Kansas legislative briefs | House passes bill to lure companies

House passes bill to lure companies

TOPEKA | The Kansas House passed a bill Tuesday designed to lure companies and high-paying jobs to the Sunflower State.

The measure, patterned after similar laws in Missouri and other states, would allow companies that relocate or expand in Kansas to keep state withholding taxes for new employees.

The more jobs created, the bigger the incentive.

The more the companies pay in salaries, the longer they could retain the withholding taxes. Companies creating only a handful of jobs would be ineligible.

The legislation’s author, Rep. Marvin Kleeb, an Overland Park Republican, said his proposal would cost the state lost revenue only when a new job is created. He predicted the economic activity from the new jobs would offset any losses.

“These are jobs that otherwise would not have come to Kansas,” Kleeb said.

The bill, HB 2365, has not been considered by the Senate.

Senate OKs statewide smoking ban — again

TOPEKA | For the second time, the Kansas Senate has passed legislation to ban smoking in restaurants and bars statewide.

But it remains to be seen whether this bill will fare any better in the Kansas House, which tabled an earlier attempt.

Supporters say a statewide ban would save lives by preventing secondhand smoke. But opponents don’t like imposing mandates on business and argue smoking bans are a local issue.

The Senate vote was 25-15. The House could vote on the bill before the end of the week.