A Round-Up of Information & News from the Capital & Beyond for REAP Members
Veto Session Wrap-Up
The Kansas Legislature adjourned just before 5:00 pm last Friday. The two-day veto session was just enough time for gubernatorial veto overrides and finishing up conference committee reports left over after first adjournment. Despite 2025 going down as one of quickest legislative sessions in recent memory, there was an overall sense of bipartisan work accomplished. Barring any vetoes of what was approved last week, lawmakers passed over 130 bills into law this year.
Larger Republican supermajorities allowed the Legislature to successfully override 14 out of Governor Kelly’s 18 vetoes this legislative session. A major override was on a bill that will gradually transition the state to a single 4% income tax rate. Other overrides included bills on religious freedom protections for adoptive and foster parents, child support requirements from conception, restrictions on federal election funding, and reducing regulatory hurdles for new businesses.
After reversing its position, the House successfully overrode the governor’s veto of 15 budget items just one day after falling two votes short of the required two-thirds majority. The bundle of budget overrides includes restoration of funding for pregnancy awareness, a children’s shelter, interpreter services for the deaf, and research on cerebral palsy and unmanned aircraft systems.
In new legislation, two tax policy bills are heading to the governor’s desk this week. One will modify the way multistate businesses apportion their income, and the other provides a sales tax exemption for qualified data centers investing in Kansas.
Governor’s Child Care Bill Passed
After a year of effort, the Legislature has approved the creation of the Office of Early Childhood, a new agency designed to streamline and oversee the state’s early childhood programs and funding. CCR HB2045 had strong bipartisan support, passing 30-10 in the Senate and 99-23 in the House, after extensive negotiations between Governor Kelly and GOP leaders. The bill, which emerged from recommendations made by the 2023 Early Childhood Task Force, now heads to the Governor’s desk. Key elements of the bill include the appointment of a Senate-confirmed director and the establishment of a child care ombudsman to address complaints and recommend improvements. While some lawmakers expressed concerns about the financial implications and expansion of government, others emphasized the bill’s potential to open up thousands of child care slots and reduce workforce barriers.
Other Bills of Interest
The following bills received final approval during the veto session and are heading to the governor’s desk:
- Senate Bill 24 expands the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act to community and technical colleges and increases allowable state funding for the program. This program assists students who are enrolled in specified high-wage, high-demand, or critical-need industry programs.
- Senate Bill 237 amends the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act by authorizing law enforcement
officers to conduct scrap metal theft investigations and would require, upon an investigation’s
conclusion, investigative reports to be submitted to the Attorney General, regardless of whether
any local action was taken because of the investigation.
The following bills have been signed into law: - House Bill 2172 creates a 16-member Water Program Task Force and a five-member Water
Planning Work Group to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on water policy
and funding. - Senate Bill 35 discontinues the 1.5 state property tax levy for the Kansas educational and state
institutions building funds. - Senate Bill 58 modifies the requirements and allocations for multi-year flex accounts.
Looking Ahead - REAP will continue to explore networking and collaboration opportunities with the South
Central Legislative Delegation - Plan to attend the Regional Issues Forum in September – date TBD
