KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Kansas Senate passed a bill to create a sports authority, a board that would oversee a new stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and a team headquarters in Olathe.
The legislation is written for a professional team in the National Football League.
Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, Kan.(Isaac Deer/WIBW)
The Kansas Senate passed the bill 30-10 on the evening of Friday, March 27, where changes were made. This bill then went to the House, where it was passed 78-44.
ALSO READ: Kansas bill would create sports authority to oversee Chiefs stadium, facilities
The Chiefs insist on their new facilities being owned by the public, not the team. This sports authority is needed to make that happen.
Background on the Chiefs’ planned move
In December, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the team will move to Kansas by the 2031 season. The team plans to build a new domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and a new team headquarters and practice facility in Olathe.
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, introduced the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority bill in the House to help provide the construction, financing, and management of sports facilities. The state and team are looking to have a publicly owned stadium in KCK. Tarwater noted that 26 of 30 NFL stadiums are publicly owned and said the plan is designed to align with the state’s use of STAR Bonds to bring the Chiefs to Kansas. Lawmakers used Minnesota’s stadium authority as a model when drafting the bill.
What supporters say
Supporters say the authority does not create new tax breaks, but adds oversight to a deal they say is already in place.
“It provides the legal structure necessary to move forward with the stadium project while ensuring clear oversight and accountability,” said 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 said the authority is designed to set up a long-term structure to protect the state, support the commitments in the agreement, and keep the project 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 said.
Opposition and questions
Not everyone agrees on who should hold the power. Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park raised concerns about what the deal means for residents of Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
“Kansans are facing a real affordability crisis, and I voted no because this stadium deal won’t do anything to address it,” said Holscher. “It’s a raw deal for Kansans, diverting billions of dollars in taxpayer money from schools, roads, and public safety to handouts for a billionaire family.”
ALSO READ: County executive announces task force to explore future of Truman Sports Complex
The bill is now headed to Governor Laura Kelly’s desk.
KCTV5 will update this as new information is available.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.