Legislative update: Wichita staff say Kansas veto session left water-reuse bill signed but property-tax changes strained bond markets

Kim Swatt, the city's legislative staffer, told the council the Kansas Legislature returned for a brief veto-wrapup session to address governor vetoes and budget line-item vetoes.

Swatt said the session produced many final actions: roughly 20 vetoes and about 30 line-item vetoes were resolved or under consideration. She singled out House Bill 2745 and property-tax discussions, saying they have produced near-term negative effects in bond markets for some South Central Kansas communities.

On a positive note for city operations, Swatt said the city's top legislative priority on water reuse was signed by the governor. "That was very exciting," she said, and staff described the water-reuse change as potentially among the most consequential state water-policy changes in decades for communities planning future public-works projects.

Swatt also reported the governor signed a housing bill (Senate Bill 418) and a vehicle/golf-cart bill tied to Council Member Johnson; she summarized movement on landlord-tenant and eviction-related proposals, noting several tenant-rights bills did not advance in the veto session and that some related measures remain pending with the governor. Swatt agreed to provide a fuller final report after the session wraps.

Council members asked for clarifications about which eviction-related provisions advanced and which remain pending; staff said they would follow up with the specific bill references and final statuses.