Category Archives: Kansas

Art, Government, Kansas

Applications Open for Kansas Arts Commission Funding Opportunitie

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TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced applications are being accepted for four Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) grant programs that support a wide range of arts and cultural activities across the state.

The grant programs, which are designed to foster community pride, economic growth and cultural heritage, include:

  • General Operating Support Grant: Provides funding for day-to-day operations of established arts organizations
  • Arts Everywhere Grant: Supports specific projects and initiatives and is open to both arts and non-arts organizations
  • Public Art & Murals Grant: Funds permanent and semi-permanent public art installations
  • Visiting Artists Grant: Helps bring professional artists from across the nation to Kansas communities

“Providing targeted financial support for the arts is vital in revitalizing and supporting our communities and organizations of all sizes,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Groups are using these grants to help make important, impactful and meaningful work happen, boosting local economies and connecting residents to the creative talent found throughout the Sunflower State.”

The KAC grants are available to support arts and cultural activities that are taking place starting on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Supported activities include arts education projects, music, dance, visual arts, professional and community theater, media arts, creative writing, murals, poetry, the operations of museums and other creative disciplines.

Eligible applicants include Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of local government (e.g., schools, universities, libraries, art agencies, etc.) and federally recognized tribal communities. All applicants must have at least one fiscal year of completed arts programming.

“Our funding opportunities are open to any and all Kansas organizations, and the application can be completed without specializing in grant writing,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “We encourage all interested applicants to take advantage of the resources we have available to help navigate the process.”

To access relevant KAC application webinars, click here.

The deadline for all four KAC grant applications is 5:00 p.m. February 28. For more details, guidelines and eligibility, click here.

Visiting Touring Roster Artists grants also are available to bring artists on the Kansas Touring Roster to communities across the state. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis but must be made at least 60 days in advance of the proposed activity. More details can be found here.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC):

The Kansas Arts Commission stewards the state’s investment in the arts by empowering creativity, fostering innovation, and strengthening the economy to enhance the vitality of every Kansas community. The Kansas Arts Commission is a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. To learn more about KAC, click here or contact Ben Stanton at benjamin.stanton@ks.gov or (785) 213-5959.

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Government, Kansas

KS Tax Collections $942.8 Million In January

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Governor Kelly Announces January
Total Tax Collections Surpass Estimate by
Nearly $16M


TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends January 2025 with total tax collections at $942.8 million. That is $15.9 million, or 1.7%, above the estimate. Total tax collections are up 1.5% from January 2024.

“While current revenues are in line with the estimates, it is important that we continue to focus on fiscal responsibility to ensure long term financial health in Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said.

Individual income tax collections were $500.1 million, $25.1 million or 5.3% above the estimate, and up 5.1% from January 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $73.0 million, $20.0 million or 21.5% below the estimate, and down 18.7% from January 2024.

“But for a tax system deployment on Friday, January 31, which delayed that day’s individual income tax refunds to today, total taxes collected would have been extremely close to the forecasted amount for the month of January,” said Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $348.8 million, $11.8 million or 3.5% above the estimate, and up $4.5 million or 1.3% from January 2024.

Click here to view the January 2025 revenue numbers.

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Area News, Government, Kansas

KDOT to host open houses on U.S. 69 design options in Crawford County

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Submitted graphic.

 

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation will host four in-person open houses and one virtual open house to allow the public to review design options for the U.S. 69 project in Crawford County in February.

 

All the open houses will share the same information, and the public will be able to provide input at each meeting. Project team members will be available to answer questions about the design options that were developed based on feedback from previous open houses and insights gained from data collected along the study area.

 

Participants are encouraged to drop by at any time during the in-person open houses, as there will be no formal presentations. The virtual open house will be recorded and start at the designated time and include a walk-through of the design options with a question-and-answer session.

 

In-person open houses times and locations:

 

Pittsburg State University, Overman Student Center, Ballroom C

302 E. Cleveland Ave., in Pittsburg.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 6 p.m.

 

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Fellowship Hall

100 S. Cherokee St., in Frontenac.

Thursday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

Northeast High School

1003 E. South St., in Arma.

Thursday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m.

