Laura Kelly

KS crime rate at lowest in 20+ years — 23.3/1K (2024). Violent crime fell 6.7%. Murders dropped 25.5% (117 in 2024). Five-year low. Strong positive trend. Kelly did not obstruct law enforcement; crime decline is a positive outcome during her tenure.

KS homicide rate approximately 5.5-6.5/100K — near national average. Kansas City metro elevated but statewide near average after 25.5% decline. No direct gubernatorial action changed this significantly.

KS homicide clearance rate approximately 45-50%. Near national average. No direct Kelly action to change this metric positively or negatively.

KS LE officers rose from 3.44 to 3.69/1K people (2023-2024). Above IACP 2.5/1K guideline. However, corrections staffing in crisis with 22.6% vacancy rate despite Kelly pay raises. Mixed law enforcement staffing picture — field LE adequate but institutional staffing failed.

KS drug overdose death rate approximately 22-26/100K, increasing modestly. Fentanyl penetration growing. Rate increase ~10-15%. Below worst states but worsening. No significant gubernatorial interdiction initiative.

KS KDEM meets most FEMA capability targets. Tornado preparedness strong — Kansas is tornado-prone. 11 counties received FEMA major disaster declaration (May 2025 tornadoes). Standard for high-risk state.

KS experienced severe tornado events. Response generally effective with FEMA declarations secured. May 2025 tornadoes handled adequately. Standard performance for tornado-prone state.

KS roads in moderate condition. Bridges aging but maintained via IKE transportation program. Rural infrastructure adequate for agricultural state. Average infrastructure condition.

KS generally meets EPA SDWA standards. Dam safety adequate. No major drinking water crises. Kelly proposed $30M for Ogallala Aquifer conservation. Minor violations corrected.

KS Medicaid NOT expanded — among last states refusing. Over $7B in federal funding left on table. Uninsured rate approximately 10-12%. Kelly pushed for expansion every year (HAWK Act) but blocked by R legislature. The failure is legislative, not gubernatorial obstruction. Scored -1 for outcome, not intent.

KS maternal mortality rate approximately 25-30/100K. Near national average. Some rural healthcare access challenges. No direct Kelly action to worsen or significantly improve.

KS infant mortality rate approximately 6.0-6.5/1K. Near national average. Standard performance. Inherited law, no significant Kelly action.

KS has Castle Doctrine + Stand Your Ground + no duty to retreat + civil immunity — all enacted BEFORE Kelly took office. Kelly inherited this framework and did not touch it. However, she vetoed HB 2058 (2021) lowering concealed carry age to 18 and vetoed HB 2089 (firearm safety education in K-12), signaling she would restrict gun rights if she could. Scored +1 for inherited law she hasn't altered, discounted from +3 because her vetoes of pro-2A legislation demonstrate she would weaken these rights given the opportunity.

KS has death penalty with mandatory appellate review. Last execution 1965. Comprehensive safeguards. Post-conviction DNA access. Inherited framework, Kelly has not altered it.

KS suicide rate approximately 18-20/100K — above national average. Rural areas particularly elevated. Funded plan but rate above average and not declining. No significant Kelly initiative to address.

KS EMS adequate in urban areas. Rural response times often extended. NFPA compliance approximately 65-75%. Volunteer department challenges in rural KS. Inherited infrastructure.

KS has some opioid response programs. Fentanyl growing problem. Treatment access limited in rural areas. Outcomes flat. No major Kelly-led interdiction initiative.

KS has KCVA veteran services. State supplements federal VA. Fort Riley and McConnell AFB create significant veteran population. Kelly supported military installations throughout tenure. Average to adequate services.

KS food safety inspection adequate. Agricultural state with strong inspection culture. Conformance above 80%. Inherited infrastructure maintained.

KS workplace fatality rate approximately 5.5-6.5/100K FTE. Agriculture, oil/gas, and construction create elevated risk. Above adequate threshold.

KS has DV programs. Rate near national average. Shelter capacity moderate. Standard for Midwest state.

KS corrections system in crisis: population exceeded 10,000 inmates (~100 over capacity), uniformed officer vacancy rate 22.6% (2022). Lansing Correctional halted in-person visits (Dec 2021) due to staffing crisis. Extended lockdowns due to staffing. Governing magazine described system as 'an absolute mess.' Kelly secured pay raises but conditions deteriorated on her watch.

KS meets most EPA NAAQS. Rural state with limited industrial pollution. Some agricultural runoff concerns. No major nonattainment areas.

KS traffic fatality rate approximately 1.4-1.7/100M VMT. Above national average. Rural highway fatalities significant. High-speed rural roads.

Kelly is the most prolific vetoing governor in KS history on life issues. DIRECT ACTIONS: (1) Vetoed SB 95 born-alive infant protection bill (April 2025) — overridden. (2) Vetoed fetal child support/personhood bill HB 2062 (2024 and 2025) — overridden 2025. (3) Vetoed abortion reporting requirements. (4) Vetoed abortion coercion criminalization bill. (5) Vetoed 'abortion reversal' information bill HB 2264 (2023) — overridden. (6) Defended KS Supreme Court Hodes v. Schmidt (2019) ruling finding state constitutional right to abortion. (7) Publicly supported 'No' on Value Them Both amendment (Aug 2022). Kelly systematically vetoed every piece of pro-life legislation that reached her desk across 7 years. While voters rejected Value Them Both 59-41%, Kelly went far beyond that mandate by vetoing born-alive protections and fetal personhood measures that enjoy broad public support nationally.

Kansas homelessness rose 6% (2,793 unsheltered) with 18% uptick in Topeka/Shawnee County. Kelly proclaimed Homelessness Awareness Month but no major direct intervention.

Repeatedly pushed Medicaid expansion to save 60 of 104 at-risk rural hospitals; eight rural hospitals closed during tenure but blocked by Republican legislature.

Awarded $2.4M in federal JAG grants for law enforcement. Created Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. Moderate federal pass-through funding.

Signed civil asset forfeiture reform (bipartisan). No significant early release or no-cash-bail policies enacted.

Vetoed SB 244 (bathroom bill) but overridden. Vetoed transgender sports ban three times before override.

Signed SB 19 creating statewide 988 suicide/crisis hotline. Expanded Mental Health Intervention Team pilot to 80+ school districts.

KS is constitutional/permitless carry state enacted BEFORE Kelly. Kelly VETOED HB 2058 (2021) which would have lowered concealed carry age to 18 — overridden by legislature 84-39/31-8. Kelly called the bill a threat putting 'more guns on college campuses.' The carry framework survives despite Kelly, not because of her. Scored 0: inherited law intact but governor actively tried to restrict it.

No semi-auto rifle bans in KS. Inherited framework. However, Kelly vetoed multiple pro-2A bills (HB 2058, HB 2089) and her anti-gun posture suggests she would sign restrictions if the legislature sent them. R supermajority prevents this. Scored 0: inherited status maintained but governor disposition is anti-2A.

No magazine restrictions in KS. Inherited framework. Kelly has not proposed magazine limits but her consistent anti-2A veto posture (vetoed carry expansion, firearm safety education) suggests she would sign restrictions if presented. R supermajority prevents this.

No ERPO in KS — inherited status from pre-Kelly era. Kelly has not pushed ERPO legislation but her anti-2A veto pattern (vetoed carry expansion, vetoed K-12 firearm safety education) suggests she would sign an ERPO if legislature sent one. R supermajority prevents this. Scored +1 for inherited status, discounted from +3 because Kelly's demonstrated posture would likely support ERPO if given opportunity.

KS has campus free speech protections. Kansas Board of Regents implemented speech policies. FIRE ranks KS universities favorably. Inherited framework. Kelly's first act (EO 19-02) restoring LGBT protections did not conflict with campus speech protections.

KS has anti-SLAPP statute (KSA 60-5320) with expedited dismissal and fee-shifting. Moderate scope. Adequate protection.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly issued EO 20-18 (April 2020) banning church gatherings during COVID, singling out religious services while allowing 26 categories of secular activities (bars, restaurants, malls, offices). A federal judge in Wichita issued a TRO on First Amendment grounds, finding churches 'appear to have been singled out.' Two churches sued successfully. Kelly then sued the Legislative Coordinating Council when it revoked her church ban. KS Supreme Court sided with Kelly on procedural grounds (LCC lacked authority to revoke), but the underlying religious liberty violation was real. Post-COVID, KS has state RFRA-equivalent protections (inherited).

