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Statehouse preview: redistricting, tight budgets and bills of local interest, official says
Summary
Mallory Lutz, representing area cities at the State House, told Merriam City council that the 2026 legislative session will be short and fast, with likely continued budget cuts and active conversations on redistricting, sales-tax apportionment, home-based business rules (HB 2343), and costs for forced relocation of communications infrastructure.
Mallory Lutz of Topeka provided a detailed preview of the 2026 Kansas legislative session and highlighted items likely to affect cities.
Lutz said the session begins Jan. 12 and is expected to move quickly in an election year. She told the council leadership is planning further budget reductions and that "they intend to probably cut at least, 200,000,000 more from the budget," a figure she presented as a leadership goal. Lutz also raised redistricting as a likely issue, noting the legislature had not successfully called a special session for mid-decade redistricting and that maps could return as a major topic.
On bills of local interest, Lutz identified the No Impact Home Based Business Fairness Act (House Bill 2343) and reported that cities had testified in opposition; she also flagged recent discussions about requiring municipalities to reimburse communications and video-service operators for forced relocation costs on certain road and highway projects. Lutz said those infrastructure-relocation discussions will return in the next session.
She closed by noting potential debate about form-based codes, accessory dwelling units and short-term-rental policies as communities prepare for increased tourism tied to the World Cup.
