March 3, 2023
The Senate did not work any bills on the floor this week. Hopefully, that will not be the case next week. The floor schedule is not made available until the evening before – so stay tuned.
Here are a few more highlights from the previous week when over 30 bills were debated and voted on in two days.
Personal Property Tax, such as trailers, golf carts, some mobile homes, and other items have very steep penalties if owners do not file a form with the county appraiser on or before March 15 each year. Senate Bill (SB) 8 lowers the failure to file penalty from 50% to 12.5%, late filing penalties from 25% to 10% and other penalties from 5% to 2%. The bill would also limit required filings to an initial filing and when there has been a change to the report or property previously listed so that you don’t have to file every year. It passed the Senate unanimously.
Education Opportunities were expanded for low income students in SB 83 by increasing the eligibility. It eliminates the requirement a student must qualify for the free and reduced lunch program and increases the income limit to 400% above federal poverty. Children who are adopted or in foster care, and children of parents in law enforcement, firefighter, or emergency medical service provider are eligible. The tax credit for donors will increase from 70 to 75% with a limit of $100,000 per donor. The program is capped at $10 million and could be increased each year certain conditions are met until a final cap of $20 million. Some argue that this program hurts K-12 public education funding. However, K-12 funding has increased to record highs in the past few years the program has been in existence. The bill passed 22 to 16. I voted yes.
Child Mutilation Prevention would prohibit gender reassignment surgery on children. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts would be required to revoke the license of medical person(s) who preformed the surgery. The bill passed 26 to 11. I voted yes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn