over the definition of 'advocacy' and the implications of restricting communications from government officials regarding constitutional matters.

Notable_points

The bill could instigate discussions about the ethical use of public resources and the responsibilities of government officers in communicating with the electorate. As such, HB 2451 could set a precedent regarding the limits of governmental advocacy and the nature of permissible political engagement by public officials, which may have far-reaching implications on future legislative and electoral activities in Kansas.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS HB2002

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

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 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 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 SB6

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

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.