Legislative Recap: 2025 Session

With the conclusion of the recent legislative session, we look back on a period marked by vigorous debate, critical decision-making, and the advancement of key policy initiatives. Lawmakers addressed a wide range of issues—some long-standing, others newly emergent—through legislation that will shape the political, economic, and social landscape of our state for years to come.

This session saw both bipartisan collaboration and sharp divisions, resulting in a mix of progress and unresolved challenges. During the 2025 legislative session, the Kansas House of Representatives introduced just over 400 bills, with just over half being heard in committee or on the House floor. In the end, about 72 House bills passed both chambers and were signed into law by Governor Laura Kelly.

During campaign season, I promised to represent your interests and make sure your voices are heard during the law-making process. I promised to fight to preserve the nuclear family, champion agriculture, safeguard our homeland, and invest in education, and I hope to show that I stood by those promises this legislative session.

The Budget

The Kansas Legislature passed a reformed state budget that spends $210 million less than the previous year and significantly less than what the Governor proposed. The new process gives lawmakers more time to review budgets, increasing transparency and accountability and bring a fiscally responsible budget that still provides funds with critical programs in the state.

Despite a veto of several items from the Governor, the Republican Party acted decisively to override and fund key programs, including support for the deaf and hard of hearing, pregnant women, individuals with cerebral palsy, and public safety efforts like the Kansas Highway Patrol and school safety mapping.

The Kansas Legislature once again fully funded public schools, and invested significantly in special education, confirming our commitment to our schools and our educators, and Kansas’ efforts to providing a stellar education to each and every student.

Tax Relief

While the legislature did indeed provide tax relief for Kansans, it fell short of what I’d hoped to deliver, and as such I will redouble my efforts in the next session to provide meaningful progress on property tax relief.

SB 35 offers a measure of property tax relief by eliminating the state property tax levies for the Kansas Educational Building Fund and the State Institutions Building Fund. While the savings for individual taxpayers may be modest, this shift in funding to the state general fund marks a meaningful step toward easing the property tax burden and reflects a broader commitment to making taxes more manageable for Kansans.

SB 269 is a smart, responsible step toward long-term tax relief for Kansans. By tying income and corporate tax rate reductions to strong revenue growth and a well-funded budget reserve, this bill ensures tax cuts happen when the state can responsibly afford them. It rewards fiscal responsibility with real savings for families and businesses, while protecting essential services. This approach balances growth and stability, helping Kansas taxpayers keep more of what they earn—without compromising the state’s financial health.

Children & Families

I promised from the outset to put children and families first, and we managed to pass several landmark bills that protect our youth from irreversible decisions, provide support for pregnant mothers, and protect the rights of parents in the adoption process.

SB 63, the Help Not Harm Act, is a vital step toward protecting Kansas children from irreversible medical interventions they may not fully understand. By setting clear boundaries around gender transition procedures for minors, this bill puts the health, safety, and long-term well-being of children first. It recognizes that kids deserve time to grow, develop, and explore who they are without pressure or premature medical decisions. This legislation ensures that families, doctors, and communities prioritize careful, compassionate care—rooted in safeguarding young lives during their most vulnerable years.

HB 2062 is a compassionate, pro-family bill that ensures unborn children and their mothers receive the support they need from the very beginning. By allowing child support to begin at conception and covering pregnancy-related expenses, it recognizes the real costs and responsibilities of bringing a child into the world. This legislation affirms the value of every life—born and unborn. It holds both parents accountable and ensures financial support is available, giving mothers greater stability and peace of mind throughout pregnancy.

HB 2311 stands up for the rights of families, individuals, and organizations to live out their sincerely held religious and moral beliefs without fear of government interference. By ensuring that child placement and custody decisions don’t force people to compromise their convictions on issues like sexual orientation or gender identity, this bill protects freedom of conscience and preserves diversity in our child welfare system. It allows faith-based families and service providers to continue offering loving homes to children in need, while honoring their deeply held values—a win for both religious liberty and the children who benefit from stable, caring environments.

House Bill 2045 is a comprehensive reform aimed at improving the coordination, accessibility, and efficiency of early childhood services in Kansas. It establishes the Office of Early Childhood within the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, consolidating programs from multiple agencies, including child care licensing, subsidy administration, home visitation, and workforce development. The bill introduces technical adjustments to regulations, such as allowing staff to count relevant experience and on-the-job training toward qualifications and permitting more flexible staff-to-child ratios. Importantly, the bill also includes a provision allowing families to opt out of immunization requirements for child care enrollment by submitting a written statement of religious objection. Overall, the legislation aims to reduce barriers for providers, increase access for families, and streamline service delivery across the early childhood system.

