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HB 2410

Authorizes Washington County to submit a question to the voters on a transient guest tax for tourism purposes

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike McGirl

HB 2410 makes districts levying ≥0.25 mills detach from regional library systems when criteria are met; the State Library Board must approve (no discretionary denial), with readmission possible later.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#counties #motelsandhotels #taxationandrevenue-salesanduse #tourism
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Bill Summary · HB 2410

Summary — HB 2410 (Kansas) — Withdrawal of public library taxing districts from regional library systems

Note: Multiple different legislatures use the bill number “HB 2410.” This summary focuses on the Kansas bill whose title and text concern allowing a public library taxing district to withdraw from a regional system of cooperating libraries (amending K.S.A. 75‑2549, 75‑2550 and 75‑2551).

Main purpose and intent

HB 2410 makes it easier and more mandatory for a public library taxing district that meets a specified levy threshold to withdraw (be detached) from a regional system of cooperating libraries. The bill changes the petition/approval process so the State Library Board (state board) has no discretion to deny detachment when statutory conditions are met.

Key provisions and changes

  • Levy threshold and exclusion right
    • A taxing district that levies a property tax of 0.25 mills or more for library support may request exclusion from a proposed or existing regional system. The bill emphasizes this exclusion right in the petition/establishment process.
  • Mandatory detachment when conditions met
    • Under current law the state board “may” order exclusion if statutory requirements are met and exclusion would not cause manifest harm to the regional system. HB 2410 changes the language so the state board “shall” enter an order excluding and detaching the taxing district if the district meets the petition requirements (removing the board’s discretionary denial).
  • Petition process and timing
    • Petitions to be excluded must be made to the state board and submitted on or before May 1 in the year following the year the taxing district’s levy was approved.
    • Petitions are prepared in cooperation with the state librarian on prescribed forms and must include specified information about participating libraries, budgets, service populations, etc.
  • Property and assets
    • Upon exclusion, any library supported by the excluded taxing district retains all property held by that library, regardless of the revenue source used to acquire the property.
  • Readmission and lapse of levy
    • An excluded taxing district may later petition to rejoin the regional system (processed as an initial petition).
    • If an excluded district ceases to levy the required property tax for two consecutive years, the state board must order the district included again in the regional system.
  • System governance and operations
    • The bill retains provisions on system board composition and powers, notice/certification timing after approval, and limits on representative terms (not to exceed four years), while updating petition/approval language.

Who is affected

  • Local library taxing districts that levy ≥ 0.25 mills
  • Regional systems of cooperating libraries and their system boards
  • Participating individual libraries and their boards
  • County commissioners (who appoint some representatives)
  • Library patrons and the communities served (potentially changes service arrangements)
  • State librarian and State Library Board (administration of petitions)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Petitions for exclusion: filed by May 1 following the year the levy is approved.
  • State board must act to detach eligible districts (no discretionary denial).
  • Excluded districts may petition for re‑inclusion; mandatory re‑inclusion occurs if levy lapses for two consecutive years.

Potential impacts

  • Increased local control and autonomy for taxing districts that wish to operate independently.
  • Possible reduction in the territory, funding base, and economies of scale of regional library systems, which could affect shared services, interlibrary loans, staffing, and regional programming.
  • Administrative reorganization requirements for affected regional systems and possible short-term disruptions to cooperative services.
  • Clearer, more predictable legal pathway for districts seeking detachment; reduced discretion by the State Library Board may also reduce administrative conflict but could increase fragmentation.

Legislative note: The bill amends and repeals specified K.S.A. sections (75‑2549, 75‑2550, 75‑2551) to implement these changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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