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Category Archives: Kansas
Kansas Labor Statistics Are Delayed
Bureau of Labor Statistics Operations Have Resumed, October Labor Report Delayed
TOPEKA – Due to the lapse in federal funding, all Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) operations were suspended from October 1, 2025, through November 12, 2025. As a result, the release of the October 2025 Kansas Labor Report, including jobs numbers and unemployment data, which was originally scheduled for November 21, was postponed until further notice.
With the conclusion of the federal government shutdown on November 12, 2025, BLS operations have resumed. While work is underway, updated release dates for the delayed Kansas Labor Market reports for September and October are not yet available. The Kansas Department of Labor will share the new release dates as soon as they are confirmed.
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Bronson Receives $199K Grant for Sidewalks And Playground Equipment
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KS Health/Environment Launches New Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard
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Kansas Campsite Reservations For 2026 Available December 1
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Input Sought On Public Lands Trail Cameras
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Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Rural Health Transformation Plan Priorities
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced priorities for the Kansas Rural Health Transformation Plan, which has been submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the state’s application for the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Through this program, Kansas could receive significant federal funding to improve the health and sustainability of rural communities statewide.
“Our Kansas Rural Health Transformation Plan will fundamentally change the delivery of health care in rural communities across the state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m confident that Kansas’ plan, crafted by leading experts, will lay the groundwork to build a more collaborative, more efficient health care system that provides the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
The plan’s goals are to:
- Improve rural Kansans’ health outcomes and transform the delivery system by implementing and sustaining initiatives that promote preventive health care and address root causes of diseases,
- Enhance rural health care providers’ efficiency and sustainability,
- Attract and retain a high-skilled health care workforce,
- Spark growth of innovative care models in rural communities that improve quality of care while reducing costs, and,
- Foster the use of innovative technologies to increase access to care for rural Kansans.
The plan development was led by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), in partnership with the Kansas Rural Health Innovation Alliance (KRHIA) and the University of Kansas Care Collaborative. Public KRHIA meetings were held to discuss and refine the initiatives to be included in the plan.
If awarded, KDHE will serve as the lead agency implementing Kansas’ Rural Health Transformation Plan. The KRHIA will continue to serve as the primary vehicle for stakeholder engagement throughout the implementation of these initiatives.
The KRHIA worked with the state application team to identify key initiatives to achieve the plan’s goals. The following initiatives are included in Kansas’ application:
- Expand Primary and Secondary Prevention Programs to reduce chronic disease rates by increasing access to preventive screenings, behavioral health services, and nutrition counseling.
- Secure Local Access to Primary Care for rural Kansans to receive care earlier on in the appropriate setting and within their communities – thereby strengthening the fiscal sustainability for rural Kansas hospitals.
- Build a Sustainable Rural Health Workforce to ensure more rural Kansans have access to primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers and ease nursing and allied health shortages in rural Kansas.
- Enable Value-Based Care to have 100% of rural Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in accountable care relationships by 2031 that focus on improving patient health outcomes while lowering the total cost of care.
- Harness Data and Technology to enable rural Kansas providers to expand the use of telehealth and remote monitoring, utilization of consumer-facing technologies, and meaningfully engage in data sharing and analysis of aggregated patient and outcome data.
CMS is expected to announce funding awards by Dec. 31, 2025. The project narrative, which contains additional details about the contents of Kansas’ application, can be found here.
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KS Tax Collections Up 7.5% Above Estimate
October Total Tax Collections at $695.6 Million; 7.2% Above Estimate
TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends October 2025 with total tax collections at $695.6 million. That is $47.0 million, or 7.2%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were up 4.1% from October 2024.
“While this month’s tax collections indicate some good news, corporate income tax collections have significantly missed the mark, which is concerning,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration will continue to monitor revenues and prioritize fiscal responsibility as I craft my Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal.”
Individual income tax collections were $367.4 million. That is $67.4 million, or 22.5% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 17.9% from October 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $15.9 million. That is $24.1 million, or 60.2% below the estimate, and down 58.2% from October 2024.
Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $289.5 million, which is $3.5 million, or 1.2% above the estimate, and down 1.7% from October 2024.
Click here to view the October 2025 revenue numbers.
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Ks Governor Sues Attorney General
Governor Kelly Sues Attorney General Kobach in Kansas Supreme Court to Protect
Governor’s Constitutional Authority
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Kris Kobach in the Kansas Supreme Court to protect the State of Kansas and the constitutional powers of the Office of the Governor. The lawsuit is necessary due to Attorney General Kobach’s failure to defend Kansans against the Trump Administration’s unlawful federal overreach, despite repeated requests from Governor Kelly to do so.
“Time and again, Attorney General Kobach’s blatant partisanship is on display, harming and embarrassing Kansas,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “While he was quick to sue the previous presidential administration, alleging he would protect Kansans from federal overreach, he has not once followed through on that claim now that the Trump Administration has repeatedly done just that. Not only has the Attorney General’s willful ignorance undermined my administration’s efforts to protect Kansans, but it has also cost our state millions of dollars for essential programs and services. If the Attorney General refuses to stand up for Kansas, at least Kansans can rest assured knowing that I will.”
The Attorney General’s refusal to stand up for the State of Kansas has prompted Governor Kelly to join two recent federal lawsuits. The most recent being the lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeking release of congressionally approved emergency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food assistance to nearly 188,000 Kansans. November benefits for this program are not expected to be available due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This unprecedented choice made by the Trump Administration and Congress will have dire consequences for the health and well-being of millions across the country, who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families. More information about this lawsuit can be found here.
In August, Governor Kelly also joined a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Trump Administration from unlawfully terminating congressionally approved funds for several public health and safety programs including testing for lead in schools and child care facilities, environmental cleanup, ensuring the safety of dams, and financing to improve drinking water safety. More information about this lawsuit can be found here.
In September, Attorney General Kobach filed suit against Governor Kelly and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) asking the court to force the Governor and DCF to turn over the personal information of thousands of Kansans in response to an unlawful federal request. Governor Kelly and DCF successfully dismissed Attorney General Kobach’s egregious attempt to compromise the privacy of thousands of Kansans.
Attorney General Kobach has previously incorrectly asserted that he alone controls litigation on behalf of the State of Kansas. The Kansas Constitution makes clear that the governor is the ‘supreme executive’ of the state, meaning that Governor Kelly has the constitutional authority to control the decisions of the executive branch.
The lawsuit Governor Kelly filed today asks the Kansas Supreme Court for an order in quo warranto against the Attorney General to prevent him from intruding on the Governor’s ‘supreme executive’ power as the head of the executive branch so she can continue to defend Kansans without interference from Attorney General Kobach.
A copy of the lawsuit’s petition can be found here and a copy of the memorandum in support can be found here.
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Governor Kelly Issues Statement on Order in SNAP Benefits Case
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KS Commerce Launches New Program to Power Research, Innovation
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced the launch of ACCEL-KS – Kansas SBIR/STTR Matching Program (Phases 0 and 1), a new initiative to help Kansas innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers compete and win in the national innovation arena. The program will enable Kansas to leverage federal funding and research and development opportunities more effectively through strategic partnerships that help companies enhance their global competitiveness while strengthening the state’s role in advancing national security.
“As called for in the Kansas Framework for Growth, this program will allow strategic investments in our state’s innovation economy and our talented innovators,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By supporting high-quality proposals and helping Kansas companies commercialize their technologies, we are strengthening our state’s competitive edge and attracting impactful federal funding to support innovation, research and technology development.”
The program brings together a consortium of support partners – Kansas Office of Innovation, Kansas FAST Program, Kansas Small Business Administration, Kansas Small Business Development Center, Kansas EPSCOR, Network Kansas, KU Innovation Park, Kansas State University, and others – to provide early-stage funding, wrap-around technical assistance, and commercialization support as Kansas-based applicants pursue federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards. Through the proposal development assistance (Phase 0) and state matching funds for awarded projects (Phase 1), the ACCEL-KS – Kansas SBIR/STTR Matching Program will help deliver Kansas’ fair share of federal research and development funding.
