2026 Kansas Statehouse Insider - Week Eight

Week Eight of the 2026 Kansas Legislative Session continued the steady pace of post-Turnaround activity as hearings on opposite-chamber bills occupied most of the week before the Legislature’s next set of deadlines the week of March 16.Fiscal policy and the state budget remain the central focus. During the week, the Kansas Senate passed its version of the state budget, with the minimum required number of votes, 21-19. With both chambers now having approved their separate budget bills, appropriators in the two chambers will now meet in a conference committee to resolve differences between the two plans.Property tax policy also remains a prominent topic. Lawmakers continued discussing separate House and Senate proposals aimed at providing property tax relief. Among them is SCR 1616, a proposed constitutional amendment approved by the Senate and, this week, by the House Tax Committee. The bill would place limits on increases in property assessed valuations. If the full House approves the measure with the required two-thirds majority, it would be placed before Kansas voters as a ballot question.As the Legislature progresses into the second half of the session, House and Senate leaders will narrow their focus on those bills that will potentially receive final approval, while negotiations intensify on the budget and tax proposals. The following report highlights developments from Week Eight.