SESSION OF 2020
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2441
As Amended by House Committee on Taxation

Brief*
HB 2441, as amended, would authorize all cities and
school districts to establish community historical museums
and levy property taxes of up to one mill. Current law
provides such authority only to cities of the third class located
in two counties and to those school districts located in cities
of the third class located in two counties.
The bill would authorize cities and school districts
receiving petitions signed by qualified voters calling for
formation of community historical museums to evaluate the
sustainability of the proposed museums prior to placing the
question on the ballot. Current law mandates the governing
bodies place the formation question on the ballot upon receipt
of a valid petition.
The bill would also authorize cities and school districts
receiving formation petitions to determine whether any local
museums currently in existence could successfully fulfill the
community historical museum purposes outlined in law and, if
so, place an alternative election question on the ballot
regarding cooperation with the existing museums. If any such
election questions were to be adopted by voters, the cities
and school districts would be required to annually audit the
use of funds and immediately terminate property tax levies
upon a finding that the revenues were not being used for the
appropriate community historical museum purposes.
Moreover, any local museum found to be using public funds
in bad faith would be required to reimburse the governing
bodies.
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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Taxation at the request of Representative Mason.
In the public hearing on January 22, Representative
Mason appeared as a proponent, as did the Mayor of
McPherson and the McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation
Executive Director. Written-only proponent testimony was
submitted by the McPherson USD 418 School Board
President. A representative of the League of Kansas
Municipalities (League) provided written-only neutral
testimony suggesting several amendments.
On February 12, the House Committee adopted a
package of amendments recommended by the League
relating to giving cities and schools the ability to evaluate
sustainability of proposed museums prior to holding elections;
hold elections on alternative questions regarding cooperation
agreements with existing local museums; and terminate any
such agreements upon a finding that property taxes were not
being used for the appropriate purposes.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the bill would not be
expected to have any state impact, but the League of Kansas
Municipalities indicates the bill would increase from 10 to 625
cities the number of cities authorized to levy up to one mill of
property taxes for community historical museum purposes.


2- 2441


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 12-1689
As Amended by House Committee: 12-1684, 12-1688, 12-1689