Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB34

Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

Authorizing the KPERS board of trustees to invest in bitcoin exchange-traded products and providing requirements, limitations and definitions regarding such investments.

Impact

The implementation of SB34 would significantly affect the existing legislative framework surrounding retirement fund investments in Kansas. By incorporating bitcoin ETPs as a permissible investment, the bill opens up the fund to emerging markets and digital finance sectors, which could potentially lead to higher returns amid the volatility associated with cryptocurrencies. However, it also raises concerns about the risk profile of the fund, as traditional investment avenues may offer more stability compared to the unpredictable nature of the crypto market.

Summary

Senate Bill 34 (SB34) aims to amend the investment strategy of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) by allowing the board of trustees to invest up to 10% of the retirement fund in bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs). This move reflects a notable shift in investment policy, introducing cryptocurrency into the investment portfolio of a public retirement fund, which has implications for risk management and portfolio diversification. The bill specifies the requirements and limitations surrounding this type of investment, emphasizing the need for careful oversight and adherence to established investment objectives aimed at protecting beneficiaries.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB34 arise from the inherent risks associated with bitcoin investments, such as market volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and investor education. Critics argue that introducing a speculative asset like bitcoin could endanger the financial security of public employees' retirement benefits. Moreover, there are calls for greater transparency and accountability in how such investment strategies are managed to ensure that they align with the best interests of fund beneficiaries and maintain public trust in the management of retirement funds.

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 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 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 SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 SB6

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

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.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.