The House will not debate the latest version of Sub for SB 30 today, and many say it won't be debated at all.

We heard this morning that there were problems with the bill and ultimately, the plan to debate taxes today was set aside.  The House went ahead with its debate on K-12 Education, with rumors of 90 amendments in the wings.  Legislative staff have suggested that today's education debate could set a record for amendments drafted.

At this point, we do not know if it was the liquor enforcement tax that derailed the Tax conference committee report - but hopefully our arguments were persuasive enough to keep enforcement tax increases out of the next tax proposal.

Rumors have been swirling that House leadership may have told legislators that the liquor industry was in favor of increasing the enforcement tax up to 10%.  It is difficult to imagine this.  Some legislators said they were told it would only affect customers purchasing drinks, i.e. the drink tax.  Also inaccurate. 

Perhaps the details of liquor taxes have been forgotten since the hearings were held in February, but that is the risk of throwing new items into conference committees that have not passed either chamber.  

Liquor taxes may or may not be a part of future packages - we will just have to see.  Regardless, we hope that retailers have made certain that their legislators know where they stand - especially those who must compete with Missouri retailers.  

The increased income taxes that have been a part of virtually every tax proposal this session will already add to the costs of our small businesses - a targeted tax on the products we sell would be piling on.

Just to be certain, a joint industry letter was circulated to legislators.  Read the contents of that letter below:

Please Oppose CC Report on SB 30

The Tax Conference Committee Report on SB 30, adopted last night includes a 25% increase in the liquor enforcement tax – from 8 to 10 percent.     We would urge you to vote NO !!

1.         After extensive hearings, there was no support in House Tax Committee for an increase in liquor taxes.

2.         Its inclusion clearly violates Joint Rule 3(f) prohibiting a CC report from including subject matters that have not passed either house.    

3.         This 25% increase in the enforcement tax would most heavily impact retail liquor stores and particularly those near our borders – stores already heavily impacted by the recent enactment of SB 13.

Please vote NO!!!!!

Amy Campbell -   Kansas Assn of Beverage Retailers

Scott Schneider/Jason Watkins -   Kansas Beer Wholesalers Assn,   Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Assn

Whitney Damron -   Kansas Assn for Responsible Liquor Laws

Brad Smoot -   Distilled Spirits Council 

Aaron Mays -   Standard Beverage

Philip Bradley -   Kansas License Beverage Assn,   Kansas Craft Brewers Guild,   Kansas Viticulture and Farm Winery Assn,   Artisan Distillers of Kansas

Larrie Ann Brown -   Wine Institute

John Bottenberg -   MillerCoors

Jim Dorsey -   Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits

John Peterson -   Anheuser-Busch Companies

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Contact: Amy Campbell  785-969-1617