Advocacy in Action (April 2025): Legislative Recap

April 2, 2025
As we move further into 2025, we want to share an update on our legislative advocacy efforts this session. KABC remains committed to championing policies that protect and support older adults and individuals in long-term care. Here’s a look at key legislative developments and where things stand:

Success for SB 88: Improved Ombudsman Training in Memory Care

KABC proudly provided testimony in favor of SB 88, a bill requiring the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and regional ombudsmen to receive training in memory care. Led by the Alzheimer’s Association, this bill ensures that those advocating for residents in long-term care facilities have the specialized knowledge necessary to support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.


We are pleased to report that SB 88 successfully passed both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Kelly in late March. This is a significant step forward in improving the quality of advocacy and care for Kansans affected by memory-related conditions.


Fighting Against Dangerous Fire Safety Rollbacks in SB 276

KABC prepared testimony in opposition to SB 276, a bill that proposed removing the State Fire Marshal from the Adult Care Home Licensure Act and the Providers of Disability Services Act. While we strongly support enhanced training for professionals in person-centered care and dementia response, this bill posed a serious threat to fire safety standards in long-term care facilities.


If passed, SB 276 would have eliminated minimum fire safety standards for 720 adult care homes and provider locations across Kansas—leaving 95% of the state unprotected. Additionally, it would have stripped the State Fire Marshal’s authority to inspect these facilities, recommend corrective actions, or levy fines for noncompliance. Such deregulation would put thousands of vulnerable residents at risk.


The hearing for SB 276 was ultimately canceled, a decision that reinforces the importance of maintaining essential safety protections for long-term care residents. We remain vigilant in opposing any future efforts to weaken these safeguards.


Advocating for a Statewide Senior Resource Directory

One of our key advocacy priorities this session has been securing funding for a statewide senior resource directory—a vital tool to connect older Kansans with essential services and support. We advocated that $190,000 be added to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) budget for the resource guide. This funding was a recommendation from the Senior Care Legislative Task Force.


With strong support from Senator Kloos, the Senate included the funding recommendation in the budget, and it successfully advanced to the budget conference committee. Both the House and Senate have now included the funding in the final budget bill, which is currently awaiting review from Governor Kelly.


We will provide updates as soon as the budget is finalized.


Looking Ahead

KABC will continue monitoring legislative developments and advocating for policies that prioritize safety, care, and quality of life for older Kansans. Your support makes these advocacy efforts possible, and we encourage you to stay engaged.

Thank you for standing with us in the fight for better care. Stay tuned for more updates!

Trivia Night Recap

By Libby Hastings • October 28, 2026
Thank You for Making Our First-Ever Trivia Night a Success! 

KABC Testifies before the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature

By Libby Hastings • October 19, 2026
KABC Testifies before the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC) is urging state leaders to provide additional funding to eliminate the waitlist for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Frail Elderly (FE) Waiver, which helps older Kansans access the services they need to remain in their homes and communities. In testimony submitted to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature (KSHL) on October 6 th in Topeka, KABC Executive Director Dan Goodman emphasized the importance of preserving access to in-home care and preventing older adults from entering nursing facilities before they need that level of care. The FE waiver waitlist, implemented July 6, 2026, has already affected hundreds of older Kansans. Without additional funding, more people could face delays in receiving essential services, potentially accelerating health declines and increasing the likelihood of premature nursing home placement. KABC is recommending $31 million in additional funding for the FE waiver in fiscal year 2027 to address projected funding shortfalls and help eliminate the waitlist. Kansas Silver Haired Legislature Sets 2027 Priorities On October 7 and 8, 65 delegates representing regions across Kansas gathered on the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka for the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature's annual session. During the session, delegates approved five resolutions outlining their legislative priorities for 2027. The resolutions focus on supporting older Kansans' independence, financial security, access to care and participation in civic life. The five priorities are: Fund senior transportation Protect in-home care Increase funding for the FE waiver to help older Kansans receive care in their homes and communities. KABC supports this priority and is urging the state to add $31 million in funding for fiscal year 2027 to eliminate the FE waiver waitlist. Strengthen Medicaid Raise the Personal Needs Allowance Increase the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents who receive Medicaid Protect senior voting rights These priorities address interconnected challenges facing older Kansans, from accessing transportation and affordable care to maintaining independence and financial security. The Importance of Care at Home The FE waiver was established to help older Kansans access community-based services that allow them to remain in their homes for as long as possible, delaying or avoiding the need for more costly institutional care. These services can make a significant difference in an older adult's ability to maintain independence, health and quality of life. When needed support is unavailable, however, individuals and families may have fewer options for managing care at home. Kansas already faces challenges in this area. According to the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings, Kansas ranks 47th in the nation for placing low-care residents in nursing facilities. KABC is concerned that limiting access to home- and community-based services could contribute to further premature institutionalization. The Cost of Delayed Access The potential impact of the waitlist is significant. According to KABC's testimony, the state faces a projected $31 million shortfall for the FE waiver in fiscal year 2027, putting access to critical in-home services at risk. Historical data also illustrate the potential scope of the problem. In 2003, a similar FE waiver waitlist affected approximately 20% of eligible participants. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) reports that 9,306 Kansans are currently eligible for the waiver. Applying that historical 20% figure to today's eligible population suggests that approximately 1,861 older Kansans could be affected in fiscal year 2027. While this estimate is based on a historical comparison, it underscores the potential consequences of insufficient funding. Investing in Older Kansans  The goal is to help older Kansans receive the services they need when they need them, rather than risk declining health or entering institutional care because community-based options are unavailable. As Dan Goodman emphasized in his testimony, investing in home- and community-based services offers an opportunity to support older adults' independence while potentially avoiding the greater costs associated with premature institutionalization. The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature's 2027 priorities provide a framework for addressing the needs of older Kansans across the state. KABC's support for increased FE waiver funding aligns with the Legislature's call to protect in-home care and ensure older adults have meaningful choices about where and how they receive care. KABC will continue advocating for policies and resources that protect older Kansans' access to quality long-term care, wherever they call home.