Election Security

Trust in the integrity of the election process is at an all-time low, but thankfully, the legislature took steps to tighten election security and restore the public trust in the election process.

SB 4 helps ensure timely and secure elections by requiring all advance voting ballots to be received by Election Day, starting January 1, 2026. This common-sense change promotes trust in the electoral process by setting a clear and consistent deadline for ballots to be counted, reducing confusion and the potential for disputes. It reinforces confidence that every vote is counted fairly and promptly, while helping election officials deliver faster and more accurate results.

SB 5 protects the integrity of Kansas elections by prohibiting the use of federal funds for conducting elections or related activities unless approved by the state legislature. This ensures that Kansans—not outside entities—control how elections are run in their communities. By requiring legislative oversight, the bill enhances transparency, accountability, and the state’s ability to safeguard its own democratic processes.

HB 2106 ensures that constitutional amendments in Kansas are decided solely by Kansans by banning campaign contributions from foreign nationals. This protects the democratic process from outside interference and keeps decisions about Kansas laws in the hands of the people who live here. By closing this loophole, the bill strengthens election security and preserves the integrity of public discourse around constitutional changes.

HCR 5004 proposes a constitutional amendment to affirm that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and residents of their voting area can vote in Kansas elections. This amendment reinforces a fundamental principle of democracy—that voting is a right reserved for citizens. It helps protect the integrity of elections by making clear who is eligible to cast a ballot, strengthening voter confidence across the state. This amendment will appear on the ballot in the general election in November of 2026.

Land Security

The Kansas Legislature stands against the growing threat of China, and the House Substitute for SB 9 is a proactive measure to safeguard Kansas's critical infrastructure and national security. By prohibiting foreign principals from acquiring real estate near military installations, the bill helps prevent potential threats and unauthorized surveillance. It also ensures that state and local governments do not purchase drones or components from foreign adversaries, reducing the risk of data breaches or espionage. Additionally, by excluding foreign principals from receiving benefits through economic development programs, the bill keeps taxpayer-funded incentives focused on strengthening Kansas communities and businesses, not foreign interests.

Water Conservation

Farmers are the backbone of Kansas, driving the state’s economy and providing essential resources that feed the nation and the world. Agriculture relies heavily on water for irrigation, livestock, and crop production, making water management a critical concern. In Kansas, where droughts and unpredictable weather patterns can pose significant challenges, having a reliable water supply is key to sustaining agricultural operations. Effective water management not only supports farmers but ensures the long-term health and prosperity of rural communities and the overall economy of the state.

HB 2172 creates a Water Program Task Force to assess the state’s water resources and funding, a crucial step toward securing Kansas’ water future. This task force will help evaluate the effectiveness of current water management programs and identify areas for improvement. By establishing a water planning workgroup, the bill ensures a comprehensive approach to addressing water scarcity and other challenges that threaten agricultural productivity.

HB 2255 makes key improvements to Kansas' agriculture-related regulations, benefiting both farmers and the environment. By updating definitions related to weights and measures, the bill ensures that service company operators are properly licensed, educated, and regularly inspected, improving the accuracy and reliability of equipment used in agriculture. Additionally, the bill raises the CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) acreage cap to 60,000 acres, encouraging more landowners to participate in conservation efforts. It also introduces flexible eligibility criteria and modifications to reporting requirements, helping farmers conserve water, protect the environment, and enhance their agricultural practices.

Ballot Measures

These amendments represent significant decisions for Kansas voters. Make sure to educate yourself on the issues, understand the potential impacts, and most importantly, vote your conscience when these measures appear on the ballot. Participating in the democratic process is one of the most meaningful ways to shape the future of your state.

SCR 1611 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the way Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected. If approved by voters, it would establish the direct election of justices by the public and eliminate the current Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which is responsible for recommending judicial candidates. This measure will appear on the August 2026 primary election ballot.

HCR 5004 is another proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution. It would specify that only U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old and residents of the area in which they wish to vote are eligible to vote in Kansas elections. This measure is scheduled to appear on the November 2026 general election ballot.

As we reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of this legislative session, it is clear that our work is far from over. While we made significant strides in areas like fiscal responsibility, family protections, election security, and agricultural sustainability, there are still pressing issues that require continued attention and action. I remain committed to working for the values that matter most to our communities—strengthening our economy, supporting our families, and ensuring a brighter future for all Kansans.

As always, your voice is vital in shaping the direction of our state. I encourage you to stay informed, stay engaged, and participate in the upcoming elections, including the primary ballot in 2026. Together, we can continue to make Kansas a place where opportunity, fairness, and respect for each individual thrive.

Thank you for your trust and support. I look forward to the work ahead, and I will continue to fight for the values and policies that make Kansas a great place to live, work, and raise a family.