April 28, 2023

Property Tax Relief for seniors in need and disabled veterans by expanding the property tax freeze that passed last year, is in CCR 8 along with several other provisions.  The Senate passed it with a bi-partisan vote of 26 to 13.  Hopefully, it will became law.  It’s in the Governor’s hands.

Record Number of Vetoes and veto overrides is being reported.  The legislature didn’t attempt to override all of the vetoes, but of the ones they did, 12 were overridden.

The Governor worked to get a Republican Senator and an Independent (former Republican) Senator to vote against the veto override on CCR 169.  Apparently, they were seen coming out of her office on the day of the vote.  These are two legislators who originally voted YES on CCR 169.  It contained tax cuts on Social Security, an accelerated food state sales tax cut, some property tax relief for homeowners, an income tax cut by increasing the standard deduction, and a single income tax rate of 5.15%.  It would have accelerated the corporate tax cuts in 2024 and 2025 to 2024. The Republican who flipped, said the bill was too rich for corporations, but these are cuts they are going to get anyway.

The state budget increased over $1 billion this year, $1.5 billion was given to a handful of companies over the last two years, over $1.5 billion has been put in a rainy day fund, and yet the Governor and a few legislators blocked tax reductions for all Kansans.  Some say it was because of the single income tax rate policy at 5.15%.  A Democrat said the last day of session, “Don’t worry, you’ll get it next year because it is an election year.”  My heart sunk.  It shouldn’t matter if it is an election year.  We should pass it because it is good policy, no matter what year.

The successful veto overrides include:  HB 2313 Born-Alive Infant Protection, HB 2264 Women’s Right to Know about Abortion Drug Reversal, HB 2350 Making Human Smuggling a Crime, HB 2138 Requiring Separate Accommodations by Biological Sex on Overnight School Trips, HB 2094 Work or Training Requirement for Able Bodied Adults to Receive Food Benefits, SB 228 Modernizing County Jail Statutes (reimbursement for mental health detainees), and SB 180 Women’s Bill of Rights.  Bills that failed to secure 2/3 majority for an override: HB 2344 Loosening Overly Burdensome Daycare Regulations, HB 2236 Parents Bill of Rights, SB 169 Tax Reductions, SB 206  Ballots Due by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, and SB 26 Child Mutilation Prevention Act.

Session has ended.  Many of us were surprised when leadership ran the Sine Die resolution, ending the 2023 session April 28^th.  Usually it is a few weeks after the last day of veto session, not on the last day of veto session.  As I was walking out of the building many people commented they had no idea that day was going to be Sine Die.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12^th District State Senator.

Caryn

April 25, 2023

The Governor’s Veto Pen is in overdrive again this year.  Besides the fairness in women’s sports bill (which was successfully overridden) and the born-alive bill, she vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 180, defining a biological sex for the protection of women.  It takes a supermajority of legislatures (2/3) to override a veto.  She also vetoed House Bill (HB) 2344, allowing daycares to accept more children.  The rules and regulations implemented by bureaucrats have become too restrictive.  In fact, so restrictive that Kansan Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) testified about reducing the regulations and then didn’t follow through.  HB 2344 was an attempt to address the overreaching restrictions.

It is almost unbelievable the Governor has prioritized corporations over families and individual taxpayers by vetoing a CCR 169.  It would cut sales, property, and income tax by:

• accelerating “food” sales tax cut to zero on Jan 1, 2024 – instead of Jan 1, 2025
• increasing the property tax exemption for homeowners to $60k from $40k on the K-12 20 mil
• exempting most Social Security from state income tax, eventually exempting all
• increasing income tax standard deductions each year based on inflation
• creating a single income tax bracket of 5.15% while exempting income below $6,150 for individuals, $12,300 married so that it is a tax cut for all personal income tax filers
• accelerating the corporate income tax cut by one year to 1% cut 2024, instead of ½ percent in 2024 and 2025 (which the Governor signed into law last year)
• and cutting the privilege tax for banks ½ % in 2024 and ½ in 2025

Keep in mind that this is the same Governor who signed into law tax cuts and/or exemptions for major corporations and vetoed tax cuts in 2021 CCR 50.  It is estimated just the APEX tax exemptions she pushed will be over $1.5 billion for two companies, one being a foreign owned company. Her claims for vetoing the tax cuts in CCR 169 are much the same as in 2021, that it would break the state.  After CCR 50 became law, the state has continued to collect record revenue (taxes collected).  She was wrong then and now.  Let’s hope we can override the veto this year putting the brakes on massive government growth and providing tax relief for all, especially families and individuals in need.

