Joint Legislative Agenda
By aligning our priorities and speaking as once voice, we amplify the impact of our advocacy efforts at the state level and ensure the needs and aspirations of the business community in South Central Kansas are heard loud and clear in Topeka. Each year, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, Greater Wichita Partnership, REAP, and Wichita State University work together on a joint state legislative agenda.
Enactment of items included in the 2026 Joint Legislative Agenda will help to attract and retain jobs, ensure that there is an adequate workforce and help provide a safe and prosperous place to live and work in the South Central Region. Key areas of advocacy include education, childcare, employment, community aid, transportation and economic development.
2026 Joint Legislative Agenda
Economic Development
- Support education, childcare and workforce development policies that spur job creation and talent recruitment and retention in South Central Kansas.
- Support policies that enhance economic expansion to boost the economy, catalyze local and regional economic development and job opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for everyone in South Central Kansas.
- Support policies ensuring Kansas remains competitive with other states in attracting and developing national defense work.
Housing
- Support the adoption of solutions, resources, and policies that recognize homelessness as a growing statewide issue.
- Support policies and tax credit options that encourage the development of housing options for all South Central residents including investment in housing affordability and in urban settings.
Infrastructure
- Support water policies that promote responsible stewardship, conservation, contamination solutions, and an abundant and healthy water supply.
- Support policies that encourage the expansion of commercial air service at Eisenhower National Airport, feasible passenger rail expansion, and proportional IKE Transportation Program funding that benefits the region.
- Support working with Department of War to increase readiness for our strategic defenses through maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
- Support development of plan for Phase II of the Bio Medical Campus that may include a dental school, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and regenerative medicine.
Workforce
- WSU currently has over 12,000 students working with industry earning just under 40 million dollars. Kansas currently has 500,000 residents 25 to 35 years of age that have a high school degree or less. Capturing 2% would add 10,000 residents to the workforce for high demand jobs. A workforce training grant would help reduce cost of attendance for these high demand degrees and certificates
- Support WSU expanding their NCAT campus to increase the number of WSU Tech students that can get future ready jobs and be prepared to continue to build the talent pipeline for the aviation and manufacturing industries of Kansas. WSU Tech is asking for $2,000,000 to help complete this project.
