When Kansas lawmakers returned to Topeka for a one-day special session, they kept their focus on tax relief and the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, opting not to take action on other proposed legislation.

Gov. Laura Kelly called the special session after she and the Legislature failed to agree on tax cuts during the regular legislative session and the following veto session. While Kelly’s stated reason for the special session was tax cuts, Republican legislative leadership used it to push a subsidy package to help a professional sports team build a new stadium in Kansas.

Lawmakers passed both Senate Bill 1, the tax cut compromise between GOP leadership and the Democratic governor, and House Bill 2001, the STAR Bonds plan for the Chiefs and Royals.

The Senate also passed two resolutions. Senate Resolution 1702 honors Ed Dwight, an artist and pilot from Kansas City, Kansas, who was the first Black astronaut candidate in the U.S. and who now is the oldest person to travel to space. Senate Resolution 1703 recognizes Nov. 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.

Despite GOP leadership previously suggesting other legislation could be taken up during the special session, the Legislature didn’t take up several bills introduced by lawmakers.

Proposed property tax amendment

While the Legislature passed the compromise tax cut plan, there was bipartisan disappointment that it didn’t include more substantial property tax relief.

With Senate Concurrent Resolution 1604, nine Republicans and one Democrat led by Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker, reintroduced a previous proposal to amend the Kansas Constitution to limit property valuation increases. Tyson, the chair of the Senate tax committee, held a meeting the day before the special session to discuss the proposal.

The idea passed the Senate last year in Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 but was never brought up for a vote in the House.

More: As property values and taxes rise, is a Kansas constitutional amendment the solution?

Legislature had other tax cut bills

House Bill 2004 and Senate Bill 5 would have authorized counties to impose an income tax. They were proposed by four Democrats from Kansas City: Reps. Pam Curtis, Melissa Oropeza and Valdenia Winn and Sen. David Haley.

Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell and a top House Republican working on the STAR Bonds plan, told a GOP caucus meeting that the Kansas City, Kansas, mayor had suggested a local income tax could help pay for a Chiefs stadium. Tarwater contended that the idea is unconstitutional and said, “It’ll never happen.”

Senate Bill 2 was an alternative tax cut package proposed by Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City and the top Senate Democrat on the tax committee. His plan had more property tax relief and less income tax cuts compared to the compromise bill that was passed.

House Bill 2003 was a property tax relief proposal for military veterans, introduced by a group of nine Republicans led by Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth.

Senate Bill 6, proposed by Haley, would have created a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

Senate Bill 8 would have created a sales tax exemption for sales of guns, ammunition and related purchases. It was introduced by Sen. J.R. Claeys, R-Salina.

Proposed voting rights amendment

After the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state constitution’s bill of rights does not protect the right to vote, some Democrats introduced constitutional amendments.

House Concurrent Resolution 5001 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 would have added the right to vote into the bill of rights. They were sponsored by Holland and 14 House Democrats, led by Rep. Silas Miller, D-Wichita.

The right to vote is still in a different part of the constitution, but the high court’s ruling that suffrage is a political right and not a fundamental right makes it harder for voting rights advocates to challenge state laws restricting voting.

Medicaid expansion proposed

House Bill 2002 would have expanded Medicaid.

While supporters of Medicaid expansion had a big win this year by having the first committee hearings on the issue in four years, they failed to advance legislation.

Earlier in the year, Republicans on the House health committee rejected an attempt from Democrats to send a bill to the House floor. Later, the Senate rejected a move to bring a bill to that chamber’s floor. While the move had more supporters than opponents and was supported by Democrats and some Republicans, it didn’t have the extra votes needed for the procedural motion.

Elections

Senate Bill 3 would have clarified the procedures and restrictions on accepting a nomination for an elected office. Senate Bill 4 would have required that all advance voting ballots be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Both bills were proposed by Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee.

More: Kansas Senate Republicans sank their own election bill drowned by ‘anchor’ of amendments

Guns

Senate Bill 7 would have authorized federally licensed firearm dealers in addition to sheriffs to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward them to the attorney general. It was introduced by Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha.

Port authority

Haley also introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 1602 to approve the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County.

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Lawmakers kept special session focused on tax cuts, Kansas City Chiefs