ENGAGE, EXPLORE, EVOLVE with AIA Kansas
April 12, 2019
FEDERAL Legislative Update
AIA Introduces Invest in America Act

On Wednesday, April 10, AIA helped introduce the Invest in America Act —federal legislation that would create project opportunities for architecture firms by increasing state and local leaders’ ability to attract much needed investment to improve buildings and infrastructure in their cities and towns.

Now it’s time for us to work together to advance it through Congress. For this legislation to pass both chambers, we need you to help with recruiting your U.S. House of Representatives delegation members.

Visit  https://p2a.co/jLufacn to send a short message asking them to co-sponsor the Invest in America Act, HR 2210. 

The Invest in America Act would repeal a federal tax law known as FIRPTA or the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act. This archaic policy imposes a punitive capital gains tax on global investors that fund domestic real estate projects. By repealing it, the Invest in America Act would have numerous benefits for our profession, our businesses and the communities we serve including:

  • Creating jobs for architects: 284,000 jobs could be generated, especially in the design, construction, manufacturing, and real estate industries.

  • Spurring projects for firms: As much as $125 billion in new capital could be available to invest directly into building or retrofitting America’s aging public and private building stock.

  • Improving communities: Architects know first-hand that our cities and towns are in disrepair. The Invest in America Act would inject much needed capital into them. From airports to schools, hospitals, senior centers, affordable housing and our transportation systems, this bill would begin to help communities of all sizes and locations.

We expect to introduce a bipartisan Senate version of the bill in the future. For now, we must build support for it in the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn more and help  advance AIA’s effort  to create jobs and projects for architects and improve America’s cities and towns.

Please share this call to action on social media and encourage your colleagues to take action, too.

For more information please visit    https://p2a.co/jLufacn .

Sincerely,

William J. Bates, FAIA
2019 President

P.S. If you want to stay up to date on this issue and get other important updates, text "AIA" to 40649. 
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T he Kansas legislature is currently on their April break and will reconvene for the Veto Session at 10am on May 1st. Although the Veto Session used to be a time frame reserved for the legislature to reconsider any bills vetoed by the Governor, in practice these upcoming final days of session are also a time for the legislators to finalize the budget and work any exempt bills. A legislative update email will be distributed on Friday, May 10.  

Kansas Bills of Interest

SB 148 was not taken up for discussion and final action in committee. Additional organizations opposed the bill (including the Kansas Roofing Association), and the Chairman was not comfortable moving forward with the bill. The similar bill in the House (HB 2207) also did not meet the Turnaround deadline. While these bills are not likely to advance, we will monitor committee meetings to ensure that it won't be amended into another bill or introduced in an exempt committee.

SB 168 was not taken up for discussion and final action in the Senate committee.

HB 2115 , which requires verification of certain hours billed by contractors under certain contracts, was introduced in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. This is an exempt committee so the turnaround deadline does not apply to this bill. We will continue to monitor it.

Lastly, HB 2147 was passed by the House (yeas - 123 and nays - 0). It is the bill that will increase bond maturity limitations in the Kansas rural incentive district act.

If you have any questions regarding these bills, please email Terry .
About AIA Kansas
AIA Kansas is a state chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The organization provides services and programs to meet the professional development needs and interests of Kansas architects and to develop public awareness for the value of architects and architecture. 

Our 700-plus members are leaders in
building healthy, sustainable communities
that will serve our citizens into the future.

www.aiaks.org | 800-444-9853 | 785-357-5308 |   i nfo@aiaks.org