KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The Kansas House handed a bill in a single day to create a sports authority, a board that may oversee a brand new stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and a staff headquarters in Olathe.
The laws is written for an expert staff within the National Football League.
Background on the Chiefs’ deliberate transfer
In December, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the team will move to Kansas by the 2031 season. The staff plans to construct a brand new domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and a brand new staff headquarters and observe facility in Olathe.
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, launched the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority bill within the House to assist present the development, financing, and administration of sports services. The state and staff are trying to have a publicly owned stadium in KCK. Tarwater famous that 26 of 30 NFL stadiums are publicly owned and stated the plan is designed to align with the state’s use of STAR Bonds to carry the Chiefs to Kansas. Lawmakers used Minnesota’s stadium authority as a mannequin when drafting the bill.
What the board would seem like
The board would have 11 voting members, together with legislative appointees, the state commerce secretary and a consultant of the staff. If the stadium is in-built KCK, each the Olathe and KCK mayors would obtain a direct vote on the board.
The authority’s governing board consists of appointed members from the governor, House speaker, House majority and minority leaders, Senate president, Senate majority and minority leaders, and the staff. The secretary of commerce serves by advantage of holding workplace. The two mayors of the host cities function ex officio members in the event that they elect to take part.
What supporters say
Supporters say the authority doesn’t create new tax breaks, however provides oversight to a deal they are saying is already in place.
“It provides the legal structure necessary to move forward with the stadium project while ensuring clear oversight and accountability,” stated Rep. Tarwater. “And while it protects the state, preserving legislative oversight and ensuring the stadium can operate as a true year-round public asset.”
Tarwater stated the authority is designed to arrange a long-term construction to shield the state, help the commitments within the settlement, and preserve the challenge from being a burden on Kansas taxpayers.
“This is actually the last piece of the legislative portion of this journey. And when the term sheet was signed, it had in there that the state had to own the stadium. And this is the most efficient way that the state could own the stadium and pass all the expenses on to the team,” Tarwater stated.
The bill would additionally give the state enforcement of the deal in court docket if the staff had been to stroll away.
Opposition and questions
Not everybody agrees on who ought to maintain the ability. Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park raised concerns about what the deal means for residents of Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
“In terms of again, property tax relief for the people versus giveaways to billionaires. Again, we have an affordability crisis across this entire state, and we are looking at missed revenue in terms of this stadium. And this is revenue that could be used for schools, roads, and highways,” Holscher stated.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.