Taxes, gambling, health care: What Kansas lawmakers did (and didn’t) do that affects you
The Kansas Legislature finished its 2019 session over the weekend with a flurry of action — passing a budget and a tax bill in a single night.
Lawmakers approved several high-profile bills. A number of major proposals also failed. Here are seven actions that could affect you or someone you know:
Taxes
Status: Maybe
You could itemize your state taxes even if you don’t itemize at the federal level, under a bill lawmakers approved at the end of the session. Because of a mismatch between federal and state tax law, you can’t do that now.
And you could pay a lower sales tax on food over time, as the state gets more tax money from internet purchases. Kansas has one of the highest sales tax rates on food in the country, at 6.5 percent.
The bill also contains several provisions aimed at lowering the tax bills of corporations.
The bill is not law yet. Gov. Laura Kelly still must decide whether to sign it or veto it. Earlier, she vetoed a similar bill that would have cost twice as much; this one would mean about $245 million less in revenue for the state over three years.
Kelly hasn’t said what she will do with this bill, but lawmakers might be able to override a veto. It passed the Legislature just one vote shy of a veto-proof majority.
Health care
Farm Bureau bill
Status: Approved
Kansans will have the option to buy health plans that aren’t regulated by the federal government or the state Insurance Department.
The Kansas Farm Bureau is expected offer the plans to its members. Anyone can become a Farm Bureau member, even if they aren’t connected to agriculture.
Lawmakers approved the bill over the objections of several health advocacy groups. Kelly voiced reservations but allowed the bill to become law without her signature last month in hopes that it would lead to a compromise on Medicaid expansion.
Medicaid expansion
Status: Didn’t happen
Kelly pushed hard to pass Medicaid expansion this spring, but the program stalled in the Senate, where Republican leaders didn’t allow a vote.
More than 100,000 Kansans could receive health coverage under an expanded Medicaid program.
A last-ditch attempt by pro-expansion lawmakers in the House to force a vote by holding up the state budget failed Saturday night. Kelly appeared to acknowledge expansion wouldn’t happen this year following the vote but said the lack of expansion would affect Kansans.
Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, R-Overland Park, said he will allow a debate on expansion in 2020. A committee is expected to craft a proposal in the coming months.
School funding
Status: Court ruling pending
Your child’s school could receive more money in the coming years under a funding boost passed by lawmakers.
But the Kansas Supreme Court must still decide whether the legislation is constitutional.
Lawmakers approved – and Kelly signed – an annual increase of $90 million for public schools. That’s on top of a $525 million increase approved in 2018 that is being phased in over the next few years.
Court approval of the latest bill could end a 9-year-old lawsuit over funding. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case this week and plans to issue a decision by the end of June.
Sports betting
Status: Didn’t happen
You still can’t legally bet on sports in Kansas, even though the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way in 2018 for states to legalize sports gambling.
The Legislature is working on the issue, but did not act this session despite discussions between casinos, sports leagues and lawmakers.
Ultimately, lawmakers will have to decide not only whether to legalize sports betting, but also whether to allow it on mobile apps and where bets can be placed — whether that includes betting in bars, casinos and convenience stores.
Non-discrimination
Status: Mixed actions
In February, Democrats proposed a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It went nowhere.
Kelly, however, took executive action to prohibit discrimination against state employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity – reinstating an order that had been repealed under Gov. Sam Brownback.
Medical marijuana
Status: Didn’t happen
Kansas lawmakers didn’t approve medical marijuana this year, despite a new governor who supports it.
Kansas is now surrounded on three sides by states with either legalized recreational or medical marijuana use, after Missouri voters approved medical use last Nov. 6. More than 30 states allow some form of medical marijuana use.
Lawmakers did approve a bill that provides protections in court for parents who want to give CBD oil with up to 5 percent THC to their children. It gives those same protections to adults with debilitating conditions who want to use CBD oil with THC.
THC is the chemical that produce a high in marijuana.
This story was originally published May 6, 2019 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Taxes, gambling, health care: What Kansas lawmakers did (and didn’t) do that affects you."