Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2483

Introduced
1/21/26  

Caption

Enacting the transparency and reform of utility expenditures act.

Impact

The legislation directly impacts the regulation of electric utilities by establishing a framework to scrutinize expenses associated with transmission projects and their influence on electric rates. This includes stipulations that restrict municipalities from imposing their own restrictions on nuclear energy facility operations, thereby streamlining the approval process for such projects. Moreover, it introduces legislative oversight on the construction of high-impact transmission lines, necessitating approvals that could prevent arbitrary increases in consumer electric rates.

Summary

House Bill 2483, referred to as the Transparency and Reform of Utility Expenditures Act, aims to enhance oversight and transparency of electric utility expenditures in Kansas. The bill mandates the state corporation commission to prepare and submit an annual report on recommended electric transmission projects, which details the project costs and classifications, and addresses expected benefits to consumers. To improve competitive practices, it establishes a requirement for competitive bidding for certain electric transmission lines directed by regional transmission organizations.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 2483 include the balance of power between state and local authorities regarding utility regulation, particularly concerning nuclear energy. Supporters argue that the bill increases efficiency and reduces costs for ratepayers by fostering a competitive environment; however, opponents express concerns that it may undermine local jurisdictions' abilities to address specific regional energy needs. The bill's mandates could potentially lead to debates over the economic viability of transmission projects and their long-term implications for Kansas's energy landscape.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB6

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

KS HB2002

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

KS SB8

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

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 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 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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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

NJ S1673

Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities.

NJ A2757

Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities.

KS HB2226

Providing incumbent electric transmission owners a right of first refusal for the construction of certain electric transmission lines.

MI SB0932

Public utilities: electric utilities; guidelines for applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity; provide for. Amends sec. 6 of 1995 PA 30 (MCL 460.566).

IA SSB1113

A bill for an act relating to electric transmission lines approved by federally registered planning authority transmission plans including right of first refusal and land restoration requirements, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

MI SB0930

Public utilities: electric utilities; guidelines for applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity; provide for. Amends sec. 8 of 1995 PA 30 (MCL 460.568).

WI AB25

An incumbent transmission facility owner’s right to construct, own, and maintain certain transmission facilities and Public Service Commission procedures if the transmission facility is a regionally cost-shared transmission line.

WI SB28

An incumbent transmission facility owner’s right to construct, own, and maintain certain transmission facilities and Public Service Commission procedures if the transmission facility is a regionally cost-shared transmission line.