Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB473

Introduced
2/4/26  
Refer
2/5/26  
Report Pass
2/11/26  
Engrossed
2/18/26  
Refer
2/18/26  
Report Pass
3/11/26  
Enrolled
3/20/26  

Caption

Authorizing Audubon of Kansas to convey certain property in Wabaunsee county and requiring any deeds or conveyances related to such property be reviewed and approved by the state historical society.

Summary

SB 473 is a narrow real-property conveyance bill dealing with approximately 30 acres in Wabaunsee County. It authorizes the state historical society to convey the property, without consideration, to Audubon of Kansas by quitclaim deed, and it also authorizes Audubon of Kansas to later convey the property. The bill specifies that any deed or conveyance must be reviewed and approved before execution, and it sets out conditions tied to the property’s use and future ownership. The measure requires that the property be used for public recreation purposes, or else the interest in the affected portion reverts to the state historical society on July 1, 2026 if that use ceases or if Audubon of Kansas no longer exists. It also bars Audubon of Kansas from conveying any portion of the described real estate except as authorized, and it places the costs of the conveyance on Audubon of Kansas. The bill amends and repeals K.S.A. 75-2731, making this a targeted statutory update for this specific parcel.

Impact

SB 473 changes Kansas law by amending K.S.A. 75-2731 to create a specific statutory authorization for the transfer and potential reconveyance of a defined parcel of state-related real property in Wabaunsee County. It shifts title from the state historical society to Audubon of Kansas, while preserving state oversight through required review and approval of deeds and conveyances and by imposing a reversionary interest if the property is not used for public recreation or if the recipient ceases to exist. The bill also exempts the conveyance from K.S.A. 75-3043a and assigns transaction costs to Audubon of Kansas.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 40-0 on the consent calendar and later passed the House 121-2, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little opposition. The voting pattern suggests the measure was viewed as a routine, localized property-transfer bill rather than a major policy dispute.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record, and no committee transcript excerpts were provided. The only apparent points that could raise concern are the limits on future conveyance, the reversion clause tied to public recreation use, and the requirement that deeds be reviewed and approved by the state historical society. Any opposition, reflected by the two no votes in the House, was minimal and not explained in the available materials.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 SCR1602

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

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

KS HB2002

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

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.