By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
AIA Kansas Meets AIA Leadership and Congressional Delegation
Photo above shows AIA National 2025-2026 President Elect Illya Azaroff, FAIA , founder of +aglobal, with AIA Wichita Programming Advisor, Lisa Shaffer, AIA, Associate Principal at Alloy Architecture, AIA Kansas 2025 President, Will Robarge, AIA, NCARB, Associate Principal at Treanor Design, AIA Kansas Executive Director, Terry Humphrey and AIA Kansas President-Elect Scott Gales, AIA, LEED AP, owner of Architect One. AIA Kansas team is connecting with National Leadership and other architects throughout the country. The AIA Kansas team also met with staff of Senators Moran and Marshall, and Representatives Estes, Mann, Schmidt, and Davids about key AIA Initiatives.
General Statehouse Update
After a four-day weekend, legislators returned to the Statehouse on Tuesday, February 25 to begin the second half of the session. Committees will work until Tuesday, March 18 to hold hearings and pass bills to be debated on the floor of each chamber. With the end of the session rapidly approaching, there is little time to work and several of the session’s largest policy issues, including property taxes and school funding, have yet to be debated.
Housing Tax Credits Cross Over
Housing Investor Tax Credit bill passes the House
HB 2096 was the first bill debated by the House when they returned on Tuesday, February 25. The bill amends the transferability of the Housing Investor Tax Credit. The debate was short, with Reps. Nick Hoheisel (R-Wichita) and Stephanie Sawyer-Clayton (D-Overland Park) speaking in favor. On Wednesday, February 26, the House passed the bill on final action with a vote of 111-6.
Reps. Carrie Barth (R-Baldwin City), Brian Bergkamp (R-Wichita), John Carmichael (D-Wichita), Brett Fairchild (R-St. John), Samantha Poetter Parshall (R-Paola), and Bill Rhiley (R-Wellington) were the ones who voted against the bill.
It is in the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation, where its sister bill SB 72 has already been assigned.
Affordable Housing Tax Credit Bill in Committee
HB 2119, which eliminates the affordable housing tax credit, has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. Larry Alley (R-Winfield). This assignment means that the bill remains subject to legislative deadlines, so it must have a hearing and be passed by the Committee by Tuesday, March 18, and be passed by the Senate by Friday, March 21.
Historic Tax Credits Advance
SB 227 has been referred to the House Taxation Committee, and no hearing has been set yet. FOHP lobbyists are coordinating with other lobbyists and working with Chairman Adam Smith (R-Weskan) to set a hearing.
As a reminder, SB 227 enhances the state's historic rehabilitation tax credit and increases the tax credit to 40% for all projects except those between $5,000 and $50,000 in cities with a population over 50,000. Currently, only projects in communities with a population below 9,500 receive the 40% tax credit.
Bills to Watch
AIA Kansas monitors several bills throughout the session that could impact the design and construction industry.
SB 35 discontinues the state property tax levies for the Kansas educational building fund and the state institutions building fund finances it through the state general fund. The House Taxation Committee will vote on it on Tuesday, 3/4 at 3:30 PM.
SB 77 requires state agencies to provide public notice of revocation of administrative rules and regulations. It has a hearing on Monday, 3/3 at 9:00 AM in House Legislative Modernization.
SB 222 prohibits judicial deference to agency interpretations of statutes, regulations, and rules. It has a hearing on Tuesday, 3/4 at 3:30 PM in House Judiciary.
SB 227 increases the state historic rehabilitation tax credit to 40% for all projects over $5,000 in qualified expenses except those projects between $5,000 and $50,000 in qualified expenses in cities over 50,000 people, which will receive a 25% credit. It is in House Taxation and no hearing has been set yet.
SB 229 terminates all current and new occupational licensing requirements after five years unless extended by a joint resolution of the legislature, and requires that new occupational licensure requirements be approved by a joint resolution of the legislature. The bill does not apply to the State Board of Technical Professions. It had a hearing in Senate Commerce on Wednesday, February 12, and is exempt from deadlines.
HB 2088 requires local governments to meet deadlines for issuing building permits and other approvals for real estate development. It is in Senate Commerce and no hearing has been set yet.
HB 2099 permits periodic inspections by a city or county for code violations of private residential rental housing where the property owner is receiving governmental rental subsidies. It is in Senate Local Government, Transparency, and Ethics and no hearing has been scheduled.
HB 2119 eliminates the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit. It is in Senate Commerce and no hearing has been set yet.
HB 2274 removes the requirement for military servicemembers to be actively serving for accelerated occupational licensure. It is in the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs and no hearing has been set yet.
HB 2291 establishes a regulatory sandbox program within the Attorney General's Office. It is in Senate Commerce and no hearing has been set yet.
Government Affairs Committee
Special thank you to those who joined us this morning for Government Affairs Committee. There was great discussion and sharing of information, especially on HB 2119, a bill eliminating the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit program, which would go into effect on July 1, 2025. If you are interested in joining this committee and staying on top of what is happening at the statehouse, please contact Reily Goyne. Our next meeting is:
March 21 at 10:00 AM.
Cities and counties have advisory boards and commissions making decisions for their communities, and these groups are a great way to get involved in your community. Below is a list of boards with vacancies in the largest Kansas cities. Visit your city's website regularly to see any future openings, or email Reily Goyne if you would like assistance identifying opportunities.
Historic Resources Commission
Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission
Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board
Historic Resources Board
Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board
Board of Code Review
Board of Housing Commissioners
Historic Preservation Board
Public Art Committee
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Review Committee
Board of Zoning Appeals
Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board
Landmarks Commission
Board of Code Standards and Appeals
Delano Design Advisory Committee
Wichita/Sedgwick County Access Advisory Board
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 | 785-357-5308 | info@aiaks.org
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