Committee recommends approval of Board of Tax Appeals chair and chief hearings officer

The Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation voted to recommend gubernatorial appointments to the State Board of Tax Appeals.

Committee members voted to recommend that the full Senate approve and consent to the reappointment of Kristen Wheeler to the State Board of Tax Appeals for a term expiring Jan. 15, 2029. Wheeler, identified in committee as the current chair of the Board of Tax Appeals, described her more-than-three-year tenure and introduced Board staff present at the hearing, including the board’s chief hearing officer and accountant member. Wheeler spoke to ongoing efforts to improve board processes and urged committee members to observe the board’s hearings to better understand the process.

The committee also recommended that the Senate approve Thomas (Tom) Brown Jr. as chief hearing officer of the State Board of Tax Appeals for a term expiring Jan. 15, 2029. Brown introduced his background to the committee, describing a long tenure in Kansas tax administration, work as a hearing officer, experience drafting opinion letters and private letter rulings and previous service as a chair and hearing officer for tax appeals matters.

Senators asked routine questions about appointment dates and thanked both nominees for their work. Senators Peck and Ware moved the committee recommends and seconded the motions; both recommendations carried on voice votes with no roll-call recorded in the transcript. The committee’s recommendations will proceed to the full Senate for final confirmation action.