KS relies on federal Carpenter standard. No comprehensive state electronic privacy statute. Standard framework.

KS has some forfeiture reform. Conviction required for most cases. Standard of proof elevated. Moderate reform.

KS enacted post-Kelo reform restricting economic development takings. Adequate protections in place.

KS has relatively low regulatory burden. Permitting timelines reasonable. Business-friendly environment. Landed $4B Panasonic plant. Adequate due process.

Kelly generally cooperates with federal programs and does not resist federal overreach. Sued her own AG Kobach (Oct 2025) to assert governor's authority to join multi-state suits AGAINST federal government (Trump admin) on SNAP and public health cuts — i.e., suing to maintain federal spending programs, not to resist federal overreach. Has not joined coalitions resisting vaccine mandates, immigration enforcement, or other federal overreach. Declined to send additional Guard to southern border (Nov 2024). D governor posture favors federal authority expansion.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly's first official act (EO 19-02, Jan 15, 2019) restored LGBT employment protections for state employees and contractors based on sexual orientation and gender identity — reversing Brownback's 2015 order. Kelly VETOED anti-DEI legislation (2023, 2024) — eventually allowing one anti-DEI bill to become law without signature (April 2024) to avoid override fight. Her EO created identity-group preferences in state employment, and her anti-DEI vetoes opposed equal treatment provisions. Post-SFFA, this orientation is constitutionally suspect.

KS has full state preemption of local firearms laws. Second Amendment Protection Act enacted before Kelly. Strong preemption with penalties. Entirely inherited — Kelly has not touched this law. Given her anti-2A veto record, scored 0 rather than +1 for mere inheritance of pre-existing framework.

KS operates KanView transparency platform. Kansas Open Records Act enforced. Trust Kansas Coalition filed KORA demand over COVID decision-making records — governor's office initially lacked process but began producing documents. Adequate compliance but not proactive.

KS public defender caseloads above recommended levels. Board of Indigents' Defense Services underfunded. Rural coverage gaps. Below adequate standards.

KS has cash bail with modest reforms. Standard pretrial system. Average posture.

KS has below-average regulatory burden. Business-friendly environment. Economic freedom above average. Tax relief ($1B+) improves economic liberty.

DIRECT ACTIONS: Kelly vetoed TWO pro-2A bills in 2021 alone: HB 2058 (concealed carry age 18, overridden 84-39/31-8) and HB 2089 (K-12 firearm safety education). NRA-ILA issued urgent action alerts against Kelly's vetoes. Kelly called carry expansion a threat putting 'more guns on college campuses.' Her litigation/veto posture is consistently anti-2A. AG Kobach (R) maintains pro-2A posture, creating split government dynamic where the governor opposes gun rights and the AG defends them.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed anti-DEI legislation in 2023 and 2024, attempting to block protections against compelled diversity training and speech mandates in state agencies and universities. Legislature overrode on some. Kelly eventually allowed one anti-DEI bill to become law without signature (April 2024) rather than face override. Her vetoes opposed measures protecting employees and students from compelled ideological speech in government institutions.

KS has minor barriers. Agricultural state with generally open commerce. Working toward reciprocity. Governor's Cup recognition for economic development.

KS enacted some licensing reform including military spouse recognition. Below-average licensing burden. Some out-of-state recognition.

KPERS pension improving from 60s% to 72-75% funded. Kelly's first legislative signing (Feb 2019) allocated $115M to KPERS. Making ARC payments. Credit ratings AA+ stable. Positive trajectory.

KS maintains adequate jury trial access. Court system functional. Standard access statewide.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed HB 2350 (2023 human smuggling bill) — overridden 85-39/30-9. Kelly claimed the bill would 'decimate our agriculture workforce' and create 'unintended consequences.' The bill criminalized transporting illegal aliens for profit. Kelly opposed immigration enforcement legislation the R legislature passed. No E-Verify mandate pursued. Declined to send additional Guard to southern border (Nov 2024). Passive non-compliance with federal immigration priorities.

No direct action to eliminate or protect qualified immunity.

Vetoed HB 2614 requiring recording of names for advance ballot delivery, calling it 'burdensome and unnecessary.'

No specific action on non-citizen voting prevention. Kansas already has citizenship verification requirements.

