Senate advances constitutional amendment to cap property valuation increases
Chamber also approves homestead refund expansion in push for tax relief
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Senate took decisive action on property tax relief Wednesday, approving a concurrent resolution that would put a constitutional amendment before voters to limit assessed value increases on real property. SCR 1616 passed on a 30-10 vote, achieving the two-thirds majority required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Debate on the measure highlighted the tension between providing homeowner relief and maintaining local government revenue bases. Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Douglas County, attempted to amend the resolution, arguing for a more targeted approach, but her motion failed on an 11-28 vote.
The resolution now heads to the House, where its path is uncertain. Speaker Dan Hawkins has previously indicated he lacks the two-thirds supermajority — at least 84 votes — needed to pass a constitutional amendment. The House has instead pursued a statutory approach through HB 2745, which would impose caps on local property tax increases and require voter petition triggers when governments exceed certain thresholds. The House dramatically amended that bill Wednesday, stripping a $60 million appropriation that would have rewarded local governments for keeping tax increases below 3%. The House then passed HB 2745 on a roll call vote of 87-22.
The competing strategies reflect a fundamental disagreement between the chambers on how to deliver property tax relief. The Senate's constitutional amendment would cap assessed valuation increases at 3% and bypass Gov. Laura Kelly's veto pen by going directly to voters in an Aug. 4 special election. The House's statutory approach would target local government taxing authority but remain subject to a gubernatorial veto.
In a separate but related move, the Senate voted 39-1 to pass SB 402 on emergency final action. The bill addresses homestead property tax refunds and the SAFESR tax credit, aiming to broaden eligibility for seniors and disabled veterans. The near-unanimous support suggests strong bipartisan backing for delivering tangible tax relief to vulnerable populations.
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