The highlights of the program include:
- Funding Available: $250,000
- Award Amounts for Phase 0: Up to $3,000 per award with a required 50% match
- Award Amounts for Phase 1: Up to $25,000 (must include proof of federal award)
- Eligible Applicants: Kansas-based for-profit small businesses that meet all federal SBIR/STTR requirements and conduct at least 51% of Phase 1 research in Kansas
By supporting both early-stage proposal development and successful awardees, the program aims to increase the number, quality and success rate of SBIR and STTR proposals from Kansas and fuel economic growth statewide.
“This program is the direct result of the hard work and advocacy of our growing innovation ecosystem,” Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman said. “Through the ACCEL-KS – Kansas SBIR/STTR Matching Program, the Office of Innovation is doubling down on its commitment to support Kansas innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers – helping them accelerate the journey from idea to commercialization and bring groundbreaking solutions born right here in Kansas to market.”
Applications opened today, October 31, and will close Friday, November 28.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to join any or all of the information sessions to learn more about the application process and the network of support available to them. Information sessions will take place:
- Virtual, 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, register here
- In-person, 11:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, Groover Labs, 334 N. Saint Francis Ave., Wichita
- In-person, 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, Innovate 24, 1880 Kimball Ave., Ste 120, Manhattan
- In-person, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, KU Innovation Park, 2029 Becker Dr., Lawrence
- Virtual, 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, register here
For more details, application information or questions about the program, visit the website here or contact Brandon Hutton here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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KS Governor Sues Trump Administration
Governor Kelly Sues Trump Administration
for Illegally Suspending SNAP Benefits
~~Coalition Urges Court to Immediately Restore SNAP Funding
Relied Upon by 42 Million Americans~~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two governors in filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins for unlawfully suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“States cannot, and should not, take on the federal government’s responsibility to fund SNAP,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Cutting off SNAP payments is an unprecedented choice made by the Trump Administration and Congress that will harm millions of families across the country. I joined this lawsuit to protect Kansans, because the federal government has a legal and moral responsibility to fund this program, not to take food out of the mouths of Kansas children.”
On October 1, 2025, the new federal fiscal year began without an appropriation by Congress to fund the federal government, creating a government shutdown. On October 10, the USDA sent a letter to state SNAP agencies saying that if the shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for the approximately 42 million Americans that rely on them.
Despite USDA’s claim of insufficient funds, the agency has access to billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for this purpose. Furthermore, USDA has funded other programs with emergency funds during this shutdown, but has refused to fund SNAP, leaving millions of Americans without the assistance they need to buy food. It is clear the federal government is making a deliberate, illegal, and inhumane choice not to fund the crucial SNAP program.
The lapse in benefits will have dire consequences for the health and well-being of millions across the country, who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families. This lapse will also put unnecessary strain on state and local governments and community organizations, as families increasingly rely on emergency services and local food pantries that are already struggling to fill a growing nutrition gap. It will affect school systems, including college and university communities, where food insecurity will stand in the way of educating students. Suspending SNAP benefits will also harm the hundreds of thousands of grocers and merchants that accept SNAP payment for food purchases across the country. The USDA has estimated that in a slowing economy, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity.
In Kansas, nearly 188,000 children, families, and seniors rely on SNAP each month to meet their needs. Ordinarily, more than 93,000 Kansas households would receive a total distribution of more than $34.4 million in SNAP benefits. The Kansas Department for Children and Families, which administers the SNAP program, will continue to closely monitor the situation and its impacts on services the agency provides.
While the federal government funds and sets the monthly amount of SNAP benefits, states are responsible for administering programs in their state. Suspending SNAP benefits in this manner is both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. Where Congress has clearly spoken, providing that SNAP benefits should continue even during a government shutdown, USDA does not have the authority to say otherwise. The coalition will also be filing a temporary restraining order later today asking the court to immediately turn benefits back on.
Joining Governor Kelly in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania have also joined.
Information about federal shutdown impacts on DCF programs and services is available at dcf.ks.gov.
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