Top 5 Kansas news stories
February 3 2026
House Advances Three Constitutional Amendments to Lower Property Tax Burden
Legislators Introduce Tax Relief Package Targeting Housing, Income, and Education Costs
Evergy's Power Exports During Winter Storm Fern Will Lower Kansas Customer Bills
Energy Bill Grants Counties Authority to Approve or Reject Renewable Projects
House Introduces Amendment Establishing Fetal Personhood in State Constitution
House Advances Three Constitutional Amendments to Lower Property Tax Burden
TOPEKA — The Kansas House on Monday introduced three proposed constitutional amendments, spanning both political parties, designed to reduce residential property taxes through lower assessment rates, frozen valuations, and voter oversight of exemptions. HCR 5025 would reduce the residential property assessment rate from 11.5% to 9%. HCR 5024, introduced by the Committee on Taxation, would freeze property values at the sale price for residential properties to prevent tax increases from market appreciation. HCR 5023 would require voter approval at general elections for any new property tax exemptions beginning Jan. 1, 2027. All three measures require two-thirds approval from both legislative chambers and a majority vote from Kansas residents at the November 2026 general election to become law.
Greg Loving
Legislators Introduce Tax Relief Package Targeting Housing, Income, and Education Costs
TOPEKA — Kansas legislators on Monday filed more than a dozen tax relief bills addressing housing affordability, income tax credits, and education expenses through exemptions and expanded credits. Housing measures include HB 2619, which would exempt affordable housing construction materials from sales tax, and HB 2621, which would create a property tax exemption for affordable housing owned by nonprofit organizations. HB 2630 would permit local governments to levy an additional liquor tax to fund property tax reductions, while HB 2631 would increase the school levy exemption for residential property. Income tax proposals include HB 2620 to increase the Earned Income Tax Credit and HB 2629 to raise the standard deduction. HB 2628 would establish a refundable tax credit for postsecondary tuition payments and fees. HB 2632 would expand homestead property tax refund eligibility for seniors and disabled veterans by raising household income and appraised value thresholds.
Greg Loving
Evergy's Power Exports During Winter Storm Fern Will Lower Kansas Customer Bills
TOPEKA — Electric utility Evergy exported more power than Kansas consumed during Winter Storm Fern last month, generating revenue that will reduce future customer bills across the state. Evergy executive Chuck Caisley told House and Senate energy and utilities committees on Jan. 27 that the company maintained sufficient energy generation during the storm to send electricity to other states while meeting Kansas demand. The revenue from those exports will benefit Kansas customers through future fuel adjustment credits, Caisley said. The storm brought record-breaking snowfall to Topeka and other areas of Kansas days before the legislative presentations.
CJOnline
Energy Bill Grants Counties Authority to Approve or Reject Renewable Projects
TOPEKA — A comprehensive energy bill introduced Monday would require county approval and state permits for wind, solar, and battery storage projects while establishing setbacks, decommissioning requirements, and a protest petition process. HB 2636, from the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications, would authorize county commissioners to permit or deny industrial wind and solar energy conversion systems and battery storage facilities. The measure would give the State Corporation Commission jurisdiction over permitting, establish minimum setback distances, mandate agricultural mitigation protocols, and require facility owners to maintain decommissioning plans with adequate financial assurance. Owners of existing facilities would be required to register with the commission. The bill would also establish a protest petition and election process for affected communities.
Greg Loving
House Introduces Amendment Establishing Fetal Personhood in State Constitution
TOPEKA — House lawmakers on Monday proposed a constitutional amendment that would define life as beginning at conception within the Kansas Bill of Rights, a measure similar to one voters rejected in 2022. HCR 5026, introduced by the Committee on Federal and State Affairs, would amend Section 1 of the Bill of Rights to state that all men and women possess equal and inalienable natural rights including "life from conception, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The measure requires two-thirds approval from both legislative chambers and majority voter approval at the November 2026 general election to take effect. Kansas voters in August 2022 defeated a constitutional amendment that would have removed abortion protections from the state constitution by approximately 18 percentage points.
Greg Loving
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