 

Virtual open house time and link:

Friday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to noon (sign-in starts at 10:30 a.m.).
Link: https://shorturl.at/xXhjc

 

Information presented at the open houses will also be available online by Feb. 26 at: ksdot.gov/us69-highway-study. 

 

Anyone who requires language translation, special assistance or accommodation to attend the meeting should contact Alicea Thompson at Alicea.Thompson@ks.gov or call (785) 817-0864 at least five days before the meeting date.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Legislative Update by Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

January 31, 2025

 

Thoughts and Prayers As we come to grips with the heart-wrenching drowning of two youth in Linn County, the D.C. and Philadelphia plane crashes last week, and the devasting fires in California, we are reminded how fragile life is.  It is also a reminder of the hundreds of emergency responders who swiftly and often put themselves in harm’s way.  Prayers are with all who have been touched by these emergencies and the unimaginable sorrow.

 

Week three of the 2025 session proved to be productive for the Senate.

 

Illegal immigration was debated on the Senate floor January 29th instead of on the 28th.  Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1602 requests that the Governor fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws.  It passed overwhelming 31 to 9 and was sent to the House for consideration.  The Senate sent a strong message to the Governor that we want federal immigration laws to be upheld.  I voted Yes.

 

Property Tax legislation overwhelmingly passed the Senate.  Senate Bill (SB) 35 would repeal the 1.5 mill property tax the state collects for maintenance on regent’s buildings and some state buildings.  State General Funds (mainly income and sales taxes) will be used to make up the difference if SB 35 becomes law.  The bill passed the Senate 38 to 2.  I voted Yes to lower your property taxes.

 

SB 10 was requested by the Kansas County Appraiser Association (KCAA) and would exempt several personal property items, such as ATVs, electric wheelchairs, golf carts, watercraft and electric bicycles.  We heard testimony that for many of these items it costs more to collect the taxes than what is paid.  I had the opportunity to visit with several of the county appraisers while they were in Topeka.  They gave several examples of why this legislation is needed.  Some are arguing this bill helps the rich.  The appraisers reassured us that it is best these items come off the tax rolls.  It passed 37 to 3.

 

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

Caryn

Government, Kansas

The 2025 KidWind Challenge competitions begin this week

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TOPEKA – The 2025 Kansas KidWind Challenge kicks off this week. The annual competition has grown significantly from one regional challenge with 14 teams in 2016 to six regional events with a total of 94 teams from 48 schools this year.

The first regional challenge will be held in Hutchinson on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Five more regional events are scheduled throughout the month in Colby (Feb. 11), Dodge City (Feb. 13), Overland Park (Feb. 19), Manhattan (Feb. 25), and Burlington (Feb. 28). All events are open to the public. The 2025 KidWind Event Guide, complete with times and locations, is available here.

Student teams work together to design, build and test a wind turbine using the materials of their choice – no two look alike. Each team’s turbine will be put to the test in a 48″ × 48″ wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.5-5 m/s (meters per second). Scoring is based on turbine performance, a knowledge quiz, a presentation to judges where the team explains its design process, and an instant challenge.

Students compete by age categories: 4th – 5th grade, 6th – 8th grade and 9th – 12th grade. The winning teams at regional events advance to the state finals on April 5 in Salina. State winners are invited to participate in the World KidWind Challenge in Phoenix, AZ planned for May 18-21.

“KidWind is a fantastic hands-on opportunity that allows students to tinker and experiment with wind turbine designs. They experience the thrill of scientific discovery as their designs are validated through performance testing, and they hone their public-speaking skills as they present their turbine design to a panel of judges,” explained David Carter, Director of the Kansas Energy Program at K-State Engineering Extension.

Kansas KidWind is an energy-related STEM education event from the Kansas Corporation Commission and K-State Engineering Extension made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

More information about KidWind is available at https://www.kcc.ks.gov/energy-education/kidwind.

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Government, Kansas

Kansas Follows No Tax On Tips Initiative

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Topeka (February 3, 2025) – This morning, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and Senator Caryn Tyson, who is Chair of the Senate Tax Committee, at a press conference announcing that Kansas will follow President Trump’s No Tax on Tips initiative. They were joined by several other Kansas state legislators.

