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February 2007
From the Statehouse
After a slow start to the 2007 session, the Kansas House of Representatives is taking action on some important issues affecting all Kansans. To help keep you informed on the happenings in Topeka, this is the first in a series of legislative updates over the coming weeks on your state government in action.
Over the past week, the Kansas House has passed a couple of key bills for consideration by the Kansas Senate, including the following:
Repeal of the Franchise Tax
The Kansas House passed HB 2031, a three-year repeal of the state Franchise Tax, by an overwhelming 91-30 vote margin. This bill, a key objective of both the Kansas Farm Bureau and the small business group Kansas Federation of Independent Business, phases out over a three-year period the existing tax on business assets. Because the franchise tax has a maximum payment of $20,000 per year, this tax hits small businesses the hardest. It also places an enormous burden on farmers and ranchers whose operations (even if not profitable) require substantial assets. Because this bill provides much needed tax relief to agriculture and small businesses, I voted for its passage.
Alexa’s Law
The Kansas House also voted 94-28 in favor of HB 2006, commonly known as Alexa’s Law. Alexa's law is named in memory of Alexa Lynn Brooks, the unborn child of Chelsea Brooks who was murdered last summer in Wichita. Under current Kansas law, prosecutors can only file charges for the death of a pregnant woman herself, not that of her unborn child. Alexa's law brings Kansas in line with 34 other states and the federal government by allowing the prosecutor to file a second charge for injury or death to the unborn child in addition to the charge brought for injury to the pregnant mother. Alexa's law does not pertain to abortion; in fact, the bill explicitly excludes any coverage of abortion. Because I believe that Kansas should provide this added level of protection for pregnant women, I voted for passage of Alexa's Law. You can learn more about Alexa's Law at http://www.alexaslaw.com.
Action in Committee
In addition to the bills on the House floor, committee action is also moving at a faster pace. I serve on the House taxation, transportation, and government efficiency committees. These committees are considering the following important pieces of legislation.
HCR 5013 is a constitutional amendment that would allow the Kansas Legislature to cap property tax valuations for homeowners who are 65 years of age or older. Currently, the Kansas Legislature does not have the constitutional power to limit property tax valuations. I am the primary author of this proposed amendment which would let the voters of Kansas decide whether they wanted the Kansas Legislature to provide tax relief and piece of mind for our fixed-income seniors, many of whom are now leaving Kansas to live in states with far lower property taxes.
HB 2264 would exempt social security income from Kansas income tax. Currently Kansas seniors who depend on social security for their retirement livelihood face state income tax on their social security checks. This bill would help Kansas seniors by reducing their income tax burden (or eliminating it altogether for many fixed-income seniors).
HCR 5006 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the increase in appraised property tax valuation for homes to the rate of inflation. This constitutional amendment, if passed by the Kansas Legislature and by a vote of the public, would not affect local mill levies but would provide some protection against spiraling property taxes by limiting tax valuation increases to the rate of inflation.
HB 2136 would establish a primary seatbelt law in Kansas. Currently, Kansas law enforcement can ticket a driver for failure to wear a seatbelt (currently a $10 fine) only if the driver received a ticket for a separate traffic violation. HB 2136 would eliminate that requirement and allow law enforcement to stop and ticket drivers (creates a $60 fine) for not wearing a seatbelt even if they did not violate any other traffic law.
Today, the House Transportation Committee amended HB 2136 to provide a primary seatbelt law only for passengers under the age of 18. The amended HB 2136 also raised the fines for seatbelt violations to $60. The House Transportation Committee approved HB 2136 as amended and the bill now moves to the floor for a vote this week.
HB 2400, commonly known as the Graduated Driver's License bill, would change the requirements for young drivers (age 15-16 1/2) to receive their licenses. Kansas is one of only five states with no restrictions on 15-17 year old drivers. To address this issue and to help stem the tide of increasing accidents involving young drivers, HB 2400 would establish a three-tiered system for young drivers to receive their first driver's license.
- At age 15, teens can receive a learner's permit that allows them to drive only with a licensed adult over the age of 20 in the car.
- After having the learner's permit for one year, completing a driver training course, and driving for at least 50 hours with adult supervision (10 hours of which are at night), the young driver can get a restricted permit. The restricted permit lasts for six months. During that time, the young driver can drive without adult supervision only between 5 am and 9 pm and can carry only one non-family passenger under 21.
- After six months, if the young driver has not violated two or more of these provisions, they will receive an unrestricted driver's license.
HB 2400 would also require all persons to wear seat belts in a car driven by someone under 18 and bans the use of cell phones by drivers under the age of 18. This bill would not change the farm permit that currently allows young drivers to operate farm vehicles even if they do not have a standard driver's license.
Of course, there are many other bills currently being considered in the Kansas House. If you have ideas about any pending legislation, or if I can be of assistance on any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Capitol at 785-296-7663 or by email at king@house.state.ks.us.
Jeff King
Last edited on February 21, 2007 Paid for by Kansans for Jeff King - Stewart Crow Treasurer Sitemap