Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2546

Introduced
1/26/26  

Caption

Providing countywide retailers' sales tax authority for Labette county for the purpose of providing financial support to fire departments located in the county.

Impact

The bill is expected to have a significant impact on the ability of county governments to generate revenue for local projects without needing to depend solely on state funding or property taxes. By increasing the potential for local tax generation through the proposed sales taxes, counties can better address infrastructure needs such as roadway improvements, public safety facilities, and economic development projects. This flexibility could lead to improved services and facilities in the counties that opt to implement the tax.

Summary

House Bill 2546 proposes the authorization of county commissioners to submit propositions to area electors for imposing a countywide retailers' sales tax. Counties could levy this tax at rates between 0.25% and 1%, depending on the specific funding needs identified by each county. The revenue generated would be allocated for various purposes, including infrastructure projects, public safety enhancements, and economic development initiatives. This approach aims to provide counties with greater autonomy in how they finance local projects through voter-approved taxes.

Contention

However, the bill does face points of contention. Some lawmakers and community advocates express concerns that increasing taxes, even at the local level, can place a financial burden on residents and small businesses, especially in economically strained areas. Furthermore, the efficiency and oversight of how the funds would be utilized could be a focal issue, as voters may worry about accountability and transparency regarding county spending. There are calls for safeguards to ensure that the raised funds are effectively managed and allocated to address real community needs.

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 SB8

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

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 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 SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.