Lobbyist outlines 2026 legislative issues for Riley County: budget, property tax and redistricting loom

Tom Bruno, a lobbyist invited by the county, briefed Riley County commissioners on topics likely to shape the 2026 Kansas legislative session.

Bruno said the midterm election cycle and lower consensus revenue estimates make the budget outlook more constrained, and he flagged property tax and valuation conversations as among the most active policy debates. He described a range of proposals being discussed — caps on annual valuation increases, budget limitation ideas, potential adjustments to exemptions and discussion of a constitutional amendment — but said no single solution has coalesced.

Bruno also discussed possible congressional redistricting, noting political and procedural hurdles (the governor’s veto and the need for large legislative majorities to override or to call a special session), and he said the legislature’s accelerated timeline creates compressed deadlines for bill drafting and committee work. Education funding and higher‑education scrutiny were identified as ongoing priorities; Bruno cautioned that local governments frequently face state mandates without corresponding funding shifts and urged county leaders to press for tools or flexibility to meet statutory obligations.

Commissioners asked about property‑tax options and the review process; Bruno described tradeoffs and the political difficulty of enacting major tax changes, and he suggested pursuing committee paths more favorable to local government when trying to advance local‑government friendly bills.