Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2024

Introduced
1/16/25  

Caption

Providing a tax credit for firefighters who incur unreimbursed medical expenses for screening for occupation-related cancer, enacting the fighting chance for firefighters act.

Impact

The enactment of HB2024 could have a significant impact on state tax laws by providing financial relief to firefighters and enhancing their ability to access critical healthcare services. The proposed tax credit is designed to encourage firefighters to seek necessary screenings without the worry of incurring excessive out-of-pocket expenses. This could potentially lead to earlier detection of cancers, improving health outcomes for those in this essential profession. Additionally, the bill may also impact state tax revenue, as the estimated cap for the total credits allowed is set at $1,500,000 annually.

Summary

House Bill 2024, known as the Fighting Chance for Firefighters Act, introduces a tax credit for Kansas resident firefighters who incur unreimbursed medical expenses related to cancer screening. This bill aims to support firefighters facing increased risks of developing certain types of cancer due to their occupational exposure to hazardous conditions while performing their duties. By enabling this tax credit of up to $250 per year for medical procedures needed to detect specific cancers, the bill seeks to mitigate the financial burden associated with these necessary health screenings for firefighters.

Contention

While the bill's intention is largely viewed as positive, there may be points of contention regarding its implementation and fiscal implications. Concerns could be raised about the allocation of funds and the effectiveness of the credit in promoting preventive healthcare among firefighters. Opponents might question whether the cap on credits is sufficient to meet the needs of the firefighting community and whether this initiative effectively addresses the broader healthcare challenges faced by those in high-risk professions. Furthermore, the non-refundable nature of the tax credit might limit its accessibility for firefighters with lower income levels who do not have sufficient tax liability to take full advantage of it.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS HB2845

Allowing an itemized deduction for certain unreimbursed employee business expenses.

KS HB2066

Providing for a property tax exemption for up to two motor vehicles for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical service providers.

KS HB2465

Enacting the adoption savings account act allowing individuals to establish adoption savings accounts with certain financial institutions, providing eligible expenses, requirements and restrictions for such accounts and establishing addition and subtraction modifications for contributions to such accounts under the Kansas income tax act, increasing the income tax credit amount for adoption expenses, establishing an income, privilege and premium tax credit for contributions to eligible charitable organizations operating pregnancy centers or residential maternity facilities and providing for a sales tax exemption for purchases by pregnancy resource centers and residential maternity facilities.

KS SB147

Increasing the income tax credit amount for adoption expenses and making the credit refundable and increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses.

KS SB206

Enacting the medical autonomy/accessibility and truth act to remove certain provisions regarding abortion from the no taxpayer funding for abortion act, the woman's-right-to-know act and the pain-capable unborn child act to allow for insurance coverage for abortions, provide tax benefits for abortion-related services and remove inaccurate statements regarding the risks of abortion.

KS HB2757

Enacting the adoption savings account act, allowing individuals to establish adoption savings accounts with certain financial institutions, providing eligible expenses, requirements and restrictions for such accounts and establishing addition and subtraction modifications for contributions to such accounts under the Kansas income tax act.

KS SB494

Enacting the adoption savings account act, allowing individuals to establish adoption savings accounts with certain financial institutions, providing eligible expenses, requirements and restrictions for such accounts and establishing addition and subtraction modifications for contributions to such accounts under the Kansas income tax act.

KS HB2416

Senate Substitute for HB 2416 by Committee on Assessment and Taxation - Enacting the adoption savings account act, allowing individuals to establish adoption savings accounts with certain financial institutions, providing eligible expenses, requirements and restrictions for such accounts and establishing addition and subtraction modifications for contributions to such accounts under the Kansas income tax act.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB498

Establishing a tax credit for contributions to eligible charitable organizations operating pregnancy centers or residential maternity facilities, increasing the tax credit amount for adoption expenses and making the credit refundable and providing a sales tax exemption for pregnancy resource centers and residential maternity facilities.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.