Committee action was heavy last week. The house taxation committee passed out a heavily amended manufacturing machinery and equipment tax exemption bill that would rebate monies to counties that lose money due to the exemption. The exemption would become effective July 1 of this year and could mean up to $157m in tax savings for Kansas businesses. The rebate to the counties would be 100% for FY 2008 & 2009 and would decrease 20% each year thereafter through FY 2013. The house committee wants to start the exemption in July instead of the governor’s suggested start date of January 2007 to provide general motors an early break on its investment in a new car line at its Kansas City, Kansas plant. We’re expected to debate the proposal on the house floor tomorrow.
The senate tax committee heard a proposal Thursday to phase out over 3 years the estate tax, which currently produces a little over $50m per year. The tax would slide to about $43m in 2008, $32m in 2009 and to about $15m in 2010.
Monday the house is set to take final action on two safety proposals to protect young vehicle passengers. The house passed to final action last week a bill making it a punishable offense to leave children unattended in vehicles. We also passed to final action a bill mandating booster seats for children in the 4-8 age range and who are less than 80 pounds or less than 4’9” in height. The latter measure would add Kansas to the 35 other states who already have a booster seat law. Booster seat usage has been shown to reduce injuries to this class of young passengers by nearly 60%. Injuries in this age group are almost always to the head and neck. Warning tickets only would be given the first year, followed by a fine that would be waived upon showing proof of purchase of an approved booster seat.
The senate has passed over to the house legislation that would add Kansas to the list of 46 other states with concealed carry laws. The strong vote in the senate is expected to be duplicated in the house but it remains unclear whether there will be sufficient votes in the house to override an expected veto by the governor.
The senate has also passed legislation that would allow Kansans to order wines that aren’t carried in local stores. The proposal would have the wine orders shipped to local licensees who could charge a fee and collect the liquor tax. Look for the house to consider allowing direct shipments to Kansas consumers. Also, look for a bill that would allow for wine tasting and sales at the Kansas state fair in an effort to showcase Kansas farm wineries. The state’s microbreweries may also want to get tacked on to the bill at some point.
Parents who fail to pay child support could see their drivers licenses suspended if a proposal heard by the house judiciary committee passes. The law would not apply to those on a payment plan or on a wage withholding order, but would apply to any parent failing to pay any of a current child support order.
Finally, the house judiciary committee held hearings on a proposal to change the selection process for members of the state supreme court last week. Under the proposal, the governor would select a nominee and the nominee would then be subject to senate confirmation – mirroring the federal system. A proposal heard in the house federal & state affairs committee would amend the constitution to prohibit the courts from closing public schools.
