Laura Kelly’s 2025 agenda: tax, education, cultural battles

Kansas politics in 2025 is shaped by fierce debates over taxes, education and cultural issues. The elimination of the grocery sales tax stands as a major victory for Gov. Laura Kelly, but she faces pressure from Republicans seeking deeper property tax cuts and a constitutional cap on property value increases. Disagreements over property tax relief and budget priorities have stalled progress, leaving Kansans like homeowners in Wyandotte and Johnson counties waiting for answers.

Meanwhile, veto fights over gender-affirming care for trans minors and controversial Chiefs and Royals stadium finance packages highlight deep divides. Kelly’s push for expanded free school meal programs signals her ongoing focus on families, even as legislative gridlock threatens her top agenda items.

NO. 1: WHAT NEW LAWS START IN 2025 IN KANSAS? NO MORE FOOD TAX, LAWMAKER RAISES & MORE

Some of the 111 bills passed by the Kansas Legislature in 2024 will become law on New Year’s Day along with a number of provisions approved in previous years. | Published January 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly holds a small axe on Monday during an event at Dillons in Topeka. Kelly is calling on lawmakers to eliminate the state sales tax on food, among the highest in the nation. By Jonathan Shorman

NO. 2: KANSAS GOV. LAURA KELLY AXED THE TAX ON GROCERIES. WILL SHE GET CREDIT FROM THE GOP? | OPINION

The Democratic governor prioritized ending grocery taxes since her 2018 campaign, achieving it despite Republican opposition. | Opinion | Published January 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joel Mathis

NO. 3: PROPERTY TAX, BUDGET CLASHES LOOM AHEAD OF KANSAS LEGISLATURE’S 2025 SESSION

Emboldened Republicans have vowed to slash property taxes, setting up a clash with Gov. Laura Kelly over whether Kansas can afford another round of cuts. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. By Emily Curiel

NO. 4: KANSAS GOV. KELLY OPENS DOOR TO PROPERTY TAX CUTS AMID GOP PRESSURE. BUT SHE’S RELUCTANT

The Democratic governor made clear she would prefer discussions about tax cuts to take place next year. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly Jonathan Shorman

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is proposing to eliminate co-pays for reduced-price school lunches, which could affect about 36,000 students statewide. By Beth Lipoff

NO. 5: KANSAS GOVERNOR WANTS FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR 36K KIDS. COULD IT MAKE A ‘HUGE DIFFERENCE’?

“By eliminating this burden, we can reduce childhood hunger, we can reduce the stigma our low-income students face in our school cafeterias, and we can increase academic success,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. | Published January 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman Matthew Kelly

Kansas lawmakers are weighing changes to property taxes, including a constitutional amendment that would limit annual valuation increases. By Jaime Green

NO. 6: STRUGGLING JOCO, WYCO HOMEOWNERS AWAIT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS KS REPUBLICANS REMAIN DIVIDED

House and Senate Republicans who vowed to deliver property tax relief have yet to agree on a tax reform proposal to bring to the voters. | Published February 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Protesters demonstrate outside the Kansas Capitol on Feb. 5. Numerous protesters voiced objections to the Kansas Legislature’s efforts to enact a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. That bill will now become law after lawmakers successfully voted to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. By Matthew Kelly

NO. 7: TRANS MINORS IN KANSAS WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AFTER LEGISLATURE OVERRIDES VETO

Physicians currently administering gender-affirming care to minors will have until Dec. 31 to cease treatment or risk losing their medical licenses. | Published February 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly shakes hands with KU athletic director Travis Goff and chancellor Douglas Girod, right, after Kelly addressed the crowd regarding plans for renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and a campus Gateway Project in Lawrence on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2023. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 8: THESE ARE THE HIGHEST PAID KANSAS STATE EMPLOYEES. ONE MADE OVER $1.2 MILLION IN 2024

Find out where your tax dollars went. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 9: WE SATANISTS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO USE THE KANSAS CAPITOL, JUST LIKE CATHOLIC PROTESTERS | OPINION

Gov. Laura Kelly’s office denied the Satanic Grotto its legal permit to use the rotunda for a Black Mass. The church intends to do it anyway. | Opinion | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Stewart

A general aerial view of Kauffman Stadium (front) and Arrowhead Stadium (back) before a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots on Sept. 29, 2014. By Denny Medley

NO. 10: KANSAS’ OFFER TO POACH CHIEFS & ROYALS STADIUMS IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. WHAT’S NEXT?

Kansas has offered to issue billions in bonds to finance new stadiums for the teams if they’re willing to relocate. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Kelly

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.