Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB357

Introduced
1/21/26  

Caption

Establishing the intercity passenger rail service program and making transfers annually to the passenger rail service revolving fund.

Impact

The establishment of this program under SB357 would mark a considerable shift in state transportation policy, paving the way for a more integrated multimodal transportation network. This could lead to broader economic development, as improved passenger rail services usually correlate with increased tourism and business opportunities. Furthermore, by offering more reliable transportation options, the state could effectively reduce its carbon footprint in line with more sustainable practices.

Summary

SB357 aims to establish an intercity passenger rail service program, signifying a significant investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure. The program is designed to promote convenient and efficient rail travel between major cities, which is expected to reduce congestion on highways and provide an alternative form of transportation for the public. By creating an annual transfer to the passenger rail service revolving fund, the bill ensures a steady flow of financial resources directed toward enhancing and maintaining rail services that connect urban centers.

Contention

There may be points of contention surrounding the bill, particularly regarding the allocation of funds and the priorities set for intercity rail versus other modes of transportation. Critics might argue that this investment in rail services could divert attention and resources away from existing road improvements and maintenance, or even local transportation needs. Additionally, discussions may arise related to the efficacy of rail travel as a viable alternative to driving, particularly in areas where public transportation infrastructure is already lacking.

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 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 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 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 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 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 SB6

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

KS SR1702

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

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

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