By Reily Goyne, AIA Kansas Advocacy Manager
General Statehouse Update
The session is nearly over. There are only two days left for committee meetings before each chamber spends Wednesday through Friday on the floor, debating and passing bills. Friday, March 21 is the deadline for non-exempt bills to pass out of the second chamber. The Senate must pass House bills and the House must pass Senate bills.
Bills associated with House Appropriations, Senate Ways and Means, House Taxation, Senate Assessment and Taxation, and the House and Senate Federal and State Affairs Committees are exempt from the deadline.
The following week is conference committee week, where three representatives from each chamber will meet to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate versions of bills. Expect bills to change rapidly as the legislature pulls procedural maneuvers to pass essential legislation.
Budget Bill Nearly Finished
The House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means have both stated they have finished work for the session. The Senate will debate the budget on Tuesday, but expect negotiations between the two committees to continue to resolve differences between the two chambers. Once the chambers are in agreement, the budget will advance to the Governor for her approval and/or line-item vetoes.
Historic Tax Credit Expansion Advances
The House Taxation Committee held a hearing on SB 227 on Tuesday, March 11. AIA Kansas Executive Director Terry Humphrey joined AIA Kansas members, Ben Moore, AIA, and Bryan Falk, AIA, in supporting the bill.
On Thursday, March 13, the House Taxation Committee discussed and voted on SB 227. Rep. John Alcala (D-Topeka) successfully amended the bill so any qualified taxpayer who is delinquent on taxes to the state of Kansas or local governments would be ineligible for the credit. If a tax credit has been awarded in a year the taxpayer is delinquent, the credit will be voided for that tax year. You can watch the discussion here.
SB 227 now moves to the full House for consideration. Assuming it passes the House, the bill will have to go back to the Senate to agree or disagree with the amendment(s). If the Senate agrees, it then goes straight to the Governor. If the Senate disagrees, a conference committee is convened, likely to include the leadership of each committee that heard the bill, so the Senate Commerce and House Taxation Committees.
Fast Track Permitting Bill Advances
The Senate Commerce Committee discussed and voted on HB 2088 on Thursday, March 13 (watch here). HB 2088 is known as the fast-track permits act, which would require local governments to respond to permit applications within sixty days of submitting a complete application.
Sen. Tory Marie Blew (R-Great Bend) successfully amended the bill to only apply to applications for building permits for single-family residential developments. The bill no longer applies to multi-family residential, commercial, or industrial developments, nor does the fast-track timeline apply to zoning boards of appeals.
Affordable Housing Tax Credit Vote Monday at 1:30 PM
HB 2119, the bill eliminating the Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act, is scheduled to be discussed and voted on by the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday at 1:30 PM. Chairman Larry Alley (R-Winfield) has said there are at least two amendments to be discussed.
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.
Monday, March 17
1:30 PM - Senate Commerce: HB 2119 (Kansas Affordable Housing Tax Credit) Discussion & Vote
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. It sits on General Orders in the House.
SB 77 requires state agencies to provide public notice of revocation of administrative rules and regulations. It sits on General Orders in the House.
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 passed the House Taxation Committee on Thursday, March 13 and sits on General Orders in the House.
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 sits on General Orders in the Senate.
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 sits on General Orders in the Senate.
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 sits on General Orders in the Senate.
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:
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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