MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR

House Bill No. 2284

An Act concerning taxation; relating to income tax; providing a 5.25% tax rate for individuals; eliminating the income limitation to receive the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits; increasing the Kansas standard deduction by a cost-of-living adjustment; increasing the Kansas personal exemption; relating to privilege tax; decreasing the normal tax rate; relating to property tax; increasing the extent of exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy; concerning sales and compensating use tax; relating to sales of food and food ingredients; reducing the rate of tax imposed; modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected; amending K.S.A. 79-1107 and 79-1108 and K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 79-201x, 79-32,110, 79-32,117, 79-32,119, 79-32,121, 79-3603, 79-3603d, 79-3620, 79-3703 and 79-3710 and repealing the existing sections.

Message to the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

I support responsible tax cuts, but I refuse to sign into law a reckless flat tax that would take us back to Brownback while doing next to nothing for the middle class. This flat tax experiment would overwhelmingly benefit the super wealthy, and I’m not going to put our public schools, roads, and stable economy at risk just to give a break to those at the very top.

I am dead set on making sure working Kansans get a tax cut this year. That’s why I’ve brought together Republican, Democratic, and Independent legislators to champion a $1 billion tax cut over three years, all while maintaining our state’s strong fiscal foundation. Our bipartisan tax cut will make it easier for families to pay for groceries, child care, diapers, and school supplies – while also cutting property, sales, and retirement taxes.

While I urge the legislature to take this irresponsible flat tax experiment off the table once and for all, know that I will not let legislators leave Topeka this year without meaningfully and responsibly cutting taxes for middle-class families. I will call a special session if I have to – anything to ensure Kansans see tax relief, immediately. Let’s work together to cut taxes in a way that continues our economic growth while benefiting all Kansans, not just the wealthiest.

Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2284.

Laura Kelly, Governor

Dated January 26, 2024.