Wichita Chamber Reveals State Legislative Priorities Ahead of 2024 Session

Each year, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce develops a state legislative agenda of initiatives important to the business community in South Central Kansas.

This agenda is developed by the Chamber’s Government Relations Committee with input from Chamber membership. It is then approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

“The Chamber aggressively pursues legislative priorities that benefit our members and the business community as a whole. Providing a business-friendly environment so your company is positioned to thrive is critical during the legislative session,” said John Rolfe, President and CEO of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Every business owner needs to be proactive and tell elected officials what is important to their business. The Chamber provides numerous opportunities for business owners and leaders to make those connections.”

Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce 2024 State Legislative Agenda

Workforce Development, Talent and Education

• Support innovative approaches to addressing critical workforce shortages through tax incentives, tuition forgiveness, and other creative means.
• Support expanded funding for workforce development programs, including the Excel in CTE initiative, the Level Up Kansas initiative, the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act, the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), and apprenticeships.
• Advocate for criminal justice reform and enhanced re-entry programs that encourage ex-offenders to re-enter the workforce and support programs that encourage work and help recipients of government assistance with obtaining employment.
• Promote systems of diverse and inclusive educational options that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students, like the student-focused Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship, and a greater emphasis on certifications and college credit during high school.
• Support growing the Kansas and local economy through applied research and private-public partnerships, like the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), university/business innovation programs (WSU's Innovation Campus), and career pathways for high school students.
• Support an increased focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning initiatives, including support for computer science classes in schools.
• Support funding for the Wichita Biomedical Campus.
• Support need-based aid for post-secondary credentials, that includes accountability measures.
• Support policies that expand access to affordable childcare options.
• Support expanded reciprocity for professional licensing, allowing licensed professionals, including teachers, from other states to obtain licensure more quickly/easily in Kansas.
• Support policies that would waive licensure/licensure reciprocity fees for spouses of active-duty military personnel stationed in Kansas.

Taxation and Budget

• Oppose increases in business taxes and fees that would negatively impact Kansas’ competitive environment.
• Support a reduction and simplification of the income tax code.
• Encourage government to reduce spending and pursue efficiencies through consolidation, privatization, and innovation.

Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology

• Promote and expand critical tax/economic development incentive programs that result in more jobs and investment.
• Support enhancements and increased focus on entrepreneurship and the technology sector as contributors to economic growth.
• Support the extension of the APEX program.

Healthcare

• Support expansion of Medicaid (KanCare) that is revenue neutral and encourages personal responsibility.
• Support long-term funding for the completion and operation of the state mental health hospital in south-central Kansas.
• Support the identification and implementation of innovative and effective strategies to reduce and treat substance abuse.
• Oppose mandates and excessive regulations that increase the cost of providing affordable healthcare coverage to employees.

Transportation

• Ensure dedicated transportation funding streams are only used for the transportation program.
• Support the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE) and encourage equitable taxing and distribution of funding to address critical needs in South Central Kansas, including the regionally significant projects identified by the South Central Kansas Transportation Coalition.
• Encourage policies that would draw Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) federal transportation dollars to the South Central Kansas region.
• Support policies that expand air service at Eisenhower Airport.

Energy, Environment and Regulation

• Support policies and incentives that will improve the competitiveness of Kansas utility rates.
• Prohibit state and federal agencies from misusing rule and regulation authority in lieu of policy decisions made by the Legislature.
• Protect and strengthen workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reforms.
• Support legislation to allow businesses to levy a surcharge to customers who choose to pay with a credit or debit card.
• Reform regulations to ensure Kansas is competitive with other states related to childcare regulations.
• Support policies that preempt local units of government from banning single use consumer products
• Support policies that preempt local units of government from banning products and services that are not prohibited by the state.
• Support legislation to address the municipal water supply and regulatory uncertainty for the region.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• Support policies that strengthen access and opportunity for diverse populations and promote racial justice.
• Advocate for reforms that address racial disparities in the criminal justice system and support appropriate training and adequate funding for law enforcement.