Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2794

Introduced
3/9/26  

Caption

Decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district.

Impact

If enacted, HB2794 would have significant implications for local education funding. By decreasing the property tax collected by school districts, the bill aims to alleviate financial pressure on property owners, potentially fostering a more favorable environment for homeowners and local businesses. However, this reduction in tax revenue could lead to a budgetary shortfall for school districts, which could impact their ability to maintain operations, pay for educational programs, and offer competitive salaries for teachers. The bill may alter the dynamics of educational finance, necessitating adjustments in funding strategies at both the state and local levels.

Summary

House Bill 2794 proposes a decrease in the ad valorem tax imposed by school districts in Kansas. The bill stipulates a gradual reduction of the tax rate over the specified school years, starting from 20 mills in the years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, followed by 19 mills in 2027-2028. By the school year 2028-2029 and onwards, the tax rate would be adjusted annually based on the previous year's assessed valuation, with a minimum threshold of 15 mills. This amendment is intended to provide financial relief for property owners within school districts while still maintaining necessary funding for educational purposes.

Contention

Discussion around HB2794 has highlighted points of contention with regard to the balance between reducing taxes for property owners and ensuring adequate funding for public education. Supporters argue that lowering property tax burdens is essential for economic growth and making housing more affordable. In contrast, opponents express concern that this measure could undermine the fiscal health of schools, leading to a decline in educational quality and resources. As the bill proceeds through the legislative process, these contrasting views emphasize the challenges of policy-making in education finance.

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 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS SB6

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

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 HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS SB8

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

KS HB2002

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

KS SB3

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.