Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2708

Introduced
2/4/26  

Caption

Establishing within the legislative branch the office of the director for Kansas advisory commissions, the advisory commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs and the Kansas Native American affairs commission and transferring the Hispanic and Latino American affairs commission and the advisory commission on African-American affairs to the legislative branch.

Impact

By centralizing these commissions within the legislative branch, the bill aims to streamline the functions and responsibilities associated with advisory roles for various ethnic and cultural communities in Kansas. The establishment of a directorial position is intended to foster better collaboration and communication between the state and these communities, potentially improving the formulation of policies that directly affect them. This move could signify a shift towards more inclusive governance and a recognition of the importance of these communities in the state’s socio-political landscape.

Summary

House Bill 2708 aims to establish an office within the legislative branch for the director of Kansas advisory commissions, specifically focusing on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs, along with the Kansas Native American affairs commission. Additionally, the bill facilitates the transfer of the Hispanic and Latino American affairs commission and the advisory commission on African-American affairs to this legislative framework. This strategic move is positioned to enhance the representation and oversight of these community affairs directly under the legislative authority.

Contention

While the intent of HB 2708 is to create a more unified structure for these commissions, there may be points of contention regarding how these changes will affect the autonomy of the existing commissions and their ability to address issues specific to their communities. Critics could argue that such an organizational shift might lead to bureaucratic constraints, making it more difficult for these groups to advocate effectively for their needs and interests. Moreover, the transition of these commissions into the legislative branch might raise questions about their operational independence and the potential politicization of their missions.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 HB2002

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

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 SCR1602

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

KS SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

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 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 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.

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