Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB396

Introduced
1/27/26  
Refer
1/28/26  
Report Pass
2/6/26  
Engrossed
2/13/26  
Refer
2/13/26  
Report Pass
3/11/26  
Enrolled
3/20/26  

Caption

Reorganizing the Clearwater cemetery district in Sedgwick county to remove Ohio township.

Summary

SB 396 authorizes the board of trustees of the Clearwater cemetery district in Sedgwick County to reorganize the district by removing Ohio township from its boundaries. The bill sets out the new governance structure for the reorganized district: three trustees, consisting of the mayor of Clearwater, the township trustee from Ninnescah township, and one at-large member. The at-large member is to be selected by the board initially, then elected on a nonpartisan basis beginning at the 2026 general election and every four years thereafter. The bill also allows Ohio township and the reorganized Clearwater cemetery district to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement for future cemetery care and the sharing of existing tax funds. The reorganization becomes effective January 1, 2026, and a copy of the resolution must be filed with the Sedgwick County clerk. In practical terms, the measure changes the composition and jurisdiction of a local cemetery district while preserving a mechanism for continued cooperation between the separated entities.

Impact

SB 396 amends the local governance arrangement for the Clearwater cemetery district by removing Ohio township from the district and establishing a new three-member board structure. It affects the administration of cemetery operations, trustee selection, and the use of district tax revenues in Sedgwick County. The bill does not create a statewide cemetery policy change, but it does alter the legal boundaries and governance of a specific special district and authorizes interlocal agreements concerning cemetery maintenance and existing funds.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 40-0 and the House 122-1, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little visible opposition. The lack of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was likely viewed as a routine local reorganization bill rather than a contentious policy proposal.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the removal of Ohio township from the Clearwater cemetery district, which could affect local representation, responsibility for cemetery care, and the distribution of existing tax funds. The bill addresses this by allowing an interlocal cooperation agreement between Ohio township and the reorganized district, suggesting concern about continuity of services and financial arrangements. Any opposition would likely have centered on local boundary changes or governance representation, but the recorded votes show minimal resistance.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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 SB3

Clarifying the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office.

KS SCR1602

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

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 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 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.

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