State of the State: 2025 vs 2026
Governor Laura Kelly -- comparing priorities year over year
From Forward-Looking Policy Blueprint to Legacy and Civility
Governor Kelly's 2025 address was framed as a "quarterly report" for the 21st century, laying out a substantive, policy-heavy agenda centered on early childhood consolidation, public school funding, water infrastructure investment, free school lunches, and Medicaid expansion. The speech was future-oriented, with specific budget proposals and dollar figures — $30 million in additional water funding, free lunches for 35,000 students, and detailed arguments about the $280 million cost of not expanding Medicaid. In contrast, the 2026 address is unmistakably a farewell speech, shifting dramatically toward themes of civility, bipartisanship, and legacy, while offering far fewer new policy specifics.
The most striking new element in 2026 is the Kansas City Chiefs stadium relocation, which dominates the opening of the speech and serves as the governor's signature legacy achievement. Kelly frames it as proof that bipartisan cooperation yields transformational results — "billions in new economic activity" and "thousands of new jobs" — accomplished "without a tax increase on Kansans and without pulling a dollar from other priorities." This single achievement replaces much of the economic development narrative from 2025, where Kelly cited $20 billion in business investment and 70,000 jobs; by 2026 those figures have grown to $30 billion and 80,000 jobs.
Several 2025 priorities are notably absent in 2026. Medicaid expansion, which received an impassioned multi-paragraph argument in 2025 complete with year-by-year cost figures ($68.5M, $71.5M, $61.8M, $78.3M) and the claim of $7.6 billion left on the table, is completely dropped in 2026. The proposed Office of Natural Resources to consolidate 14 water-related agencies is also gone, replaced by support for a legislative Water Task Force. The governor's firm opposition to eliminating corporate income taxes and her stance against any diversion of public funds to private schools — both emphatic in 2025 — go unmentioned.
New priorities in 2026 include a ban on cell phone use during the school day to address children's mental health, a substantial section on mental health infrastructure (the 988 Crisis Hotline, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a new state psychiatric hospital, and the renovated Lansing Correctional Facility therapeutic environment), and extensive recognition of educators and teachers. The 2026 speech also introduces a major thematic emphasis on civility in politics as the governor's parting message, citing 587 bipartisan bills signed into law and framing civility itself as the key ingredient behind every accomplishment. While 2025 mentioned bipartisanship in passing, 2026 elevates it to the speech's central thesis.
New Priorities in 2026
- +The Kansas City Chiefs stadium relocation is the centerpiece of the 2026 address, celebrated as a transformational economic development achievement accomplished without tax increases or budget trade-offs.
- +A bipartisan proposal to ban cell phone use during the school day, championed by Majority Leader Chase Blasi and Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, is introduced as a response to rising anxiety, depression, and suicide among children.
- +A comprehensive mental health infrastructure agenda is detailed, including the 988 Crisis Hotline, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a new state psychiatric hospital in South Central Kansas, and a therapeutic addiction treatment facility at Lansing Correctional Facility's East Campus.
- +Civility in politics is elevated from a passing theme to the central message of the entire speech, with Kelly citing 587 bipartisan bills as evidence and framing civility as the essential ingredient for governance.
- +Explicit recognition of educators as heroes, with Kelly personally introducing five of her daughters' former teachers by name and calling for greater support and gratitude for teachers statewide.
Dropped from 2025
- −Medicaid expansion, which received an extensive multi-paragraph argument in 2025 with specific annual cost figures totaling $280 million and $7.6 billion in foregone federal funds, is completely absent from the 2026 address.
- −The proposed Office of Natural Resources to consolidate water management across 14 state agencies is not mentioned in 2026, replaced by support for the legislative Water Task Force.
- −The firm stance against eliminating the corporate income tax — called a 'non-starter' in 2025 — is not revisited in 2026.
- −The explicit pledge to reject any attempt to divert public taxpayer dollars to private schools, a major emphasis in 2025, goes unmentioned in 2026.
- −The proposal for $30 million in additional annual water funding (bringing the total to $90 million per year) and the 'multigenerational promise' framework are not repeated in 2026.
- −The detailed cautionary framing around future tax policy — including the preference to postpone tax discussions until the impact of prior cuts could be assessed — is absent in 2026.
Shifted Emphasis
- ↔Water policy shifts from a specific budget proposal ($30 million additional, $90 million total annually) with a proposed new Office of Natural Resources in 2025 to a more general call in 2026 to support the legislative Water Task Force led by Representative Minnix and Senator Titus in developing a long-term strategy with dedicated funding.
- ↔Early childhood policy shifts from a detailed 2025 proposal to create a consolidated Office of Early Childhood (citing four siloed agencies and 700+ supporters) to a 2026 celebration of that office's successful creation, including a new 160-slot child care facility partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- ↔Public school funding moves from a forward-looking seventh-year commitment in 2025 to a retrospective celebration of seven consecutive years of full funding in 2026, with added emphasis on the comeback from four-day school weeks and Covid disruptions.
- ↔Free school lunches for low-income students is proposed in both years, but in 2025 Kelly cites a specific figure of 35,000 students and highlights USD 480 in Liberal (87% qualifying), while in 2026 the proposal is described more generally as moving reduced-price meal students to fully free meals.
