City legislative staff briefs Wichita council on multiple state bills, including tax, annexation and sales-tax proposals
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Summary
Legislative staff told the council the city is tracking roughly 10 priority bills and about 21 others; updates included expected amendments to a House tax bill, movement on juvenile justice and city-specific reuse/annexation bills, and a sales-tax bill that would allow Wichita to accept a food sales tax.
Kimberly, the city’s legislative staff member, gave a comprehensive update during the Feb. 13 agenda review, saying the city is actively tracking roughly 10 priority bills and another 21 items of interest at the state legislature.
She told council members that House Bill 22,745 (a tax bill) had a hearing and is expected to be amended to address implementation concerns for cities, and that House Bill 23-29 (juvenile justice code changes) successfully passed the House and awaits Senate floor consideration. Kimberly said House Bill 24-62 (a Wichita law and reuse bill) had passed committee and may be scheduled for full-house debate. She also reported staff engagement on right-of-way and broadband parity proposals and said a stakeholder meeting is set to discuss a right-of-way carry/relocation fund. “We met this morning with the speaker of the house on the Wichita law and reuse bill,” Kimberly said.
Kimberly reported Senate Bill 66 passed the Senate 36–3 and will move to the House; she summarized a provision requiring local officials to file an annual substantial-insurance disclosure and a self-declaration requirement for officials with a real-estate interest appearing before their governing body. She further flagged Senate Bill 124 regarding annexation and extraterritorial zoning and noted law-enforcement concerns with Senate Bill 373 (the law enforcement utility bill), which was amended but remains under review by police. Kimberly also said House Bill 24-56, a bill to allow the City of Wichita to accept a food sales tax, has been introduced and remains under discussion.
Why it matters: several of the bills Kimberly described would change how cities operate (taxation, annexation, disclosure requirements and right-of-way rules). The city appears actively engaged in drafting amendments and meeting with legislative leaders to protect municipal interests.
Next steps: Kimberly said staff will continue to track the bills through legislative turnaround and provide updates to council; several bills will have committee work or stakeholder meetings in the coming week.