Pub. 8 2019 Issue 2

March/April 2019 11 l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s Kansas Department of Revenue Interim Secretary Mark Beshears gave a brief overview of the department and the work they are doing. He outlined several legislative initiatives before us, including the implementation of sales tax on internet sales and Real ID. Succeeding his presentation, he fielded questions from those attending. Following lunch, attendees heard from a legislative panel focused on state budget and banking issues that included Senate President Susan Wagle, Speaker of the House Rep. Ron Ryckman, and House Minority Leader Rep. Tom Sawyer. All panel members feel favorably that new Governor Laura Kelly will work closely with both parties in the Legislature to deliver real solutions. A dominant topic outlined by Wagle was the $190 million ‘windfall’ income tax reduction bill aimed at preventing an unintended tax increase for individual Kansans and allow corporations to avoid state taxes on foreign earnings returned to Kansas. The Senate approved the bill the very next day. Again, this year, the panel addressed the school funding issue and heard feedback from conference attendees about the lack of a fair playing field between banks and credit unions on taxation. Acting Kansas State Bank Commissioner, Tim Kemp provided a presentation and summary of the state’s activities. Following Tim was Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Head of Business Division Jennifer Cook outlining their goal of building a one stop shop so business filings are streamlined and the department has cutting edge IT security in place. Alex Orel, KBA’s SVP – Government Relations, provided bankers with an update on KBA’s state legislative breakdown in both the House and Senate. He outlined KBA’s priorities including legislation on Senate Bill 22, Federal Tax Windfall (passed the Senate 26-14); Senate Bill 82, Kansas Banking Code; Senate Bill 90, Entrepreneurship Tax Credit; and elimination of the privilege tax on business income. Orel also highlighted other issues on KBA’ radar for the 2019 Legislative session. The 2018 Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) class received recognition for completing the BLOK training regimen and were presented the traditional BLOK award from Chairman Donnelly. The 2019 BLOK class attended the conference as a segment of their first training session of the year long program. The action- packed day concluded with a special legislative reception for bankers and state legislators at the Topeka Country Club. Newly-elected Kansas Secretary of State Scott Swab shares his goals and initiatives for the upcoming year. Jayne and Gary Coleman (Kendall State Bank, Valley Falls) and KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham. Rep. Ken Rahjes (R- Agra, Vice Chair Water and Environment) and Greg Saville (First National Bank & Trust, Phillipsburg). Mike Beam, Secretary of Department of Agriculture, shared the current agriculture issues facing the state.