- ↔Special education funding shifts from the 2025 highlight of a $75 million single-year investment with a goal of full funding by 2028-29 to a 2026 figure of over $120 million in total added state funding, now framed partly as compensating for federal shortfalls.
- ↔Economic development narrative grows from $20 billion in business investment and 70,000 jobs in 2025 to $30 billion and 80,000 jobs in 2026, with the Chiefs stadium deal now serving as the crown jewel alongside specific companies like Urban Outfitters, Hilmar Cheese, and Boeing.
- ↔The Blueprint for Literacy is introduced in 2025 with a specific goal of 90% reading proficiency by 2033 and recognition of its champions, while in 2026 it is mentioned only briefly as an established achievement.
- ↔Tax policy shifts from a defensive posture in 2025 (warning against reckless cuts, citing $2 billion in signed cuts) to a celebratory tone in 2026 (emphasizing over $1 billion per year in cuts, CNBC's second-place cost-of-living ranking, and the elimination of grocery sales tax saving families $500 annually).
Policy Topics Addressed
Affordability
Governor Kelly highlighted over $1 billion per year in tax cuts including eliminating the sales tax on food (saving $500/year per family), eliminating state income tax on Social Security, and cutting taxes for parents and farmers. She noted CNBC named Kansas second in the country for cost of living. She emphasized these cuts were possible through responsible budgeting and economic growth generating over $30 billion in new business investment.
Agriculture
Governor Kelly identified the water crisis as a top legislative priority requiring dedicated long-term funding similar to the highway system. She highlighted economic wins in agricultural communities, including the Hilmar Cheese facility in Ford County, and noted that the state's Office of Rural Prosperity and broadband investments support agricultural communities.
Economy & Jobs
Governor Kelly highlighted landing the Kansas City Chiefs stadium and $30 billion in new business investment creating over 80,000 jobs. She noted CNBC named Kansas second in the country for cost of living and emphasized cutting over $1 billion per year in taxes including eliminating the sales tax on food. She credited bipartisan cooperation for economic success and highlighted companies like Urban Outfitters, Panasonic, and Boeing investing in the state.
Education
Governor Kelly celebrated seven straight years of fully funded schools, resulting in the highest graduation rates ever and strong Blueprint for Literacy results. She proposed funding to move students on reduced-price meals to entirely free meals, called for a bipartisan cell phone ban during the school day (thanking Majority Leader Blasi and Minority Leader Sykes), and recognized specific educators who shaped her daughters' lives to underscore the value of teachers.
Environment & Energy
Governor Kelly identified the water crisis as a critical priority, calling on the legislature to support the Water Task Force in developing a comprehensive long-term strategy with a dedicated funding source. She emphasized it as "not a partisan issue" and time-sensitive, urging leaders to look beyond the next election to the next generation.
Government Reform
Governor Kelly highlighted passing 587 bipartisan bills during her administration and emphasized fiscal management that turned inherited deficits into surpluses with a $2 billion rainy day fund. She created the Office of Early Childhood by blending 20 programs into one, and closed the 'Bank of KDOT' to restore proper infrastructure investment.
Healthcare
Governor Kelly highlighted significant progress in mental health services, including implementing the 988 Crisis Hotline, expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, increasing school-based mental health services, and a new state psychiatric hospital in South Central Kansas. She also noted a renovated facility at Lansing Correctional for substance abuse treatment.
Housing
Governor Kelly did not make housing a central theme but mentioned it in the context of workforce challenges, noting that every business considering moving to Kansas asks about workforce housing.
Infrastructure
Governor Kelly celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs stadium deal as transformative infrastructure, the closing of the 'Bank of KDOT' to properly invest in highways, and connecting over 117,000 homes and businesses to high-speed internet. She called addressing the state's water crisis a top priority, urging the legislature to identify a dedicated funding source similar to what has been done for highways.
Public Safety
Governor Kelly reported crime in Kansas is at a 20-year low, attributing it to record funding for law enforcement. She emphasized bipartisan accomplishments in public safety without detailing specific initiatives, noting that the record-low crime rates speak to the collaborative approach taken.
Social Services
Governor Kelly highlighted creating the Office of Early Childhood, blending 20 programs into one single point of contact. She noted a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield for a 160-slot child care facility near the Capitol. She proposed funding to allow students on reduced-price meals to move to free meals and included budget funding to increase mental health services, including a new state psychiatric hospital and renovated facilities for substance abuse treatment.
Tax & Budget
Governor Kelly highlighted responsible budget management that turned inherited deficits into surpluses, with a $2 billion rainy day fund and strong credit rating. She noted over $1 billion per year in tax cuts including eliminating the food sales tax (saving families $500/year), eliminating income tax on Social Security, and cutting taxes for seniors, parents, and farmers. She credited CNBC naming Kansas second in the country for cost of living.
Technology
Governor Kelly discussed the transformative impact of technology on daily life over the past decade, including remote work and AI. She called for a bipartisan cell phone ban during the school day, thanking legislative leaders for their work on the issue. She also noted investments in high-speed internet connecting over 117,000 homes and businesses.
Veterans & Military
Governor Kelly noted that Kansas completely eliminated the state income tax on Social Security, benefiting military retirees, and cut taxes for seniors on fixed incomes. She also highlighted record funding for law enforcement and noted that crime is at a 20-year low.