By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
General Statehouse Update
With only one full week of committee meetings left in the session, this week was full of hearings so bills can be worked on next week and debated by the full chamber the following week. It’s a mad dash to the finish line.
Senate resolution changing state Supreme Court appointments passes
On Thursday, March 6, the Senate voted 27-13 to pass SCR 1611. This concurrent resolution would place a constitutional amendment on the August 2026 primary election ballot to change how Kansas Supreme Court justices are elevated to the Court.
Currently, justices are appointed through a merit-based process, where a nominating committee composed of five lawyers and four non-lawyers evaluates candidates to present a list of three names to the Governor, who then appoints a justice from the list. The amendment would change the process to direct partisan campaigns and elections.
The resolution will go to the House for a Committee hearing and must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the full House to be placed on the ballot. It does not need the Governor’s signature.
Affordable Housing Tax Credits Receive Dual Hearings
Two bills eliminating the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit had hearings this week. AIA Kansas presented testimony against both bills. AIA and AIA Kansas have emphasized livable communities and accessible housing in their respective policy platforms.
Kansas has a well-known housing shortage, which requires thousands of new homes to be built every year to meet. Until the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit program was implemented in 2022 to provide a state dollar-for-dollar match to the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, Kansas was only building a few hundred homes each year. Since its implementation, the construction of several thousand affordable homes has been financed, something that could not be done without the program.
SB 283 sunsets Affordable Housing, other tax credits
The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee held a hearing on SB 283 on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6. In addition to eliminating the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit beginning April 1, 2025, it sunsets several other income tax programs, mostly within the Department of Commerce, including the Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK) Act and the High-Performance Incentive Program (HPIP).
AIA Kansas President-Elect Scott Gales testified against the bill, requesting the Committee to oppose the bill or remove the section eliminating the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act before advancing the bill. AIA Kansas was one of seventeen opponents to the bill, while only the Kansas Policy Institute supported the bill.
HB 2119 has second Committee hearing
On Thursday, March 6, the Senate Commerce Committee held the second hearing for HB 2119, a bill that eliminates the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act beginning July 1, 2025. AIA Kansas Executive Director Terry Humphrey testified against the bill. Other opponents included developers, the Kansas Housing Association, local economic development groups, and Kansas Action for Children. AIA Kansas Board Member Garric Baker also submitted testimony to the Committee opposing the bill.
HB 2119 is subject to legislative deadlines, so it must be passed by the Committee by Tuesday, March 18, and be passed by the Senate by Friday, March 21.
Historic Tax Credits Hearing on Tuesday
The House Taxation Committee will hold a hearing on SB 227 on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 PM in room 346-S. This bill 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. This enhancement will increase investment opportunities in historic rehabilitation across the state.
If you would like to submit testimony, email a PDF of your testimony and this document filled out to taxation@house.ks.gov by Monday, March 10 at 1:00 PM.
Housing Tax Credits Hearing on Tuesday
The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee will hold a hearing on HB 2096 on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:30 AM in room 548-S. This bill amends the transferability of the Housing Investor Tax Credit, increasing the value of the tax credit for purchasers and thus increasing cash investment for developers. It has no additional fiscal impact on the state, and passed the House with a vote of 111-6.
Next Week's Committee Hearings
If you are interested in presenting testimony at any of next week's hearings and would like assistance, email Reily Goyne.
Tuesday, March 11
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 had a hearing on Monday, March 3 in House Legislative Modernization.
SB 222 prohibits judicial deference to agency interpretations of statutes, regulations, and rules. It had a hearing on Thursday, March 6 in the House Judiciary Committee.
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 has a hearing in the House Taxation Committee on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 PM.
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.
SB 283 eliminates the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit and sunsets other income tax credit programs. It had a hearing on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6 in Senate Assessment and Taxation.
HB 2088 requires local governments to meet deadlines for issuing building permits and other approvals for real estate development. It had a hearing in Senate Commerce on Wednesday, March 5.
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 had a hearing in Senate Commerce on Thursday, March 6.
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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