Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka on June 18 for a special session on tax cuts as the state sits with billions of dollars in the bank.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is calling the special session after rejecting three different bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature that would have cut state income and property taxes. Kelly supports cuts but says she wants lawmakers to pass a bill that’s less costly for the state.
What exactly is a special session?
The typical Kansas legislative session runs from January to May. A “special” session basically means something came up outside of that timeframe that the Legislature needs or wants to address.
Special sessions can be called by the governor or a two-thirds vote of both chambers. Historically, they have been called by the governor in every case but one.
In this case, the governor called the special session so lawmakers could craft another tax plan that she finds acceptable.
Why couldn’t the governor and lawmakers reach a deal on tax cuts during the regular session?
There are two main reasons Kelly rejected each of the three plans passed by lawmakers this year: the total cost of each bill and proposed changes to state income taxes.
Republicans originally wanted to combine the state’s three income tax brackets into just one, which is often called a “flat tax.”
After Kelly rejected that plan, they pivoted to a two-tier proposal. Kelly ultimately rejected both bills with that proposal as well, saying they were too expensive and that she preferred to keep the state’s three income tax brackets.
“We have to come up with something that is sustainable over the long haul, or I just won’t sign it,” Kelly said in an interview. “We can keep coming back for special sessions. I don’t think they want that. I certainly don’t want that.”
Do lawmakers have to focus on tax cuts? Or can they pass other kinds of bills?
Lawmakers don’t have to only consider tax-cutting bills. Kansas is different from some states like Missouri because legislators can pass any bill they can pass during the regular session.
Republican Senate President Ty Masterson was asked a few weeks ago if lawmakers might pursue bills related to gender-affirming health care or attracting the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals to Kansas. He said those bills might come up.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins later said he wanted to keep the focus narrow.
