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You can also watch the Legislative Updates on Eagle Community TV Channels 14 and 614.

Last week was the last week of the 2018 legislative session. Sine Die, the ceremonial end to the legislative session was Friday, May 4th.

We celebrated the National Day of Prayer at the statehouse on Thursday. State officials led prayers for those in Kansas government, military and National Guard, first responders, family, agriculture, health care, schools, businesses, and others.

On Friday, the annual Law Enforcement Memorial was held at the Statehouse. Thankfully no Kansas law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty over the past year but four officers from previous years were inducted into the memorial. National Law Enforcement Memorial Week is May 13-19.

Budget-After 3 full days of negotiation the Senate conference committee agreed to a final budget for fiscal year 2018 & 2019. The Kansas Legislature voted on the budget bill, late Thursday night. The bill would appropriate $380 million more in the current fiscal year, $700 million more than was expended in the previous fiscal year. The legislation includes a 5% raise for employees who were not included in the 2017 pay adjustment law and a 2.5% raise for employees who received a pay increase last year. The budget also includes a 5% adjustment for correctional staff and a 2% raise for judges. The bill excludes state university staff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas Legislature.

Below are highlights included within the budget:

FY 2018-The conference committee recommends expenditures of $16.3 billion, including $6.7 billion from the State General Fund. House Sub for SB109 also includes $15 million to replace funds cut from state universities and other priorities that have been neglected such as water projects and state hospitals. Add $31.1 million, including $40.5 million from the State General Fund, to fund the spring human services consensus caseload estimate. Department of Health and Environment-Add $3 million for the Medicaid regular medical program for the teaching hospitals associated with the Wichita Center for Graduate Medical Education program. Add $1 million for the tiny-k program. Add $1.4 million for information technology modernization. Add $1 million from the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund for additional substance abuse treatment services. FY 2019-The Conference Committee Recommends expenditures of $16.8 billion, including $7 billion from the State General Fund. Add $68.6 million, including $76.9 million from the State General Fund to fund human services consensus caseload estimate. Board of Regents and Institutions-Add $15 million to restore approximately 64% of the 4% remaining FY 2017 allotment. Department of Education-Add $7 million, including $8.4 million from the State General fund to adopt the spring 2018 education consensus estimate. Add $5.2 million from the Children’s Initiatives Fund for early childhood programs. This includes Pre-K Pilot ($4.2 million) and Parents as Teachers ($1 million). Add $1.4 million for disaster relief. Add $2.7 million for information technology modernization. Add $22.1 million for an increase in nursing facility reimbursement rates. Add $1 million from the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund for additional substance abuse treatment services.

Senate Sub for HB 2028-Would establish the Kansas Telemedicine Act. The bill also provides for coverage of speech-language pathologist and audiologist services via telehealth under the Kansas Medical Assistance Program, if such services would be covered under KMAP when delivered via in-person contact.

S Sub for 2228-This is our mega tax bill for the year not only changes to itemized deductions and language regarding the tax treatment of repatriation, global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI). This tax bill would decouple Kansas from the Federal tax code. Currently Kansas taxpayers that itemize at the Federal level may also itemize on their Kansas tax return. With the changes at the Federal level and standard deductions being increased many Kansans who currently itemize will choose to use the standard deduction. Without changes to Kansas law they will no longer be able to itemize on their Kansas return. This will be devastating to the middle class and to small businesses in Kansas. They will not be able to expense or depreciate on their Kansas tax return, including deduction of mortgage interest, charitable contributions and medical expenses. We must look at decoupling from the Federal tax return and might need a special session or a retroactive bill next year. If changes are not made this will be a large tax increase to the middle class and small businesses.

Local Sales Tax Provision-Unfortunately, the Thomas County local sales tax provision was included in S Sub 2228 which would increase the maximum local sales tax rate that could be imposed by Thomas County from 1.5% to 1.75%, provided that all taxes levied more than 1% remain earmarked for financing a courthouse, jail, law enforcement center or other county administrative facility. An election would be required to increase the current Thomas County sales tax. This bill failed to pass in the House 59 to 59.

KPERS-one of the items we were successful in negotiating in the budget was a partial payment on a missed KPERs payment. We added $82 million all from state general fund in FY 2019 and an additional $56 million from receipt estimates over $56 million in the months of April, May and June, 2018 and an additional payment of $56 million in fiscal year 2020 if receipts come in $56 million over in April, May and June fiscal year 2019.

How about for a few minutes before we start sobbing and rending our garments because the Kansas Legislature didn’t pass what the news headlines near-universally refer to as “tax reform,” we take a minute to look at that tax bill that froze to death on a 59-59 vote of the Kansas House last Friday?

