Kansas Lawmakers Fumble Property Tax Relief Pledge | Image Source: kansasreflector.com
TOPEKA, Kansas, April 14, 2025 – As dust is installed in the legislative session of Kansas 2025, frustration is thick in the air, and not only in Topeka. Everywhere in the state, owners like Dave Rau and Debbie Detmer are fighting with property tax accounts, facing the real fear of losing the same houses that have worked decades to pay. However, despite the months of bold promises by both parties, radical reform has still slipped into the cracks of political stagnation.
What land tax relief did Kansas legislators approve in 2025?
In practical terms, the only tax relief granted by the State to property during this session was a reduction of 1.5 factories. In the context, this represents only $39 annually for the owner of a $230,000 house and $86 for a $500,000 house, which is sufficient to cover a single meal trip.
As Senator Caryn Tyson, Republican Parker and the chair of the Senate Tax Committee have stated, the court has been for years. “Things don’t happen overnight,” he explains. “I do everything I can.” But this kind of answer does not satisfy owners who watch their property rating skip 10% or more each year.
The average house in Kansas is estimated at approximately $227,854, based on data cited by The Topeka Capital-Journal. For most families, this means a net gain of approximately $35-40 in annual tax relief, lower than the cost of a gas tank.
Why was a new budget reform promised, but not achieved?
In response to the 2025 session, legislators made property tax their centre. The Republicans gained ground in the elections of 2024 by hammering out the message that the increase in house valuation and tax evasion pushed Kansans out of their home. Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita and Speaker Ty Masterson of Andover pointed out that “every day the Kansans” could not allow the legislature to delay action.
And yet, the delay is exactly what happened. Much of the impasse has been reduced to fundamental disagreements between the House and the Senate, and even within parties. A constitutional amendment that would have increased the annual assessment to 3% did so through the Senate but was never called to vote in the House.
The opposition, led by representative Tom Sawyer (D-Wichita), argued that the proposal was at best cosmetic, indicating ”buvard or”. Your problem? Local governments can further increase tax rates and public school funding could be threatened. The amendment has also been criticized by other legislators who are concerned about the development of tax burdens in other areas such as vehicle taxes.
What are the most important proposals that have failed?
In addition to the failure of the constitutional amendment, the replacement of SB 82 was one of the most notable attempts to reinstate unproven tax increases. The Bill was intended to eliminate property tax increases based on previous year’s recoveries, with the exception of inflation, new construction emissions and voter-approved bonds. Although the House approved it closely, the Senate never raised it to vote.
As The Sentinel pointed out, the time of death of the bill was particularly curious. The session ending at the beginning of April 11, there was no possibility of cancelling the veto if Governor Laura Kelly opposed the measure. The leaders of the Senate did not explain, although many speculate on the political calculations and future ambitions of the government could have played a role.
How does income tax reform fit into this context?
The Legislature passed Act SB 269, which links future income tax cuts to the excessive budget. Although this seems promising on paper, critics say that it benefits the richest Kansans and recently for those who fight under property taxes. Governor Kelly echoed this concern, stating:,
This bill ignores Kansas families at a time when costs and inflation are increasing in favour of hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to corporations and the rich
The cancellation of its veto, with a margin of 87-37 in the House of Representatives and 30-10 in the Senate, reinforced the Assembly’s preference for income tax over tax relief on property, a movement that many Kansans considered deaf.
What about the expectations of voters and public opinion?
A December 2024 SurveyUSA officer commissioned by the Kansas Policy Institute showed that 87% of Kansans supported limiting property tax increases without voting. In addition, 66% supported a 3% limit in the value increases assessed. The voter’s message was clear: doing something about property taxes.
However, despite bipartite rhetoric, few legislators continued. Even Democratic Senator Dinah Sykes, who criticized Republicans for not acting, voted against the constitutional amendment that limits value increases. As the Sentinel pointed out, the democrats have not introduced any substantive tax reform bill in any chamber.
Republican Senate Mike Thompson sums up the mood:
“We came here with a mandate. I am disappointed that we were at the end of this session without any real relief for the owners who have to sell their house or pay their property taxes. »
What was the real cost of inaction?
Beyond lost political opportunities, inaction has had real consequences for people like Dave Rau, a disabled veteran, who moved to Wichita after being priced outside Garden Plain due to property taxes. Since then, his new home has increased from $267,000 to $440,000 in pro-rata terms, moving him away from housing tax relief. He’s not alone.
Detmer, a retired member of Johnson County, now pays $150 more per month than two years ago. “I have nine grandchildren,” he said to the Beacon. “If I have to move and leave, I’m away from the family. “
Dave Trabert of the Kansas Institute of Policy added: ”Many homeowners experienced double-digit tax increases because local officials benefited from the evaluation peaks. »
Has policy obstructed policy?
According to all the evidence, yes. There have been numerous political exchanges of horses that have given priority to issues such as judicial appointments rather than major tax reforms. Changes to judicial selection, school choice and even funding of education would be prohibited in exchange for votes or silences on property tax legislation.
The early postponement of the session, which ended all efforts to negotiate or cancel attempts, added to the complexity. The result? A major reform deficit that left owners more questions than answers.
Is there hope for 2026?
Despite the malfunction, a pulse can lead to next year. The replacement of SB 82 could be relaunched at the beginning of the 2026 session, thereby cancelling a veto if necessary. Meanwhile, the legislators of both parties are listening to increasingly angry and financially expanding voters.
Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a likely candidate for governor, urged the Kansans to fight by contesting his tax contributions:
“Kansans expected leaders to tackle prolonged property tax increases, stop out-of-control assessments and restore confidence that the houses in which they live can be allowed – not rent them to the government
The question now is whether legislators will finally hear about January - or whether Kansans will go another year waiting for relief that never comes.
Political bets are high. The elections of 2026 are excellent, and any missed opportunity this year could once again make one on both sides of the corridor. But for now, owners are left with empty promises, modest cuts and a lot of disappointment.
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