Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HCR5005

Introduced
1/22/25  

Caption

Proposing to amend section 6 of article 6 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit the use of elementary and secondary public funds for secular public schools and prohibit public funds from being used for private nonpublic schools.

Vote

For HCR5005 to become law, it must receive approval from two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Following legislative approval, the amendment will be presented to voters at the general election. Should it succeed, the amendment would formally change the Kansas Constitution, affirming the state’s policy regarding educational funding moving forward.

Impact

If approved, this amendment would significantly alter how educational funds are allocated within the state. It would mean that all public moneys appropriated for K-12 educational purposes could only support secular public schools, thereby reinforcing the commitment to separation of church and state in public education. This would effectively eliminate the possibility of funding private religious schools with state dollars, which proponents argue is necessary to maintain educational equity in the state.

Summary

HCR5005, also known as the Protect Public Schools Amendment, proposes to amend section 6 of article 6 of the Kansas Constitution. The amendment seeks to limit the use of public funds appropriated for elementary and secondary education specifically for secular public schools and to prohibit any public funds from being used to support private nonpublic schools. The primary aim of this legislation is to ensure that public funding is dedicated exclusively to secular public education, thereby preventing any financial support or resources from flowing to private educational institutions.

Contention

The amendment is likely to spark debates among legislators and the public. Proponents assert that the resolution addresses concerns regarding the misuse of public funds and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a secular educational system. However, opponents may critique the resolution, arguing that it could discriminate against families seeking alternative educational options for their children, particularly in areas where public schools may be underperforming. This conflict embodies a broader discussion on educational choice and parental rights versus the traditional roles of public education.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 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 SB8

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

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 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 SCR1602

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.