Vetoed transgender sports bans three consecutive years (2021-2023). Legislature overrode her third veto in 2023.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed the Parental Bill of Rights (2022) that would have required local school boards to develop policies for parents to review classroom and library materials. She also vetoed the trans bathroom bill which included parental rights components. Kelly systematically opposed parental authority legislation across multiple sessions. The R legislature could not always muster 2/3 to override. Kelly's vetoes directly blocked statutory recognition of parental rights in education.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly repeatedly stated she opposes voucher-type programs that fund private schools with state dollars. The 2023 ESA/school choice bill (SB 83) passed the House but was 20 votes shy of veto-override threshold, effectively dead on arrival due to Kelly's veto threat. Kelly rejected GOP horse-trade offers (school choice for Medicaid expansion, Dec 2023). Kelly prioritized public school monopoly over parental choice.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed the gender-affirming care ban for minors (2024) which would have required parental authority over irreversible medical decisions. She vetoed abortion coercion and reporting bills that included parental awareness components. While KS has standard parental notification for abortion (inherited), Kelly's vetoes consistently opposed expanding parental rights over minor medical decisions.

DIRECT ACTIONS: (1) Kelly vetoed the ban on gender-affirming care for minors in 2023 — veto sustained initially. (2) Kelly vetoed it AGAIN in 2024 — overridden by R supermajority Feb 2025 (SB 244). The ban covered surgery, hormone treatments, and puberty blockers for under-18. Kelly called the ban an interference with 'private medical decisions' that 'tramples parental rights' — but the ban PROTECTS children from irreversible procedures. (3) Kelly vetoed the trans bathroom bill (SB 244, Feb 2026) — overridden. Every restriction on child gender transition that exists in Kansas was enacted OVER Kelly's veto.

Foster care entries down 39% (4,212 in 2018 to 2,578 in 2024). Children in care down 24%. Significant improvement during Kelly tenure. HB 2132 prevents poverty-neglect conflation.

KS foster care meets approximately 4 of 7 CFSR outcomes. Some improvement during tenure. But still has 'sleep-only' placements (57 children in 68 improper placements in 2023). Kelly halted problematic foster care contracts on day one (Jan 2019) but core system remains troubled.

KS permanency outcomes average. Caseloads reduced (12-26 per case manager, down from 25-30). New contracts improving outcomes. Standard performance.

KS has trafficking statute (inherited). AG enforcement active. However, Kelly vetoed the human smuggling bill (HB 2350, 2023) which criminalized transporting illegal aliens for profit — overridden 85-39/30-9. The smuggling bill had anti-trafficking enforcement components. Kelly called it a threat to the agriculture workforce. Her veto undermined trafficking enforcement.

KS NAEP 4th grade reading: approximately 33-36% at/above proficient (2022). Near or slightly above national average. Kelly fully funded K-12 throughout tenure. Adequate.

KS NAEP 8th grade math: approximately 31-34% at/above proficient (2022). Near or slightly above national average.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed the Parental Bill of Rights (2022) which specifically included provisions requiring school boards to develop policies allowing parents to review classroom and library materials. By vetoing this bill, Kelly directly blocked enhanced parental curriculum transparency. No alternative transparency legislation was proposed by the governor.

KS relies on federal COPPA baseline. No state-specific protections enacted.

KS juvenile jurisdiction to 18. Reform efforts underway. Rehabilitation investment. Standard with positive reforms.

KS child poverty rate approximately 12-14%. Below national average. Kelly signed 'Axe the Food Tax' (2022) eliminating 6.5% state sales tax on groceries, directly improving family food affordability. Positive direct action.

KS has subsidized adoption. Standard framework. Adequate recruitment. Improvements in foster-to-adopt pipeline.

KS has minimal homeschool regulation — notification only, no curriculum mandates, no testing requirements. Entirely inherited framework. Kelly has not altered it but her opposition to school choice (vetoed ESA bills, rejected school-choice-for-Medicaid deals) and parental rights (vetoed Parental Bill of Rights) signals hostility to parental education autonomy in the broader context.

KS participates in ICAC task force. AG enforcement adequate. Standard enforcement.

KS has school safety programs. SRO availability. Threat assessment protocols. Adequate safety framework. However, Kelly vetoed HB 2089 (K-12 firearm safety education, 2021) — a program that would have taught gun safety to students.

