Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB534

Introduced
3/10/26  

Caption

Imposing a nameplate capacity tax and a production tax upon certain wind farms and solar facilities, crediting the nameplate capacity tax and the production tax revenue to the property tax relief fund, creating the property tax relief fund, transferring moneys from the property tax relief fund to the state school district finance fund and decreasing the statewide property tax levy for schools.

Impact

The bill has significant implications for state taxation and funding mechanisms. By establishing the property tax relief fund, SB534 ensures that funds collected from renewable energy facilities will directly contribute to the financing of public education. This could lead to a reduction in local property taxes, which is a point of interest for both residents and school districts. However, the imposition of new taxes on renewable energy companies may be seen as a potential deterrent to investments in this growing sector, prompting debate over the balance between funding public education and fostering a supportive environment for renewable energy development. Additionally, the eventual financial health of the property tax relief fund will hinge on the success and productivity of the renewable energy facilities in the state.

Summary

Senate Bill 534 aims to implement a nameplate capacity tax and a production tax specifically on renewable energy facilities, such as wind farms and solar installations, within the state of Kansas. The bill establishes a framework for taxing companies that operate these facilities, imposing a tax of $4 per kilowatt multiplied by the nameplate capacity of the facility in addition to an excise tax of $0.001 per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. The revenue generated from these taxes is directed towards a newly created property tax relief fund, which is intended to support educational funding by decreasing the statewide property tax levy for schools. The bill reflects an intention to enhance state funding for education while simultaneously promoting the growth of renewable energy sources in the state.

Contention

As with many legislative proposals concerning taxation and renewable energy, SB534 may face opposition from various stakeholders. Critics are likely to argue that the proposed taxation could undermine the competitiveness of Kansas's renewable energy market, as higher operational costs may deter new investments. On the other hand, supporters argue that the benefits of increased funding for education and stability in public finance warrant the additional tax burden. The discussions around the bill are expected to include considerations of how this tax structure will affect energy prices, the economic landscape for renewable energy, and the overall financial sustainability of the state's educational funding mechanisms.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 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 SB8

Exempting the sale of firearms, firearms accessories, ammunition, firearm safes and firearm safety devices from the retatilers' sales tax.

KS SB6

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

KS SB5

Authorizing counties to impose an earnings tax.

KS HB2004

Authorizing counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question.

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