Senator Marshall is helping lead the effort in Congress to remove tips from taxable income.

“Bringing ‘No Tax on Tips’ to life will put more money back into hard-working Americans’ pockets and make Kansas affordable again,” said U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. “President Trump made a promise, and I intend to help him deliver. ‘No Tax on Tips’ should be commonsense policy for anyone looking to support workers and families.”

President Masterson said the Kansas legislation will mirror what Congress ends up doing, and noted tipped income is different than ordinary income.

“A tip is a thank you for good service and a thank you shouldn’t be subject to tax. This will ease the burden on Kansans employed in our service industry and will also help our small businesses that depend on service staff,” said Masterson, who added, “Our efforts to help out workers should be covered by efficiencies we find through COGE.”

Senator Tyson said the initiative is part of an overall effort to simplify our tax

code and an easy way for Kansas to help out our service workers.

“It’s a burden on our service workers to try to track their tipped income, and this proposal will simplify their filing,” said Tyson.
Government, Kansas

Community Development Grants Available Through CDBG

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Governor Kelly Announces Nearly $11M
for Community Improvements


TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that 24 rural Kansas communities will receive a share of nearly $10.9 million through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist with community development projects.

“The Community Development Block Grant program continues to be a vital resource for our small and rural communities that are in critical need of infrastructure and institutional improvements,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The dollars allocated to these counties demonstrably address and enhance municipal capacity and quality of life for Kansans throughout the state.”

CDBG, a program facilitated by the Kansas Department of Commerce and its Quality Places Division, is a federal grant program that provides funding for projects that might otherwise not be constructed. The total funding of $10,849,582 will be matched with local funding, allowing more than $26.9 million to be available for the identified local projects.

“The competitive aspect of CDBG is inspiring communities across the state to develop and pursue a local vision that reflects their unique circumstances,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “By encouraging public and private partnerships along with resident participation, extraordinary projects are happening all across Kansas.”

This round of CDBG awards were made in four program areas:

  • Community Centers, Parks and Libraries: Funds projects to increase community engagement, health, connectiveness, and vibrancy through construction or renovation of new or existing community centers, libraries, or parks.
    Example: The City of Washington will use its funds to install new playground equipment and demolition work to existing equipment at the Munchkinland Playground.
  • Sidewalks and Trails: Funds projects that connect community members to services, community centers, schools, and recreational areas.
    Example: The City of Hoyt will use the funds to improve the Highland Avenue and 4th Street area to include new sidewalks, ADA sidewalk access, striping, and signage.
  • Water and Sewer Infrastructure: Funds assist with water and sewer infrastructure projects such as repairs of a facility.
    Example: The City of Morland is planning to rehabilitate wastewater treatment cells and convert portions of existing cells into a seepage cell and wetland.
  • Youth Job Training: Funds projects to address the needs of at-risk youth in workforce training and development.
    Example: The City of Bartlett is using its funds to create a youth summer internship program for the building trades initiative at Coffeyville Community College.

Commerce’s CDBG program administers the federal funds used by local governments for the development of vibrant, viable communities that address housing, public facilities, and economic needs. To be awarded funds, local government units must meet at least one of three program objectives:

  • The grant will benefit low- and moderate-income persons;
  • The grant will prevent or eliminate slums and blight;
  • The grant will resolve an urgent need that communities are not able to do so on their own.

CDBG funds are one of Commerce’s primary tools for supporting the state’s smaller, predominantly rural communities. To view the complete list of 2024 awardees, click here.

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Government, Kansas

Program Helps Families with Eligible Children Offset the Cost of Food over Summer Break

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DCF Announces 2025 SUN Bucks Application Period Now Open

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced Monday, Jan. 27 that the 2025 application period for SUN Bucks is now open. SUN Bucks, previously called Summer EBT in Kansas, is a federal program administered by DCF that provides a one-time benefit of $120 per year for each eligible school-aged child to help offset the cost of groceries over the summer.

“Children and teenagers need consistent access to healthy foods to grow and thrive, and summer is a time when many of them lose access to the healthy meals they receive at school,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “SUN Bucks can help fill the gap by providing families a small boost with helping to put nutritious food on their tables.”

