Kansas Legislative Session kicks off, property taxes a major focus

TOPEKA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Kansas Legislative Session kicked off Monday in Topeka. The first day was largely ceremonial with lawmakers sworn into office but the weeks and months ahead will see a barrage of bills and topics.

The 2025 session will see a lot of topics surrounding two words: property taxes. Addressing property taxes is a priority for many Republicans and Democrats.

“I know many people who’ve had property taxes that have increased over 100%, 150% in 10 short years and that’s just an unsuitable path,” said Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston.

Owens said property tax relief could come in a mill reduction, constitutional amendment capping assessed valuations, or some other form.

“We heard loud and clear from the people, as we increase our supermajority that they want property tax relief,” he said.

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said the tax cut law last year only amounted to $71 in property tax relief for the average Kansan when he and other lawmakers pushed for more.

“We afforded the largest tax cut since the Brownback days for the wealthiest Kansans but we didn’t solve the property tax problem and we didn’t even come close,” Carmichael said.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signaled that she doesn’t support additional cuts but Rep. Carmichael said he and other Democrats want to do something. With lawmakers up for reelection in a little less than two years, he said they “are going to look to give meaningful property tax relief.”

Some lawmakers are already taking action on issues important to their area. Sen. Bill Clifford, R-Garden City, is one of two legislators who’ve already introduced a bill to validate Greely County’s school bond vote. The state’s attorney general’s office blocked it because the small Western Kansas county doesn’t have a website for posting election notices online.

“They’d like to improve facilities and certainly, the will of the voters was to pass this bond issue, so I think this is the quickest way,” Clifford said. “I mean, I’m here to solve problems.”

Kansas lawmakers are working with a smaller budget surplus than they have in recent years. The latest estimate has it at $1.8 billion with the state’s rainy day fund totaling $1.7 billion. The state’s surplus is projected to continue decreasing for the next few years with the tax cut law passed last year.

Other major issues the legislature is expected to tackle this year include the bipartisan issue of water. The topic of foreign ownership of Kansas land is also expected to come back up, and the legislature is embarking on its own budget process instead of relying on the governor’s recommendations.

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