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) has been creeping into Kansas and there were a couple of pieces of legislation attempting to restrict ESG ratings in taxpayer investments such as Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS).  During debate on Senate Bill (SB) 291, I ran an amendment that would stop taxpayer money being invested in foreign adversaries of the U.S.  The amendment passed and the bill passed the Senate 29 to 11.  During conference committee a stripped-down version of 291 was put in CCR 2100, taking out the language blocking investments in China and other foreign adversaries.  The Senate sent a strong message to the House killing the conference committee report, but later reconsidered so we didn’t lose the entire ESG bill.  It became law without the Governor’s signature.

It is important to get KPERS and other taxpayer money out of these countries.  KPERS currently has approximately 2% invested in China, over $543 million.  Some say it will cost too much to divest.  I contend it is to costly to stay.  This was proven when KPERS Russia investments went from over $30 million to basically $0 last year.  KPERS board members and others have refused to take action so the legislature must.  Hopefully, it will not be too late as we are a part-time legislature and the 2023 session is coming to an end.

HB 2036 would exempt veterans from property taxes, but the bill was not accepted during conference committee negotiations.  I did not block the bill, as a State Representative who is a veteran is reporting (see https://www.teamtyson.org/HB2036.htm for more details).  I have fought diligently for tax cuts for our veterans, military, and all Kansans.  I have been a leader on the property-tax freeze for seniors and disabled veterans.  Tax conference committee members were instrumental in leading the effort to pass the program last year and the possible expansion of the program this year in CCR 8.  Hopefully, CCR 8 will become law this year.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12^th District State Senator.

Caryn

April 7, 2023

Final Action on Conference Committee Reports (CCR) sent many pieces of legislation to the Governor last week.  Work was intense the past week, with leadership finally shutting down business after 4 am Friday morning.  The legislature returns in late April.

Property, Income and Sales Tax Relief passed the legislature in CCR 169.  It still has a final hurdle.  The Governor could sign it into law, let it become law without a signature, or veto it.  The property tax cut is a result of exempting the first $60,000 of valuation, up from $40,000 on the 20 mil for schools.  The Senate had led the effort last year on this and many other tax cuts.  The House offered $80,000 and the Senate countered with $60,000 and an increase for inflation each year, which passed last year.  It is a difference of around $50 savings per household, which is important, but the Senate position was a much bigger savings, to remove state income tax on Social Security and lowering the income tax rate below 5.25.  Final agreements were: a single rate of 5.15% after a subtraction so that it is a tax cut for all; increasing the exemption on Social Security from $75,000 to $100,000 and an increase of $5,000 per year until there is no state income tax on social security; an annual increase on standard deductions based on inflation; accelerating the .5% corporate income tax cut scheduled in 2025 to 2024 and cut the privilege tax (bankers income tax) by .5% in 2024 and another .5% in 2025.    The state grocery sales tax that passed last year, will be accelerated to zero in 2024 instead of 2025.  Finally, taxpayers are a priority, not growing government.  Throughout my time in the legislature, I have fought for tax relief and for fiscally responsible policy.  CCR 169 is a major success in those efforts.

Expansion of the Property Tax Freeze for seniors and disabled veterans, property tax exemption for businesses competing against government business, limit filings and penalties for personal property, clarifying agritourism property classification, codifying in statute Revenue Neutral Rate notice language and the state to pay for the mailing for one more year, exempting manufacturer coupons from state sales tax, creating a tax credit for  pregnancy center donations, expanding adoption tax credits, and other provisions are included in CCR 8.  The House graciously accepted the Senate position on many provisions.  I was very grateful as we are trying to help all Kansans.  The House voted at 4 am Good Friday on CCR 8.  The Senate will vote on it when we return in late April.

Limit on Property Tax Valuations  We started with a 3% limit each year on property valuation increases in SCR 1610.  It fell one vote short.  It requires 2/3 majority in both chambers, to get it on the ballot for voters to decide. Working with others, we were able to keep the topics alive and found that 4% would pass the Senate.  It passed with a super majority 28 to 11 (a reminder – the 3% limit failed on a vote 26 to 14).  As I led the effort, we all know legislation of this magnitude doesn’t occur in a vacuum – it takes a team.  Hopefully, the House will be able pass it this year.

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) was sent to the House with an amendment I offered, prohibiting state investments in countries that are known foreign adversaries to the U.S., such as China, Russa, and others.  All investments would have to be divested within 18 months.  Disappointingly, the House removed it and weakened the legislation.  CCR 2100 was the final language.  The Senate killed it on a vote of 16 to 20 to send a message, we didn’t agree with the House excluding the foreign adversaries language.  However, we did a motion to reconsider since it appeared it was all we were going to get at this time.  It passed 27 to 12.  Why is it that a majority of Senators understand taxpayer money should not be invested with foreign adversaries of the U.S., but others do not?

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12^th District State Senator.

Caryn