23 Jan Kansas Chamber Releases 2025 Legislative and Policy Agenda
The Kansas Chamber on Thursday released its 2025 Legislative and Policy Agenda, laying out its priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The comprehensive plan focuses on addressing challenges and opportunities to the Kansas business community, from taxes to workforce.
“Thirty-one states have lowered their income tax rates in the last four years. As other states take action to become more attractive and competitive for investment, Kansas continues to fall behind,” said Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb. “There is plenty of opportunity in front of us to move Kansas into a more competitive position.
Cobb continued, “Because of the work of the Legislature and Governor Kelly’s support last session, Kansas has moved into the top 5 nationally for our Unemployment Insurance tax structure. Our regulatory climate is also in the top five in the nation. Kansas is an affordable and enjoyable place to raise a family but overall has a high tax burden.”
Cobb said the Chamber’s 2025 agenda proposes five priorities that will help the state address the challenges and seize the opportunities before it.
Reduce the Tax Burden:
Reducing personal and corporate income taxes, using successful models from states like West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Adopt Single Factor Apportionment for Corporate Income Taxpayers:
Transitioning Kansas to a single-factor apportionment method for corporate income tax, simplifying the tax structure and potentially making the state more business-friendly.
Adopt Legal Reform:
Improving the state’s legal environment to lower insurance premiums and enhance overall economic competitiveness, reversing a decade-long decline in favorability.
Healthcare Reform:
Advocating for the adoption of health care compacts to streamline licensing reciprocity for healthcare professionals, which would help address workforce shortages and improve access to care.
Improve Energy Costs:
Tackling high electricity rates that disproportionately affect commercial customers, particularly manufacturers, to protect ratepayers and bolster economic growth.
“We must continue to focus on eliminating barriers to access to health care and employment by eliminating unnecessary restrictions on licensure or limiting the scope of practice for health professionals. And we also urge the Legislature to continue taking positive steps to address our above average energy costs which negatively impact businesses and manufacturers in the state,” said Cobb.
Input for the agenda is gathered from the Chamber member task groups and in-person meetings throughout the state as well as from research from its Annual Business Leaders Poll, Kansas Tax Modernization report, and the Kansas Competitiveness Analysis report.
Click here to read more about the Chamber’s 2025 Legislative and Policy Agenda, including the full list of priorities and issue positions.