Over the Cattle Guard | Week 8 Legislative Update: Government Oversight, Tax Reform & Campaign Transparency

As we approach the final stretch of the 90-day Kansas legislative session, the pace in Topeka has intensified. Leadership has committed to ensuring we stick to the timeline set by the state constitution, meaning legislators are working diligently to finalize key bills and send them to the Governor.

This week, I had the privilege of welcoming students to the Capitol, saw the formation of a new government oversight committee, and worked on key legislation focusing on campaign finance reform, property tax relief, and fair hunting and fishing regulations.

Welcoming Future Leaders to the State Capitol

One of the best parts of my week was hosting students from Riverton and Columbus at the Capitol. A big thank you to Kurtis Gregory for bringing them!

It was an honor to show these bright students around, explain how the legislative process works, and encourage their civic involvement. Meeting Trenton Lacen, Kendel Root, Lauren French, and Trinity Green reminded me that our future is in good hands.

Select Committee on Government Oversight: Increasing Transparency

A major development this week was the announcement of the Select Committee on Government Oversight. This committee will monitor and ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability in government agencies and programs.

Why This Matters:

✔️ Holding agencies accountable – The committee will ensure government programs function properly and efficiently.
✔️ Investigating potential misconduct – Using subpoena power, the committee can look into inefficiencies, waste, or corruption.
✔️ Public transparency – All hearings and investigations will be open to public viewing, allowing Kansans to see how their government operates.

This new level of oversight will ensure that government agencies are serving Kansans properly, keeping them accountable to the people.

Key Bills Moving Forward

📌 HB 2054 – Campaign Finance Reform & Transparency

• Updates Kansas’ campaign donation limits (unchanged since 1990) to reflect inflation.

• Avoids legal challenges similar to Alaska, where unrestricted donations became the default after outdated laws were struck down.

• Shifts power from Super PACs to regulated political parties, which must disclose donors.

By removing the cap on contributions to political parties, this bill incentivizes transparency and accountability. Super PACs can raise unlimited funds with little oversight, but political parties are heavily regulated and must disclose donors. This change gives voters a clearer picture of where money is coming from.

📌 HB 2028 – Expanding Hunting & Fishing Access

This bill ensures more Kansas residents can enjoy the great outdoors by:
✔️ Offering discounted lifetime hunting & fishing licenses for Kansas residents 65 and older.
✔️ Removing the sunset provision for youth lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, ensuring continued access for future generations.

This is a win for Kansas sportsmen and conservation efforts by making hunting and fishing more accessible.

📌 HCR 5011 – Property Tax Reform & Fair Valuations

Property tax fairness is a major concern for many Kansans. HCR 5011 takes a bold step toward reforming property tax assessments to ensure fairness and predictability.

How it works:

• Property tax valuations will be determined by the lower of:
  ✔️ Fair market value OR
  ✔️ An average fair market value over multiple years (to prevent sudden spikes).

• The Legislature will set the number of years used for this calculation.

• Adjustments will be made for new construction, improvements, or changes in property use.

This ensures that property taxes remain fair, predictable, and transparent.

📌 HB 2396 – Protecting Property Taxpayers

This bill does three important things to give Kansans more control over property taxes:

✔️ Empowers Kansans to challenge excessive tax hikes through a protest petition process.
✔️ Creates the ASTRA Fund, which provides financial support to cities and counties that keep tax increases reasonable.
✔️ Eliminates outdated tax rules that complicated the system without benefiting taxpayers.

Why This Matters:

✅ Stops runaway tax hikes – If local governments attempt to raise property taxes beyond a reasonable limit, residents can challenge it directly.
✅ Rewards fiscal responsibility – Cities and counties that manage budgets well get financial support, ensuring essential services are maintained.
✅ Cuts bureaucratic red tape – Simplifies property tax laws to benefit homeowners and businesses.

This bill ensures homeowners and small businesses can afford to stay in their communities without being hit by unpredictable tax hikes.

Why These Bills Matter to You

✅ Protects homeowners & businesses from excessive property tax increases.
✅ Restores trust in government by increasing oversight and accountability.
✅ Increases transparency in campaign finance and reduces the influence of hidden money in politics.
✅ Makes hunting and fishing more affordable for seniors and young people.

As we approach the final weeks of the session, I will continue working hard to ensure these reforms are passed and signed into law.

Looking Ahead

With the session nearing its end, your input is more important than ever. If you have questions, concerns, or feedback, please reach out to me at [email protected].

It is an honor to serve you, and I ask that you continue to pray for wisdom as we work to make Kansas a better place for all.

Best,
Dale Helwig
State Representative, District 1