Kansas Legislature votes to reject governor's veto of bill tied to possible income tax cuts
Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, urged colleagues in the Kansas Legislature to support the override of Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of a bill that could trigger reductions in the state's individual income tax rates. The House and Senate voted to defeat Kelly's veto on Senate Bill 125. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)
TOPEKA —Republican Sen. Caryn Tyson and Democratic Sen. Ethan Corson locked horns Thursday in a debate about override Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of legislation creating an automatic mechanism that would dedicate excess revenue to lowering state income tax rates.
'I can't understand why anybody would veto this or not support this effort and stop our government growth,' Tyson said before the Senate voted 30-10 to override the governor. The GOP-dominated House later produced the two-thirds majority — 87-37 — necessary to complete the rejection of Kelly's veto.
Corson, in response to Tyson, said he was frustrated the Legislature passed a bill that locked in future income tax reductions despite not fulfilling a pledge to substantively address property taxes during the 2025 session.
'Where is the property tax relief?' said Corson, who voted with Democrats to support Kelly's veto. 'It's a double whammy for folks expecting their property tax relief. We're not going to give it to you this session and we're not going to be able to give it to you in future sessions.'
Tyson's response: 'We always don't get what we want right away.'
Kelly set the table for debate on Senate Bill 269 by the Senate and House after concluding the tax legislation could push Kansas off a financial cliff just as aggressive income tax cuts signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback did more than a decade ago.
'The income tax cuts made possible by this bill could cost the state up to $1.3 billion annually,' Kelly said. 'The triggers for those tax cuts are such that as soon as the state sees an uptick in revenue, taxes will be automatically cut regardless of any other economic factors or policy and budgetary considerations. We've been down this road before, and we can't afford to go back to failed tax experiments and policies that will stifle economic opportunity for everyday Kansans.'
Under the Senate bill, reductions in state income tax rates would be contingent on the balance in the state's rainy-day fund. The measure would require the state budget director to annually determine whether the preceding fiscal year's state general fund tax receipts exceeded the 2024 total after adjustments for inflation. This calculation would be done by Aug. 15 starting in 2025.
The Kansas Department of Revenue would determine whether reductions to the state income tax could be authorized. The bill required both individual income tax rates in Kansas — 5.2% for lower-income individuals and 5.58% for upper-income individuals — to be reduced proportionally until the lower bracket hit 4%. At that point, the upper bracket rate would be gradually sliced until that also reached 4%.
If this process went as planned by Republican legislators, the state would wind up with a single-rate individual income tax sought by Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins. Both touted benefits of SB 269, and were critical of the governor's veto of the bill.
'Last year, the governor held tax relief hostage over phony claims it would hurt revenues,' the GOP leaders said in a statement. 'This year, she vetoes a bill with no fiscal note. SB 269 is a simple concept that lowers the cost of living by delivering responsible income tax relief. When tax revenues come in higher than expected, your taxes go down automatically — a sensible way to return tax dollars to Kansans that only Governor Kelly could oppose.'
Hawkins and Masterson offered a summary of political distinctions arising from the bill: 'It's clear, her real allegiance is to growing government on your dime. Republicans stand with taxpayers.'
House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said the backdoor imposition of a flat tax would place a disproportionately high burden on lower-income Kansans at a 'significant financial cost to the state.'
'We've seen reckless tax experiments like this one in the past, and we know the consequences. This legislation would bankrupt our state,' Woodard said.
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