Many families will automatically get the SUN Bucks benefit without needing to apply. Households with an eligible child who can be identified by DCF will receive a letter from DCF in January 2025 notifying them that their child is eligible for SUN Bucks. SUN Bucks benefits will be added​ to an existing household Kansas Benefits Card (also known as an EBT card) or loaded onto a Kansas Benefits Card and mailed to their home in April.

If a household ​did not receive a letter from DCF in January regarding SUN Bucks eligibility, and they believe their child is eligible, they will need to apply. SUN Bucks applications will be accepted from Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, through 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. Families will need to use their existing DCF self-service account or create an account to apply through the DCF online self-service portal, dcfapp.kees.ks.gov. Benefits will be issued beginning in April 2025.

Eligibility:
Children may be eligible for the program if:

  • The child attends a Kansas school offering the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, and the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals at any point since July 2024.

OR

  • The school-aged child (7-17 years old) lives in a household where someone has received Food Assistance (SNAP) or TANF Cash Assistance at any point since July 2024.

Children in the custody of the DCF Secretary and enrolled in a Kansas school are eligible for SUN Bucks. Relatives, non-related kin, and foster homes will need to submit a SUN Bucks application for children in their care after April 1, 2025, to ensure the benefit is issued to the correct address. For any applications submitted after April 1, SUN Bucks benefits will be issued once the child has been determined eligible.

In 2024, the SUN Bucks program provided more than $15 million in benefits to 127,202 Kansas children. Learn more about SUN Bucks at SUNBucks.dcf.ks.gov.

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Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

 

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

January 24, 2025

 

The past week eyes were on Washington D.C. and the swift actions taken by our President.  He has established a path for states and a constitutional government dealing with illegal immigration, tax reductions, runaway spending, and government efficiencies.  The Kansas Senate is on board with the President.

 

Illegal immigration will be debated on the Senate floor January 28; Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1602, requesting the Governor fully cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws.  The opponents cried foul in committee debate because the SCR would support President Trump’s attempts to deport illegals, especially those who continue to break federal and state laws.  Citizens have been put in harm’s way by the open border.  Just ask Mr. Hopkins whose daughter was killed and his granddaughter brutally attacked in Kansas City.  Ask the lady that was attacked by an illegal immigrant near Garnett while riding on a bike trail, or the youth that was violently raped in Topeka by an illegal.  Are the opponents more concerned for the criminals than the victims?

 

Some of you may remember the illegal immigrants who committed identity theft and were prosecuted.  The Kansas Supreme Court ruled they couldn’t be prosecuted because, in the Court’s opinion, the criminals couldn’t be held accountable for breaking State laws because they had illegally entered the United States and that was a federal issue.  That doesn’t even make sense.  Thankfully, Kansas Attorney General Schmidt took it to the U.S. Supreme Court and the opinion of the Kansas State Supreme Court was rejected.  The three illegal immigrants who stole Social Security numbers and committed identity theft were convicted and Kansas laws were upheld.  It’s past time that federal immigration laws are upheld.

 

Property Tax will also be debated on the Senate floor next week; Senate Bill (SB) 10 exempting ATVs, electric wheelchairs, golf carts, watercraft and other items from property taxes; and SB 35 repealing the 1.5 mill the state collects in property taxes.  I’ll let you know the results.

 

Budget work has begun.  This year the legislature established a new process.  Instead of using the Governor’s proposed budget as a baseline, last year’s budget with all the one-time spending and other reductions will be the baseline.  Let’s hope it helps reign in runaway spending.  According to Legislative Research, State General Fund (SGF) spending increased 7.3% in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and 18.1% in FY 2025.  The state FY is from July 1 to June 30 the following year, so FY 2024 is from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

 

The Senate Committee On Government Efficiencies (COGE) was established this year.  The Committee is intended to align with President Trump’s plans for an unofficial federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

 

All bills, hearings, and floor debates can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.