Now, “reform,” well that’s just gotta be good. Who doesn’t want reform of nearly everything from being trapped in the check-out line while the customer ahead fishes coupons out of his pocket/her purse or when the other table’s salads at the restaurant look better than the ones you got?

Reform on taxes, though, is one of those things that everyone sees a little differently.

The tax bill the House killed would have reapportioned among many classes of Kansas taxpayers their Kansas income tax liability next year. Not evenly among Kansans, but selectively.

Remember that last December’s federal tax law changed the federal standard deduction, from about $6,000 to $12,000 for single taxpayers and from $12,700 to $24,000 for marrieds filing a joint return.

Now, that’s a pretty good bump, and it will likely cut the federal income tax bill of about 80 percent of Kansans. And because the Legislature last week didn’t pass tax “reform,” that boosted federal standard deduction leaves more money for the state to levy income taxes against.

That reduction in federal income taxes provides the boost in state taxable income that creates the majority of the “windfall” that lawmakers were trying to use up with its now-deceased tax bill.

The Legislature never got a reliable, firm figure on just how much the lower federal taxes would increase the amount of Kansas taxable income—and therefore, Kansas tax receipts.

That’s a little like not knowing how thick the ice is before wandering out onto the lake in winter. Nice, thick ice: Have a good time; thin ice, stay on the dirt.

Next year, lawmakers will know how thick that ice is and can make informed decisions on whether they can walk on it without risk.

That risk is the one all—or, rather, some—lawmakers fear, that they would give away too much income tax revenue they need to operate the state and fund schools and highways and pension systems and social service programs without raising taxes again, as they did last year.

Oh, and that “reform” bill didn’t increase the standard deduction for Kansas taxpayers, that baseline for computing just how much money you will send to Topeka from the money freed up by sending less to Washington. It favored those with middle-range or higher incomes, probably more Republicans than Democrats, though we recall that you don’t have to check off political affiliation on your tax forms.

Yes, lawmakers could have passed a tax cut bill, and it would sure look nice on a House member’s campaign literature this summer and fall. But we’re doubting that there would have been a footnote saying who got the tax cut.

And members of the Senate, well, only one is running for retention this year, the other 39 won’t be printing up campaign literature for another two years, and they can just sigh and say, “wait until next year,” we’ll get you that tax break we tried for this year.

So, how’s this balance out? Legislators didn’t take a risk this year if the federal trickle-down doesn’t produce as much benefit for Kansas as had been guessed, and they won’t have to back up and trim a tax bill they didn’t pass.

If it turns out the federal tax cuts produce more revenue than expected? Bigger tax cuts, next year.

And nobody doesn’t want that…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

National Bike Month includes an ever-expanding diversity of events in communities nationwide – but the biggest day of the month is Bike to Work Day. In 2018, Bike to Work Week will be May 14-18, with Bike to Work Day on May 18.

40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it is not surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent.

I started bike commuting a number of years ago when there was street construction downtown and parking spaces were limited. I found that if I rode to work in the morning, home for lunch and home again at the end of the day I would log a total of 7 miles. Now I’m hooked on bike commuting. Unless it is below 15 degrees or icy underfoot, you are likely to see me in my hi-vis green jacket pedaling to or from work.

Bike commuting is a great way to squeeze regular exercise into a busy schedule. Commuting time can be used to stay in shape instead of sitting frustrated in traffic. Statistics also show that bicycle commuters are happier and more productive at work. The mild temperatures we have been enjoying the past few days give us few excuses to not get out there and go for a ride. Whether you are an occasional or everyday rider please keep the following bicycle safety tips in mind.

• Consider a helmet a necessity. Without a helmet, riders who sustain an injury are 14 times more likely to become a fatality. Choose a helmet that meets or exceeds safety standards established by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Make sure the helmet fits, rather than one a child will grow into. Replace the helmet if an accident occurs or if the helmet is badly jarred or cracked.
• Ride with traffic, rather than facing the traffic. Consider adding a rear view mirror to your bicycle gear. I have one that attaches to my helmet so I can constantly monitor the traffic behind me.
• Obey traffic signals. Use hand signals to let others know your intentions.
• Stay alert and keep your mind on your riding. This should be the same advice for many people in cars. Too many times we have been in close calls with drivers who are on cell phones or just inattentive to the traffic around them.

Many parents ask at what age a child is old enough to ride in the street rather than on the sidewalk. There is not a one-size-fits-all age. A child’s maturity level is the main factor. Other factors are the size of the community, traffic patterns and congestion, and whether it is a residential area or a business district. A smaller community can seem peaceful and safe, but may have periods when safety is compromised – for example, after a ball game, during a community festival, or at harvest time.

Now go out and enjoy this beautiful spring weather with a family bike ride!

Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent and District Director with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or [email protected]