<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617803132730.png" alt="Sen. Tom Holland says a new bipartisan deal avoids blaming officials for imposing public health orders but recognizes the pain felt by businesses during the pandemic. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Tom Holland says a new bipartisan deal avoids blaming officials for imposing public health orders but recognizes the pain felt by businesses during the pandemic. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/06/senators-forge-bipartisan-deal-to-aid-kansas-businesses-impacted-by-pandemic/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A new Senate plan
 would redirect a portion of federal COVID-19 aid from the state and 
counties to small businesses impacted by public health orders during the
 pandemic.The bipartisan compromise 
between Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, and Sen. Tom 
Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, emerged during a committee hearing 
Tuesday. The conceptual deal is still being drafted with hopes of 
advancing formal legislation before the Legislature adjourns at the end 
of the week.The Steffen-Holland plan 
would be inserted into Senate Bill 149, one of several pieces of 
legislation that were crafted to punish counties for imposing shutdowns,
 social distancing or mask mandates on businesses. Other ideas have 
called for a portion of federal aid to be set aside to settle 
class-action lawsuits from businesses.Holland said the goal of 
the new plan is to avoid placing blame on officials for restricting 
business but still “recognize your pain” and provide some tax relief. 
The plan retains proactive protections for businesses from future 
restrictions.Under the proposal, 
businesses could apply to the Kansas Department of Revenue for up to 
$7,500 in lease and property tax refunds. The state and county where the
 businesses is located would split the bill evenly, using federal 
COVID-19 aid.The plan limits the scope 
of who is eligible based on the size and type of business, and how long 
the business was shut down or adversely affected.For-profit businesses with
 a majority of retail sales at a physical location could apply for a 
refund if they reported between $10,000 and $2.5 million in 2019 revenue
 and haven’t received more than $350,000 in pandemic-related funding 
already.The senators produced a 
list of businesses who would be excluded from receiving aid because they
 “made out like bandits and they really don’t need this relief anyway,” 
Holland said. Those businesses include grocery, hardware and retail 
liquor stores, manufacturers, cable and telephone companies, utilities, 
schools, health care providers, property management, professional 
services, agriculture producers, and financial institutions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617803194849.png" alt="Sen. Mark Steffen says farmers and ranchers who operate storefronts should still be eligible to receive COVID-19 relief aid through a proposed new program. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Mark Steffen says farmers and ranchers who operate storefronts should still be eligible to receive COVID-19 relief aid through a proposed new program. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Steffen proposed clarifying the language to ensure agriculture producers who operate a storefront would still be eligible.“In my area, we do have 
those farmers and ranchers who do vertically integrate all right their 
on their farm, and I don’t think they should be excluded,” Steffen said.Among other requirements 
for the program, businesses must be in good standing with the Secretary 
of State and up to date on property tax bills.Holland, without saying names, referenced Kansas Reflector stories about fitness club magnate Rodney Steven being <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/09/tax-break-seeking-health-club-kingpin-delinquent-on-at-least-549000-in-property-tax-payments/">delinquent on $549,000 in past property tax payments</a> while exerting influence over lawmakers in <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/04/six-state-fitness-club-kingpin-aims-tax-inequity-allegations-at-kansas-nonprofits/">pursuit of a niche tax break</a>. The state shouldn’t reward people who aren’t paying their taxes, Holland said.“People who are in good 
faith, properly registered, honestly running a business — they should 
get the relief, not somebody trying to figure out how to shake a few 
coins out at the last second,” Holland said.Sherman Smith has written award-winning news stories about the instability of the Kansas foster care system, misconduct by government officials, sexual abuse, technology, education, and the Legislature. He spent 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal, where he started on the copy desk, then oversaw digital operations, was the managing editor and reported from the Statehouse.

Senators forge bipartisan deal to aid Kan. businesses impacted by pandemic