 

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

Caryn

Government, Kansas

Chief justice releases 2024 Annual Report to governor, Legislature 

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Chief justice releases 2024 Annual Report to governor, Legislature 

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Marla Luckert has released the Kansas Judicial Branch 2024 Annual Report she is submitting to the governor and members of the Kansas Legislature.

The report summarizes judicial branch accomplishments during 2024 and gives updates on four major projects:

  • Cyberattack recovery. The court system’s recovery from an October 2023 cyberattack carried over into 2024. It involved rebuilding and strengthening information technology infrastructure, applying stronger protections to keep information secure, strengthening partnerships with county and state governments, and sharing lessons learned with court systems nationwide.
  • Kansas eCourt case management system rollout. The judicial branch fulfilled a multiyear project to roll out a new case management system that centralizes case data on a single web-based platform. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals began using the appellate version of the case management system in June. In November, Johnson County District Court joined all other district courts on the new system. Through this project, courts transformed how they serve the people of Kansas by standardizing processes, using workshare to complete work more efficiently, and by making most public case information searchable online.
  • Kansas Child Welfare Summit. The first-ever Kansas Child Welfare Summit was a three-branch initiative designed to make lasting improvements for children and families navigating the child welfare system. It drew more than 700 participants and inspired other projects that seek to identify child welfare policy reforms, improve court process and legal advocacy in child protection cases, and pilot family treatment courts.
  • Kansas Rural Justice Initiative Committee. The Rural Justice Initiative Committee presented its final report to the Supreme Court. It included 10 recommendations to counter the declining number of attorneys practicing in rural Kansas. Two recommendations involve a rural attorney training program and a tuition reimbursement program to encourage new attorneys to practice in rural areas following law school.

The 2024 Annual Report also gives an overview of operational changes in the Office of Judicial Administration that allow the office to better support courts and also provide leadership on projects that fill emerging and future needs. The section also highlights projects designed to improve access to justice.

The report is a companion to the State of the Kansas Judiciary delivered by Luckert to a joint session of the Kansas House and Senate on January 15.

Kansas Judicial Branch

Office of Judicial Administration

301 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, KS 66612-1507

785-296-2256

www.kscourts.gov

 
url    url    url    url    url

Government, Kansas

2025 Kansas Health Champions Announced

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2025 Kansas Health Champions Announced

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Governor’s Council on Wellness (GCOW) presented the 2025 Kansas Health Champion Awards during the Community Health Promotion Summit today, Thursday, Jan. 23.

The Governor’s Council on Wellness developed the Health Champion Award to recognize and promote exemplary contributions to wellness in Kansas. Those recognized include an individual and organization, as well as honorable mentions in each category.

  • Individual Health Champions: Erica Johnson, Wilson County
  • Organizational Health Champion: Dr. Myron Leinwetter, Rossville
  • Individual Honorable Mention: Communities Organized to Promote Equity
  • Organizational Honorable Mention: The Running Collective

“Congratulations to this year’s Health Champions,” said Jody Love, GCOW Health Champion Committee Chair. “Your dedication to enhancing the health and well-being of your communities is truly inspiring. Thank you for making a meaningful impact.”

Health Champions

Erica Johnson – 2025 Individual Health Champion

Erica Johnson of Wilson County has transformed her community by creating real opportunities for health and wellness. As Director of Marketing at Wilson Medical Center and Chairwoman of the Neodesha Active Transportation Advisory Board, Erica has led efforts to expand access to fitness programs, create safe walking and biking paths, and improve healthcare outreach to underserved populations. Her leadership revitalized neglected parks, empowered youth-led tobacco prevention programs, and advanced policies supporting healthier, more active communities. Erica’s work exemplifies a commitment to building equitable opportunities for health in Wilson County.

Dr. Myron Leinwetter – 2025 Individual Honorable Mention

Dr. Myron Leinwetter, a retired physician in Rossville, has dedicated his retirement to improving the health and wellness of his community. As a founding member of the Rossville Community Foundation, Dr. Leinwetter has spearheaded transformative projects like the Rossville Community Trail, a nearly $1 million initiative creating safe, accessible paths linking key parts of the town. His tireless grant writing, fundraising, and advocacy have resulted in multiple trail phases and other wellness programs, including 5K events and youth tobacco prevention initiatives. Beyond Rossville, Dr. Leinwetter shares his vision across Kansas, inspiring others to create healthier, more connected communities.

