Tim Taylor — The chair closes the meeting and asks members to stay in touch with their thoughts.
Rodger Reedy — Called during the roll call as Vice Chair Reedy.
Rodger Reedy — Asked to come to the table for House Bill 2709 and later addressed by the chair.
Rodger Reedy — Invited to present on House Bill 2709.
Rodger Reedy — Identifies himself as representing District 57 and associated with House Bill 2709.
Rodger Reedy — His bill was described as very similar, except for the ballot language provision and the last point he made.
Rodger Reedy — Representative Reedy is questioned about his bill, first about how it differs from Representative Van Schoiack's bill and later about the specifics of his approach, including how it compares to the by-subclass Hancock approach. Together, these exchanges form one continuous discussion seeking clarification of Reedy's bill.
Rodger Reedy — His bill was referenced as the model being examined.
Rodger Reedy — Representative Reedy is referenced in connection with a bill that uses a $100,000 appraised value figure, and the discussion notes that he is trying to highlight concerns about expressing tax impacts in dollar terms.
Rodger Reedy — Argued that fewer elections may make it easier to staff polling places and referenced his mother's experience working elections.
Rodger Reedy — Described how election staffing has changed over time and said his precinct did not finish counting until the next morning in a general election.
Rodger Reedy — Said heavier ballot loads and election-day stress discourage people from serving as election workers, even with electronic counting today.
Rodger Reedy — Suggested fewer elections could improve worker availability and acknowledged disagreement on the point.
Rodger Reedy — Said he has spoken with election workers in his district and is open to considering November elections despite concerns.
Rodger Reedy — Said election authorities in his counties do not look forward to November election burdens and then yielded to Representative Boyko.
Rodger Reedy — Identified himself as chair of the Elections Committee and said poll-worker staffing is a real problem.
Rodger Reedy — Explained that election authorities have had to use half-day shifts to staff polling places.
Rodger Reedy — Said election authorities have been creative in recruiting judges and introduced a discussion about the Kansas City School District.
Rodger Reedy — Asked whether the Kansas City School District should receive a carve-out while it works on a local solution.
Rodger Reedy — Said a temporary carve-out for the Kansas City School District seemed reasonable if it is working toward voter-approved levies.
Rodger Reedy — Warned against creating obstacles for the Kansas City School District's local efforts.
Rodger Reedy — Responded to Representative Stuyall's concern about losing template language for specific types of elections.
Rodger Reedy — Explained that the bill must account for many political subdivisions and said special districts have not yet contacted him.
Rodger Reedy — Representative Reedy was cited as having said the tax levy across all four classifications has to be the same in the bill being discussed.
Tim Taylor — Tim Taylor is identified at the start of the meeting, first as Chair Taylor being called to order and then again during roll call.
Tim Taylor — Tim Taylor is referenced as the chair throughout a brief discussion in which the speaker thanks him, notes that similar election-timing language was discussed in other bills, says they have talked with the chair about it, and expresses a desire to keep working with the chairman and the committee on alternative options.
Tim Taylor — The chair was thanked and addressed as Mr. Chair/Mr. Chairman.
Rodger Reedy — The speaker notes that Representative Reedy's bill is similar because it aims to standardize voter communication, and later adds that Representative Reedy had also mentioned the issue, reinforcing the shared focus on improving how election information is communicated to voters.
Kathy Steinhoff — Called during the roll call as Representative Steinhoff.
Kathy Steinhoff — Ranking Member Kathy Steinhoff was recognized, thanked the sponsors for bringing the bill forward, and then continued with substantive remarks noting that the assessment-by-subclass concept has gained traction among committee members and framing her comments within the limited time available.
Mark Boyko — Called during the roll call as Boyko.
Mark Boyko — Representative Boyko is recognized to inquire about the bills.
Mark Boyko — The speaker questions Representative Boyko about whether the bill summary is misleading or inaccurate, and clarifies the bill’s effect on blended rates and what current law is being repealed. The exchange centers on whether the summary accurately describes the bill’s actual impact.
Mark Boyko — Representative Boyko is referenced in the broader discussion of related legislation, then recognized to speak and asks about alternative property tax reform ideas, including whether assessment should shift from market value to a cost approach.
Mark Boyko — Mark Boyko spoke in support of keeping school board and property tax ballot questions aligned with April municipal elections. He argued that April voters are more likely to be local property owners and that it makes sense for the people voting on the tax rate to be the same people who helped place it on the ballot. The exchange then concluded with a brief thank-you before the chair moved on to the next question.
Tricia Byrnes — Called during the roll call as Byrnes.
David Dolan — Called during the roll call as Dolan.
David Dolan — Raised concerns about having multiple subjects in one bill and referenced the court overturning HB 122.
Ron Fowler — Ron Fowler was called during the roll call.
Ron Fowler — Representative Fowler was identified as the sponsor of House Bill 2925 and then introduced himself as Ron Fowler, State Representative for District 31 in Jackson County (the Blue Springs area), beginning his presentation of the bill.
Jeff Hales — Jeff Hales was called during the roll call.
Tony Harbison — Tony Harbison was called during roll call.
Will Jobe — Called during roll call as 'Job'.
Will Jobe — Recognized to inquire.
Will Jobe — Representative Jobe was recognized to inquire and continued the discussion.
Ben Keathley — Ben Keathley is first called during roll call, then briefly referenced in connection with two bills he has with the chair.
Ben Keathley — Referenced as a co-carrier of the bill being discussed.
Ben Keathley — Referenced as 'Keathley's bills' in discussion of similar language about general-election timing.
Jim Murphy — Called during roll call.
Jim Murphy — Representative Jim Murphy was recognized to inquire and then asked whether the proposal conflicts with Hancock and whether it is merely a statutory clarification regarding the rollback language.