Wichita staff briefs council on multiple state bills, including local deposit and film tax-credit measures

Marley, a city staff member, told the Wichita City Council that several state bills important to the city would be heard in the coming week and that city staff would continue to monitor and provide comments and testimony.

“With the accelerated schedule, at the legislature, there will be lots and lots of hearings in the next few weeks,” Marley said, and listed the measures the city was tracking: the Kansas Bankers Association local-deposit bill (scheduled for a Monday hearing), the film tax-credit bill (hearings in both the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Tax Committee on Tuesday), a passenger-rail revolving fund bill (scheduled Thursday), and House Bill 2,088, described as a fast-track building-permit bill that Wichita had provided comments on. Marley said the Wichita Police Department submitted testimony on a “coal can” bill and that the Starbond sales-tax replacement fund bill had been introduced and would soon be available in bill form.

Marley said the city provided follow-up information in support of House Bill 2024, a tax-credit proposal for firefighters’ cancer screenings, and noted Councilmember Tuttle had provided comments supporting that bill. “There is no indication when the bill will be worked by the committee, but it did receive very favorable comments during the hearing,” Marley said, and added that staff would distribute a full report by email.

Why it matters: Several of the bills discussed would affect municipal authority over permitting, local banking/deposit practices and tax credits that can affect economic development and public-safety personnel. Wichita staff said they were preparing testimony and follow-up materials for legislative committees and would keep council updated.

Staff offered to circulate a summary report of committee activity to council members after the scheduled hearings.