February 2, 2024
The Disability Employee Act tax credit program expired last year. We tried to continue the program, but the Governor vetoed the extension language in CCR 8. This year the legislature passed CCR 15 to reinstate the program. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and has been sent to the Governor.
Committee work is still the main focus of session. All bills can be found at www.kslegislature.org. There are several bills that have passed out of committees. It appears leadership is not going to move on any bills until there is a vote to override the Governor’s veto of the tax bill CCR 2284, or it could just be a coincidence that no bills have been brought “above the line”. Above the line is a term used for bills that passed out of committee and are scheduled for debate on the chamber floor with the committee of the whole. The committee of the whole is all of the members of that chamber.
Tax Relief is a major debate in Topeka. There is over $3 billion in the state coffers so how are we going to cut taxes? The legislature passed sustainable tax relief in CCR 2284 that helps fight inflation with a bipartisan vote, but the Governor vetoed it. There will be an attempt to override the veto.
CCR 2284 would provide tax relief for all Kansans. Some people are misrepresenting the fact that it would help over 341,000 low income taxpayers. They would pay $0 in state income tax. For example, a family of four making $29,000 with the legislators’ plan, CCR 2284, would have $0 taxes owed, a relief of $372 from existing law, and a relief of $310 over the Governor’s plan. In current law the family has a $12,000 taxable income after the standard deduction and personal exemptions are subtracted, taxed at 3.1% or $372 taxes owed. The Governor’s plan (SB 377) the same family would have $10,000 taxable income, because SB 377 increases the standard deduction to $10,000 marred filing jointly, but leaves the personal exemption the same; resulting in a tax obligation of $310, a $62 savings from current law. CCR 2284 would have $0 taxable income because there is an additional subtraction of $12,300 for joint filers ($6150 for individual filers) besides the standard deduction and personal exemption subtractions (which is increased in CCR 2284) – a much better deal than current law or the Governor’s plan.
One of the most important features in CCR 2284 is that it continues to increase the standard deduction and personal exemptions to fight inflation, along with a property tax inflation fighter. CCR 2284 and the Governor’s plans decrease property taxes by exemption $100,000 from the K-12 20 mill, but the legislature’s plan continues to increase this value to fight inflation plan. Both plans accelerate the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and exempt Social Security from income tax. Taxpayers deserve the best possible tax relief and policy that helps fight inflation.
Foreign Adversaries, such as China, must be stopped from owning property in Kansas. I requested legislation to address this and stopping taxpayer money like Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) from being invested in foreign countries that are adversaries of the United States. The foreign investment language passed the Senate, but a few House members blocked it in conference committee last year.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn