above photo by Carl Koster, local 26th district photographer
GREETINGS,
The 2017 Kansas Legislative Session is in progress, and the goal is to make positive PROGRESS and movement for the citizens of Kansas. There is no mistake that this will be a challenging session with many big and perhaps tough decisions that will affect all Kansans. I have received emails from many of you expressing your thoughts and concerns on issues that affect you. I welcome these communications and be assured they are read and used in my voting decisions. Communications have been extremely bi-polar this year. Some wanting more tax money to fill budget holes while others want cuts to remedy the state's economic situation. Fix the LLC--or leave it alone? Implement a two tier tax plan--or a three tier one? Use money from the Pooled Money Investment Fund--or leave jt?
Fund schools more--or consider those who express frustration on the amount of money the state pays for public education? I want to address all these issues as fairly as possible. The "pie" has to be shared by all entities of the state at their appropriate need level. Wants and needs have to be determined and met before final votes are made.
Several tax bills have been proposed and passed out of tax committee giving us an opportunity to build, change, and rearrange so eventually we can come up with a final tax bill that will render enough votes to pass it out on the Senate floor. Early proposals are just that, early and not final. My stand and vote on the bills will be based on facts and the content of the final product.
While these are some of the big issues making the front pages, there are many other bills being considered and passed in committees and on the floor.
TAX BILL UPDATES
On final action today, the House, 76 to 48, passed its Income Tax Bill HB 2178. It will eliminate the LLC exemption and creates a third tax bracket. The Senate will consider the House-passed bill Friday.
The Senate voted down the Tax Bill SB 188, 30-10 on Thursday. Though there were some good components to this bill, I did not vote for it. There are better tax bills yet to be heard and be voted on. It is important to get the best tax plan possible for Kansans.
BILLS IN THE SENATE AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOUCE COMMITTEE
SB 46 Water Conservation Areas, SB 47 Kansas Pet Animal Act (passed out of committee Thursday), SB 48 Remedies for impairment of a water right, SB 59 Weights and Measures, SB 60 KDA fertilizer and pesticide fees (passed out of committee Thursday), SB 117 noxious weed option
INSURANCE COVERAGE OF SELF-SERVICE STORAGE UNITS (SB-14)
This bill would allow the Insurance Commissioner to issue limited licenses to self-service storage companies. The license would allow
the holder to act as an agent of an insurer authorized to write insurance in Kansas. Such policies issued by self-service storage companies shall not exceed $5,000 of coverage per customer per storage unit. Other details concerning the availability of policies and the requirements for licensees are further outlined in the bill. This bill passed the Senate 38-1.
NO CELL PHONE USAGE IN CONSTRUCTION OR SCHOOL ZONES (SB-144)
The Senate Committee on Transportation heard additional testimony concerning driving and using a cell phone, specifically while in school or road construction zones. Talking on the phone with a hands-free device while in these zones would be legal, given that the call was initiated before entering such zones. The fine would be a $60 nonmoving violation, which would not double the ticket fine similar to other traffic violations.
ONLINE SALES TAX (SB-111)
The Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation Wednesday heard testimony concerning online sales tax collected at the time an individual makes a purchase from an online retailer. Current law requires consumers who purchase goods online to remit the sales tax to Kansas if they were not charged tax by the online retailer. Consumers who purchase good online are supposed to keep track of their purchases and summit this information when filing taxes. This is very difficult, as most consumers do not know which of their online purchases are untaxed. As proposed, SB 111 would require the online retailer to collect the correct tax at the time of purchase or send an annual statement to consumers letting them know the amount of untaxed sales they purchased throughout the year. The statement would allow consumers to divulge the appropriate information when filing taxes.
NOTARY PUBLIC QUALIFICATIONS
Constituent, Art Gentry, from Clearwater, testified in Financial Institutions and Insurance committee on review of notary public qualifications and requirements in our State. I am thankful for his desire and commitment to improve the services that notaries provide. It was my pleasure to work with him on this issue.
FYI: WHAT IS A STAR BOND?
According to statute, STAR bond projects must create a major tourism area for the state, and must be scrutinized and examined by the department. Before a project can be approved, a city seeking this opportunity must outline the eligible district and request preliminary approval from the department. Developers and the city then create plans for the project and conduct an independent feasibility study. If the department then believes that the project fits all the criteria and determines that the bond will be repayable within 20 years, the department will issue its final approval for the bond.
Enjoyed having four pages from Mulvane Middle School on Wednesday: Miah Conklin, Anna Moon, Gabriella Human, and Sophia Human.
It was my pleasure to welcome employees of Kansas Credit Unions in my office this week. Great group of people! There are 672,252 Kansans who belong to a local credit union and 31,862 constituents in my district that belong to a credit union.
Tanner Congleton, Wichita, student at Eisenhower High School, shadowed me Thursday. Thank you, Tanner, for sharing your day with me at the Capitol!
I want to thank constituents Jeri Bryant and Sonia Sprouse, Kansas Board of Babering, from the Alzheimer's Association and the Advocates in Communities Team (ACT) from Wichita for visiting with me on Thursday. I really appreciate their efforts and passions as they face personal challenges and yet remain committed to making a difference for the population they represent. I am committed to working with them in making a positive difference through the legislative process.
NEXT WEEK
Next week, the Senate will focus its attention primarily on producing a comprehensive balanced-budget package. The Senate does not plan to vote on any non-budget related bills until the Senate passes a budget.
Thanks for reading and for all your emails and phone calls. I am in Topeka to represent you, and your input is a valuable resource for me. If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to call my office at
