Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2791

Introduced
3/4/26  

Caption

Imposing a 3% excise tax on all sports wagers, distributing the proceeds of such tax to the state school district finance fund and decreasing the statewide property tax levy for school districts by 1.5 mills.

Impact

The introduction of HB 2791 signifies a noteworthy shift in the state's fiscal policy regarding education and taxation. By linking the excise tax on sports wagering directly to educational funding, the bill represents an innovative attempt to address both the burgeoning landscape of sports betting and the ongoing challenges of school funding. The funding relief from property taxes could provide families with financial relief while ensuring that schools maintain necessary resources. However, the actual impact on school funding will largely depend on the expected revenue generated from sports wagers, which can fluctuate significantly.

Summary

House Bill 2791 proposes the imposition of a 3% excise tax on all sports wagers in the state. The primary purpose of this tax is to generate funds for the state school district finance fund, which is intended to enhance funding for educational institutions. In tandem with this new tax structure, the bill also aims to decrease the statewide property tax levy for school districts by 1.5 mills. This dual approach seeks to alleviate property tax burdens on residents while simultaneously ensuring that schools receive adequate funding.

Contention

Some opposition to HB 2791 may arise from concerns regarding the implications of further expanding gambling in the state. Critics could argue that increasing access to sports betting could lead to potential social issues, such as problem gambling and its effects on families and communities. Furthermore, there may be skepticism regarding whether the revenue generated from the excise tax will be sufficient to offset the reduction in property taxes and sufficiently fund educational needs. Questions surrounding the effectiveness of the framework for distributing funds and monitoring tax revenue could also arise during discussions.

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 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 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 SB6

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

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.