Communities Organized to Promote Equity (COPE) – 2025 Organizational Health Champion

Communities Organized to Promote Equity (COPE) has revolutionized health and wellness in Kansas through its Local Health Equity Action Teams (LHEATs). Over the past three years, COPE has empowered 20 community-led teams to identify and tackle pressing local issues, from addressing food insecurity with community gardens to launching regional public transportation systems in underserved counties. By incorporating community health workers and fostering partnerships across sectors, COPE ensures that voices from all walks of life—particularly those historically excluded—shape solutions. Their innovative approach has improved access to services, strengthened neighborhoods, and transformed health outcomes statewide.

The Running Collective – 2025 Organizational Honorable Mention

The Running Collective has redefined fitness and community in Pittsburg, Kansas, by creating an inclusive, supportive environment where individuals of all ages and skill levels can get active together. Guided by their motto, #AtYourOwnPace, they’ve made movement accessible and fun while fostering a sense of belonging. Over the past three years, they’ve introduced events like the annual Turkey Trot, inspiring hundreds to embrace healthier lifestyles. Beyond running, The Running Collective raises funds for impactful causes, including donations to purchase bikes for youth and a $12,000 goal this year for Big Brothers Big Sisters, demonstrating their commitment to uplifting the entire community.

The 2025 Health Champions demonstrate the profound impact that individuals and organizations can have when they work tirelessly to improve health outcomes and create equitable opportunities for wellness. Their passion, leadership and vision are transforming lives and communities across Kansas. These honorees remind us that through collaboration and determination, we can build a healthier, more inclusive future for everyone.

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About the Governor’s Council on Wellness

The Council advises the Governor, the Secretary, and others on ways to improve the health of all Kansans by promoting physical activity, good dietary choices, and tobacco use prevention. Benefits of physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use prevention include:

  • Brain health
  • Manage/Lose weight
  • Reduce health risks for cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, infectious disease and some cancers.

For more information visit: kdhe.ks.gov/2229.

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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January 17, 2025

 

With the inauguration of our new president, President Trump, our country is entering into a great period of patriotic renewal.  A return to constitutional government as our forefathers envisioned.  Things are going to change quickly on the federal level.  I am also working with our State Senators to change some things on the State level.

 

Session 2025 has begun, and the Senate didn’t let any “grass grow under their feet”.

There have been over 40 pieces of legislation introduced.  After bills and resolutions are introduced in the Senate, the Senate President assigns them to committees.  Committee work is the focus the first weeks of session.  All bills, hearings, and floor debates can be found at www.KSLegislature.gov.

 

Property Taxable Value Limit, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1603, is a Constitutional Amendment that would limit increases of your taxable value each year to 3% or less.  It doesn’t limit the appraised value, but creates another variable, “taxable value”, that would be used to calculate your property taxes.  Defined triggers such as selling, remodeling, or adding on to the property would trigger the taxable value to be reset.  These are all current triggers for valuation adjustments.  A Constitutional Amendment is a heavy lift because it must pass both chambers by 2/3 majority and then by a majority of voters.  Currently, the appraised value, also referred to as fair market value or valuation, is used to calculate your property tax bill with no assessment limit.  Over half the states have some type of assessment limit and Kansas would be the 27th state to implement such a limit if SCR 1603 were to become law.  There is opposition to the SCR.  Some say it shifts the property tax burden to different subclasses.  However, if you look back there are years in which the limit would help each subclass.  Others say it moves the system away from fair market value.  How fair is it when your neighbor sells or remodels his property and you must pay higher property taxes as a result?

 

Illegal Immigration is a national issue that is costing taxpayers and putting our security at risk.  Citizens have been attacked and have lost their lives at the hands of people who disregard national law to enter the country and continue to break our laws.  The Committee on Federal and State Affairs, referred to as Fed and State, heard testimony on SCR 1602.  It is a resolution that would strongly encourage the Governor to cooperate and enforce policies and federal law of the Trump Administration.

 

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

Caryn