Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB342

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
1/20/26  

Caption

Extending the expiration date of the Kansas school equity and enhancement act from 2027 to 2028.

Impact

The extension of the Kansas school equity and enhancement act is expected to provide additional time for schools to benefit from funding that aims to address inequities in educational resources among districts. This could have broader implications on how educational financing is structured within the state, potentially leading to revisions in funding formulas and allocations. Proponents argue that this extended period will allow for sufficient assessment and planning to optimize the financial support structure for schools, while opponents may argue for the need for more comprehensive reform beyond mere extensions of existing policies.

Summary

Senate Bill No. 342 aims to amend the Kansas school equity and enhancement act by extending its expiration date from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2028. This piece of legislation is primarily focused on providing adequate funding and support for public educational institutions in the state of Kansas. By extending the expiration date of this act, legislators are signaling a commitment to maintaining financial equity in the education system, which has been a point of significant discussion and concern in recent years.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding SB342 relates to the ongoing debate about how best to finance public education in Kansas, particularly concerning equity among school districts. While extending the expiration date of the school equity and enhancement act may provide temporary relief, critics may question whether this approach effectively addresses the underlying issues of educational finance disparities. There is a concern that merely extending existing legislation may not lead to substantial improvements or reforms needed for a more balanced education funding system.

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 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 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 SCR1602

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

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 SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

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 SR1703

Recognizing November 14, 2024, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.