Top 5 Kansas news stories
March 24 2026
Negotiators Propose 3% Cap on Local Property Tax Hikes
House Tax Plan Ties School Relief to Sports Betting
House Approves Portable Benefits for Gig Workers
Kelly Touts $27 Million in Economic, Water Investments
Kelce Returns on Three-Year, $54.7 Million Deal
Negotiators Propose 3% Cap on Local Property Tax Hikes
TOPEKA, Kan. — Legislative negotiators have proposed capping local property tax increases at 3% above the prior year's levy, with an exception for new construction. The proposal emerged from a conference committee report on SB 82, which originally addressed rural emergency hospital waivers but was stripped and replaced with property tax language in a common late-session maneuver. Any local governing body seeking to exceed the cap would need approval from at least 80% of its members in a public roll-call vote, with results published on the state Department of Administration's website. The cap would apply to cities, counties, school districts and other taxing jurisdictions statewide. A separate proposed constitutional amendment to limit property tax valuation increases, SCR 1603, is also heading to a conference committee, signaling that property taxes will dominate the session's closing days.
Greg Loving
House Tax Plan Ties School Relief to Sports Betting
TOPEKA, Kan. — The House Taxation Committee advanced House Substitute for SB 303 on Friday, a sweeping plan that would cut property taxes levied by school districts while offsetting the lost revenue through new taxes on sports wagering and lottery tickets and by eliminating certain sales tax exemptions. The measure would decrease the ad valorem property tax rate imposed by school districts and create a new property tax relief fund with transfers to the state school district finance fund. To replace the revenue, the bill would impose sales tax on lottery ticket purchases and levy a 2% privilege excise tax on all sports wagers placed in Kansas. The plan represents a significant shift in how Kansas funds public schools, moving part of the burden from local property taxpayers to consumers and the state's legal sports betting industry. The substitute bill is one of several property tax measures moving through the Statehouse in the session's final days, alongside a conference committee proposal to cap local levy increases at 3% and a proposed constitutional amendment, SCR 1603, to limit property tax valuation growth. The full House has not yet scheduled a vote, and lawmakers returned Monday to begin work on conference committee reports and remaining legislation.
Greg Loving
House Approves Portable Benefits for Gig Workers
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas House voted 101-21 on Monday to concur with Senate amendments to HB 2602, establishing a framework for portable benefit plans that allow independent contractors to maintain continuous benefits across gig and freelance jobs. The measure allows specific contributions to the plans and provides a subtraction modification for Kansas income tax purposes. The 21 dissenting votes came from a coalition of labor-aligned Democrats who argued the bill codifies worker misclassification and conservative tax hawks wary of new tax carve-outs. By clearing the House on a motion to concur, the bill bypasses the conference committee process and heads directly to Gov. Laura Kelly's desk. If signed, Kansas would join a small but growing number of states attempting to legally define and support the independent contractor model.
Greg Loving
Kelly Touts $27 Million in Economic, Water Investments
TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly's office announced major state and private investments across Kansas on Monday while lawmakers in the Statehouse focused on appointing committees to resolve legislative disputes. The governor highlighted more than $19 million for 44 water infrastructure projects funded through a Senate bill, supporting communities and special districts across the state. In a separate announcement, Kelly celebrated a $7.5 million investment by Indra, a global air traffic management firm, to build a new radar manufacturing facility in Olathe, a project expected to create 140 jobs. The announcements allowed the Democratic governor to showcase tangible economic development results while the Legislature navigates end-of-session gridlock.
Greg Loving
Kelce Returns on Three-Year, $54.7 Million Deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce confirmed his return for a 14th NFL season after the club announced a new contract Monday. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the deal is worth $54.735 million over three years, though it is functionally a one-year agreement that allows the Chiefs to spread the 36-year-old's cap hit across multiple seasons. According to Spotrac, Kelce's 2026 cap hit lands at about $4.9 million, including a $1.4 million base salary, with the low number achieved by converting most of the cash into a roughly $10.7 million bonus prorated over the life of the deal. The contract is widely expected to cover what will be Kelce's final season in Kansas City.
Kansas City Star
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