Advocacy in Action (January 2025): A Preview Into the Legislative Session
January 8, 2025
If predictions are correct, the upcoming Kansas Legislature can likely be summed up by one word: “change.” Leadership changes, a large freshman class of legislators, new committee chairs and a compressed calendar all combine to make 2025 a year full of changes. Added to the mix is a stronger Republican supermajority with an additional 2 seats in the Senate and 3 in the House of Representatives.
A quick breakdown by the numbers:
The 2025 Senate is comprised of 31 Republicans and 9 Democrats. There are 14 new senators; 13 of whom are Republicans. Almost half of the new senators, 6, previously served in the House. Of the 40 Senators, 27 are men (a gain of 4) and 13 are women.
Of the 125 members of the House, 88 Republicans make up the majority with 37 Democrats in the minority caucus. Of the 25 House freshman, 21 are Republicans and 4 are Democrats. Women will make up almost a third of the House, 41, with a gain of 6 House seats in the last election. There are 84 men in the House. One new House member previously served in the Senate.
The legislature lost decades of institutional knowledge with the retirement of 19 House members and 14 senators. Many of the retiring legislators were experienced lawmakers who served in leadership positions and committee chairs.
Significant procedural changes will impact legislative dynamics. Legislative leaders have adopted a compressed timeline for the 2025 session with plans to adjourn sine die no later than April 12 (the 90th day of the legislative session).
Traditionally, the 90th day occurs at the end of April/early May with the ceremonial sine die held in late May. You can view the session calendar here.
A new process will change the way the State budget is developed. Instead of using the governor’s budget as the base to begin negotiations, a special legislative budget committee will introduce what is being termed the “legislature’s budget” on Jan. 13, the first day of the session. The special committee met five days during November and December to craft a budget based on the 2024 approved budget, with very few enhancements requested by State agencies. How the budget process and tight time schedule proceeds is still largely to be determined.
There are major changes in legislative leadership with the Senate electing Sen. Tim Shallenberger, (R-Baxter Springs) as its new vice president and Sen. Chase Blasi (R-Wichita) as majority leader. Sen. Ty Master (R-Andover) remains Senate president Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa) will continue as Senate minority leader.
In the House, Rep. Brandon Woodard (D-Wichita), takes the reigns as the new minority leader.
Committees, too, will look different led by mostly new chairs and/or vice chairs along with new members. In the Senate, a new Committee on Government Efficiency, modeled off the proposed federal Department of Government Efficiency, will explore ways to restructure and reform state government to reduce spending and increase efficiency.
All of these changes and multiple moving parts, including the goal to keep a tight rein on the budget, add up to uncertainty related to health and social services issues, including those impacting older adults. With all these variables, this will, in sports terms, be a “building year.”
KABC will use this opportunity to build relationships with new and returning policy makers to explore legislation that supports person-centered policies and programs while protecting the rights of aging persons and those with disabilities. We will keep you regularly updated during the 2025 session and opportunities for advocacy but we encourage you to get acquainted with your elected officials. They want and need to hear from you, their constituents. Your experiences and observations about long term care in Kansas helps build their knowledge around these issues with first-hand information about the needs of the people they serve.
Kansas has announced that it is exiting the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, citing a drastic reduction in and possible elimination of federal funding. According to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), the state had planned to reinstate the program on July 1 after several years of inactivity. Instead, Kansas is now withdrawing from the program altogether. For many Kansans, this decision represents a significant missed opportunity. The MFP program was created to help states rebalance their long-term services and supports systems by making it easier for people to move from institutional settings, such as nursing facilities, back into homes and communities. The program provided funding for critical transition expenses, including home modifications, furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, and other necessities that help make community living possible. At its core, MFP recognized a simple truth: most people want to live in their own homes and communities, not institutions. Research consistently shows that older adults overwhelmingly prefer to age in place. In an AARP survey, 75 percent of older adults reported wanting to remain in their homes as they age. Yet many feel they will eventually have no choice but to move into a facility because the supports needed to remain at home are unavailable or unaffordable. Programs like MFP help bridge that gap. When people remain in nursing facilities despite being able to live safely in the community, there are consequences, not only for the individual, but for the state as a whole. First, individuals lose autonomy and control over their daily lives. Living in the community allows people to decide when they wake up, what they eat, who they spend time with, and how they participate in their neighborhoods. These choices may seem small, but they are fundamental to dignity and quality of life. Second, unnecessary institutionalization can contribute to social isolation. People living in their own homes can remain connected to friends, family, faith communities, volunteer opportunities, and local activities. Community integration promotes both physical and emotional well-being. Third, keeping people in nursing facilities when they could thrive in the community often comes at a higher cost to the Medicaid system. Home and community-based services are frequently less expensive than institutional care while also aligning with what most people prefer. Helping individuals remain in the least restrictive setting can benefit both taxpayers and the people receiving services. Finally, programs like MFP help remove barriers that prevent people from exercising their right to choose where they receive care. Transitioning from a nursing facility to the community is often not as simple as opening the front door and leaving. Many individuals need assistance securing housing, obtaining household items, modifying their homes for accessibility, or coordinating services. Without dedicated funding and support, these barriers can become insurmountable. Kansas has made progress over the years in expanding home and community-based services, but significant challenges remain. Housing shortages, workforce shortages among direct care workers, and waiting lists for services continue to make community living difficult for many people. The loss of Money Follows the Person means one fewer tool available to help Kansans return home.
2026 legislative wrap-up for long-term care advocates in Kansas.