Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB161

Introduced
2/3/25  
Refer
2/4/25  
Report Pass
2/13/25  
Engrossed
2/25/25  

Caption

Requiring legislative approval prior to any state agency seeking or implementing a public assistance program waiver or other authorization from the federal government that expands eligibility for any public assistance program or increases cost to the state or making certain changes in services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Impact

If enacted, SB161 would effectively limit the ability of state agencies to unilaterally expand public assistance programs, thereby ensuring that any changes are reviewed and approved through the legislative process. This could result in a more cautious approach to expanding public services, with the potential for reduced responsiveness to the needs of constituents, as agencies would need to navigate legislative approval, which could be influenced by political considerations. Additionally, the bill specifies that any public assistance program amendments already being implemented before the effective date would not be affected, maintaining continuity for existing programs.

Summary

Senate Bill 161 aims to strengthen legislative oversight over public assistance programs by requiring that any state agency seeking to implement a federal waiver or authorization—which would expand eligibility for these programs or increase costs to the state—must first obtain explicit consent from the legislature. This requirement, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, marks a significant shift in how public assistance initiatives are managed in Kansas, placing greater authority in the hands of elected lawmakers, rather than state administrators.

Contention

There may be points of contention surrounding this bill, particularly regarding the balance of power between state agencies and the legislature. Proponents may argue that increased legislative oversight is necessary to prevent unnecessary expansions of government spending and ensure accountability. In contrast, opponents could raise concerns that such restrictions might hinder the ability of state agencies to respond quickly to the changing needs of the population, especially in times of crisis or when federal assistance opportunities arise. The discussions may also reflect broader ideological divides concerning the role of government in providing social services.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2002

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

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 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 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 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 SCR1601

Informing the Governor that the two houses of the Legislature are organized and ready to receive communications.

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 SB8

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.