House overrides governor's veto of tax change for health-care sharing ministries

Representative Bryce moved that, notwithstanding the governor's veto, Senate Bill 368 (the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Deduction Act) be passed. Proponents framed the bill as a tax-fairness measure for roughly 11,000 Kansas families who use faith-based health-care sharing ministries instead of traditional insurance, arguing members face tax treatment disparities when benefits are paid by the ministry. Bryce said the bill "is about basic tax fairness for Kansans who choose alternatives to traditional insurance."

Opponents raised technical concerns about treating non-traditional arrangements differently from conventional insurance and whether the change would create preferential tax treatment. Representative Sawyer argued the proposal could treat health sharing ministries more favorably than traditional insurance because it would be an automatic subtraction modification rather than an itemized deduction.

After floor discussion, the House recorded a vote to override the governor's veto. The clerk read the tally: "With 87 having voted in favor and 37 against the passage of Senate Bill 368, the same having received the required two-thirds majority, the bill is hereby declared passed." The bill will proceed according to legislative and administrative steps needed to effect the tax subtraction.