Committee hears early 2026 state legislative trends; staff flags potential preemption threat to 'tobacco 21' ordinance

Brian Head updated the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on early activity in the 2026 state legislative session and flagged items the city will monitor.

Head said most bills this year are similar to prior years but committees are active sooner. He told the committee there was "a hearing on, Wednesday, I believe, on a bill that, would preempt the city's ability to have an ordinance like our tobacco 21 ordinance." He added that, while much of the filing mirrors previous sessions, the timing is accelerating because this is the second year for many committees.

Head also summarized points from the governor's State of the State address, saying the governor expressed a desire to "get rid of the income tax, the state income tax over the course of 5 years," and indicated that replacement revenue could include sales tax increases and an expansion of sales/use tax to services, which could change how local economies and businesses are taxed.

Committee members asked for no immediate action; Head said staff will continue to monitor bills and report back as priorities emerge. No formal positions or motions were taken on state bills during the meeting.

Why it matters A state bill that preempts local ordinances could directly affect Lee's Summit's local policy choices, including public-health measures such as tobacco-21. Changes to state tax structure could also have downstream effects on municipal revenue and local tax administration.