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Friday
March 29th, 2024

gov kelly bill signingGov. Laura Kelly signs House Bill 2239, designed to cut property taxes and provide additional tax relief, at a Topeka home last week. Gov. Kelly also signed House Bill 2237 to help address housing issues. Courtesy photoELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

Skyrocketing property taxes and housing prices are being felt all over, and last week, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a pair of bills to help with just that. 

Last Wednesday, Gov. Laura Kelly ceremonially signed legislation at a Topeka home to celebrate the bipartisan passage of House Bill 2239, which cuts property taxes, providing additional tax relief for Kansas veterans and the elderly through property tax refunds and gives tax credits to teachers who purchase school supplies out of their own pockets, the May 4 State of Kansas release noted. 

“I know inflation is hurting everyone’s wallet, and costs are going up,” Gov. Kelly noted in the May 4 State of Kansas release. “So today, we’re celebrating a bipartisan tax cut for families to put money back into Kansans’ pockets. Families will now have more money to buy food, school supplies, or pay the bills – every bit helps. We’ll continue to make fiscally responsible decisions to provide relief to Kansans across the state.” 

“It has always been a dream of mine to make it easier for fixed income seniors and disabled  veterans to stay in their homes.” Senator Tom Holland, the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, noted in the May 4 State of Kansas release. “Seniors and veterans have contributed so much to our communities, our state, and our country, and this bill gives everyone another reason to live out their golden years in their home right here in Kansas.” 

“I was proud to work with legislators from both parties on legislation that provides needed tax relief for homeowners and encourages growth and re-investment in two of our largest industries – agriculture and aviation,” Representative Adam Smith, Chair of the House Taxation Committee, noted in the May 4 State of Kansas release. “The investments and tax credits that we are making this year are designed to promote economic growth throughout the state for many years to come while keeping taxes property taxes low for homeowners.” 

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Residential property taxes for up to the first $40,000 of assessed value will be exempt. This property tax cut will save Kansans more than $133.5 million in residential property taxes and apply to more than one million properties across the state. 

“In addition, HB 2239 provides Kansans 65-plus years of age, surviving spouses, or disabled veterans a new Homestead Property Tax refund program beginning the 2022 tax year,” the May 4 State of Kansas release noted. “This program will refund based on the change in property tax rates.   Property tax relief was highlighted in the final report presented by the Governor’s Council on Tax Reform which looked at a broad approach to balancing sales, income, and property taxes to make Kansas a more attractive place to live and work.”

Last Thursday saw Gov. Kelly sign House Bill 2237 to help address the state’s housing shortage by investing in and incentivizing residential development – especially in rural areas. 

“By expanding access to quality, affordable housing, communities and businesses can better recruit and retain workers, families, and entrepreneurs in rural Kansas,” Gov. Kelly noted in the May 5 State of Kansas release. “This bill gives our rural communities more tools to spur economic growth vital to the economy. When I took office, this administration created the Office of Rural Prosperity to address the needs of rural Kansas communities. That included conducting the first statewide housing needs assessment completed in nearly 30 years which highlighted the need for the expansion of affordable housing, especially in rural communities.”

The move attracted praise from different areas of the state. 

“Living in Montgomery County, I know how important it is for rural communities to have available the tools needed to redevelop their historic main streets and provide new and renovated housing options for their workforce, seniors, and young families,” Representative Jim Kelly, Chair of the House Committee on Financial Institutions and Rural Development, noted in the May 5 State of Kansas release. “I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of a team with so many engaged and dedicated leaders who contributed to this bill. With this Mega Housing Package, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and the new housing investments made in this year’s budget, a huge step forward has been taken to improve the lives of Kansans for many years to come.” 

Beyond that, the State of Kansas release noted, the bill also expands eligibility for the Child Day Care Services Assistance Tax Credit so even more Kansas businesses can assist employees with child care services.

“One of the major barriers to entry in the workforce is the incredibly high cost of child care,” Senate Democratic Leader Dinah Sykes noted in the May 5 State of Kansas release. “The expanded child care tax credit provides incentives for employers from C corps to mom-and-pop operations to ensure employees don’t have to choose between having a career and having a family. Policies like these are crucial to ensuring that all Kansans – and particularly Kansas women – have the opportunity to participate fully in our society and economy.”    

“By taking advantage of these opportunities, investors, developers, and businesses across the state will play an important role in helping Kansas communities thrive,” Senator Rob Olson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Federal & State Affairs, noted in the May 5 State of Kansas release. “I am proud to be part of the bipartisanship effort to help our rural communities grow.”