All Roll Calls
Yes: 235 • No: 88
KansasHB 24662025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Enacting the Kansas sports authority act, authorizing STAR bond projects in major amusement park areas and extending the expiration date of the STAR bonds financing act.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
commerce
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 7 mixed.
Tax breaks for stadium property and builds
Property the authority owns and uses for sports facilities and related infrastructure is exempt from local property taxes. Goods and services the authority buys to build, equip, or furnish a facility are exempt from state sales and compensating taxes. Contractors must get exemption certificates, keep invoices for five years, and misuse is a misdemeanor. The sales‑tax exemption ends when all bonds under the December 22, 2025 STAR bond agreement (up to its maximum authorized amount) are fully repaid.
State can launch and finance STAR districts
The commerce secretary can create STAR bond districts and projects without a city or county starting them, and KDFA can issue the bonds. Bonds are not paid by the state general fund. Most STAR bonds and revenue collection are capped at 20 years; major pro sports complexes can go up to 30 years. The secretary may charge up to a 1% administrative fee on bond issues, capped at $200,000, paid from bond proceeds. The secretary can keep finding areas eligible for STAR projects through July 1, 2031.
Major amusement parks now eligible
The law defines major amusement park areas for STAR bond eligibility. Attractions must be at least 25,000 square feet and able to draw over 100,000 visitors a year. It also covers buildings for rides, conference centers, and interactive attractions with licensed intellectual property.
Up to $10M for rural projects
Rural redevelopment projects can be financed without special obligation bonds for up to $10,000,000 per project. This gives rural projects a simpler path to funding within that cap.
Stricter planning, data, and start deadlines
STAR projects must complete detailed feasibility studies that cover revenues, jobs, debt schedules, visitor tracking, market impact, and all incentives. Businesses in a STAR district must provide annual, aggregated visitor zip code data without personal details. For projects approved on or after July 1, 2026, the secretary sets long‑distance visitor goals and checks results starting in year five; developers must pay to fix shortfalls, and no new bonds can be issued until issues are addressed. Developers must begin work within two years of plan adoption or funding stops; they have one year to resubmit for reapproval, which restarts a two‑year clock.
Broader criminal record checks for agencies
The KBI must share more types of criminal history records with state agencies for jobs, licenses, and appointments. Agencies may require fingerprints. These records are confidential and not public, but that privacy rule ends July 1, 2029 unless renewed. Wrongful disclosure is a class A nonperson misdemeanor and grounds for removal from office.
New state sports facilities authority
The law creates the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority as a separate public body. An 11‑member board runs it, with first members due by August 31, 2026, and appointees must pass criminal history checks. The authority can set rents, fees, and seat licenses, make exclusive deals, and require lessees to cover all liabilities. It must post bylaws and meetings online, get yearly independent audits, and may act by unanimous written consent that is posted publicly. The executive director’s pay must come from team rent, not public funds. The authority is covered by the Kansas Tort Claims Act and is exempt from some state procurement and personnel laws. It may award grants, but it can only contract with NFL teams.
Limits on reusing STAR district revenues
If a district’s STAR bonds are paid off early, officials cannot finance a new STAR project with that same area’s revenues unless they set a new tax base and both the commerce secretary and the local governing body approve in writing. There are listed exceptions, including certain projects approved before June 30, 2026, projects approved after that date, and refundings. Separately, two older projects—the Manhattan Discovery Center (approved December 28, 2006) and the Schlitterbahn project in Wyandotte County (approved December 23, 2005)—may opt in by city ordinance to use this act’s rules.
Motorsports bonds with voter safeguards
A city may issue full faith and credit tax increment bonds to finance a major motorsports complex. STAR bond revenues may be used first, with property tax authority as a backstop if needed. A feasibility study must show benefits exceed costs and income can cover annual costs. Within 60 days after the public hearing, a protest by 3% of voters triggers a citywide vote; if sufficient, voters must approve.
Sports fund can pay stadium costs
The commerce secretary can use the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund, including sports wagering revenues, to help pay for team facilities and related development. The fund may pay bond principal and interest and approved community impact projects. Each month, the secretary must certify any excess and that amount moves to the lottery operating fund. Spending must follow appropriation acts and voucher approvals.
More taxes can back STAR bond projects
The law lets more kinds of local and state taxes be pledged to repay STAR bonds. It allows 100% of local and county sales and use tax growth in the project area to be pledged, after honoring any prior pledges or voter commitments. Some state sales tax growth can also be pledged, but districts set on or after January 1, 2017 cannot include state sales tax from retail auto dealers. For districts created after July 1, 2021 that already have sales tax revenue, the state sales tax pledge is capped at 90%. Other allowed sources include transient guest taxes, higher franchise fees, revenues from community improvement or transportation development districts, and some local taxes from taxpayers outside the district. For certain approved projects, up to 100% of new state sales tax growth and alcoholic liquor tax, and money from the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund, can be pledged. Most pledged revenue must come from taxpayers doing business in the area, and prior commitments still apply. This can help projects borrow money but can reduce money left for general city or county services.
More community events and local hires
The facility must host a set number of community events each year, when the team schedule allows. Employers on STAR bond construction sites must give hiring priority to Kansas residents. This helps local workers get jobs and gives communities more access to the venue.
Property protections in STAR projects
Cities and counties cannot use eminent domain to take land for STAR projects. Land acquired for a STAR project must be used only for that approved project; any unused portion goes back to the city or county. If the developer paid for the land, they get a proportional refund for any part deeded back. Any developer transfer of such land needs a two‑thirds vote of the local governing body.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 78 Nay: 44
Yes: 78 • No: 44
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 34 Nay: 6
Yes: 34 • No: 6
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 93 Nay: 28
Yes: 93 • No: 28
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 30 Nay: 10
Yes: 30 • No: 10
Actions Timeline
Engrossed on Sunday, March 29, 2026
4/9/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 3, 2026
4/9/2026HouseApproved by Governor on Thursday, April 9, 2026
4/9/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/27/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 30 Nay: 10
3/27/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 78 Nay: 44
3/27/2026HouseNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Tarwater , Representative Ward and Representative Sawyer Clayton as conferees
3/23/2026HouseCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/19/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
3/19/2026SenateEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 34 Nay: 6
3/19/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Commerce
3/16/2026SenateHearing: Monday, March 9, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 159-S
3/9/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Commerce
2/12/2026SenateFinal Action - Passed; Yea: 93 Nay: 28
2/11/2026HouseReceived and Introduced
2/11/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed
2/10/2026HouseCommittee Report recommending bill be passed by Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
2/5/2026HouseHearing: Monday, February 2, 2026, 1:30 PM Room 346-S
2/2/2026HouseIntroduced
1/15/2026HouseReferred to Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
1/15/2026House
Bill Text
As Amended by Senate Committee
As introduced
Enrolled
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