KS school counselor ratio approximately 550-700:1. Limited investment. Rural access gaps significant. Below adequate.

KS provides religious and philosophical exemptions for school vaccination. Parental choice respected. Broad exemptions. Inherited framework. However, Kelly's COVID vaccine posture leaned pro-mandate (though legislature blocked mandates via SB 40). Scored +1 for inherited law, discounted from +2.

KS child care subsidy at moderate level. Some waitlists. Kelly vetoed HB 2094 (2023) which would have increased work requirements for child care subsidies and required parental cooperation with child support services. Average affordability.

Kelly fully funded K-12 for 5+ consecutive years after years of underfunding disputes. KS Supreme Court ended 13-year Gannon school funding oversight Feb 2024 — a positive achievement. Teacher salary competitive for region.

KS child food insecurity approximately 12-14%. Kelly signed elimination of state food sales tax ('Axe the Food Tax,' 2022) directly improving family food affordability. Below national average.

KS has adequate due process. HB 2132 amended neglect definition to prevent poverty conflation. Positive reform. Standard protections.

KS generally 'Needs Assistance' on OSEP determinations. Average performance. Most districts working toward compliance.

Largest budget surplus in KS history. $2.6B revenue surplus (Oct 2023). Balanced budgets during tenure. Stabilized finances after Brownback tax experiment. Rainy day fund from near-zero to $1.8B. But FY2028 projected $460M deficit from legislature-driven tax cuts Kelly warned against.

KS credit ratings improved under Kelly. Fitch issued first-ever KS IDR at AA stable (2024), citing Kelly's fiscal responsibility. Reversed Brownback-era downgrades. Strong positive trajectory.

KS rainy day fund grew from near-zero (post-Brownback) to $1.8B+ by FY2025. FY2024 alone deposited $600M. Exceptional reserve growth — this is a signature Kelly fiscal achievement. Well above adequate levels.

KPERS improved from 60s% to 75.2% funded (Dec 2023). Kelly first signing (Feb 2019) allocated $115M to KPERS. However, Kelly proposed KPERS reamortization in 2020 extending payoff from 2033 to 2043, which would have added $4.4B in interest — legislature modified the plan. Mixed: initial KPERS investment positive, but reamortization attempt was fiscally irresponsible.

KS debt per capita $1,354 — below U.S. mean of $1,817. Kelly paid down over $500M in state debt early. Bond Buyer reported Kansas 'ditching debt' to pursue rating upgrades. Low debt, active paydown.

KS state workforce near national median per capita. Standard government size. Neither notably efficient nor expanded.

KS Legislative Division of Post Audit maintained independence. Published critical cybersecurity findings (10 of 21 agencies scored poorly, Dec 2022). Kelly cooperated with findings and adopted reforms. Adequate oversight.

Zero ethics violations. Zero personal scandals. Clean record throughout tenure. Full financial disclosure.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly issued COVID EOs that overstepped constitutional bounds. EO 20-18 (April 2020) banned church gatherings — TRO'd by federal judge on First Amendment grounds. Kelly then sued the LCC when it revoked her order. Mask mandates (EO 20-52, EO 20-68) imposed and revoked by legislature. Legislature passed SB 40 (March 2021) stripping governor's emergency powers — a bipartisan rebuke. Her first official act (EO 19-02) restored LGBT preferences by executive order, bypassing legislative process. Pattern of using EOs to advance policy the legislature would not pass.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly's COVID emergency declarations extended beyond what legislature and courts deemed appropriate. Federal judge TRO'd church gathering ban (April 2020). LCC revoked EO 20-18 on 5-2 party-line vote. Legislature passed SB 40 (March 2021) fundamentally rewriting KS emergency management law to curb future governors — a direct response to Kelly's perceived overreach. NPR reported 'confusion over who is in charge' after legislature curtailed her authority.

Kelly is the most prolific vetoing governor in modern KS history. 57+ vetoes through April 2024. Tied KS record with 17 vetoes in single 2023 session. 16 vetoes in 2024 session. Legislature overrode vetoes on trans healthcare ban, trans bathroom bill, born-alive bill, fetal child support, human smuggling, concealed carry, advance voting, and more. Override rate 15-25% — among highest in the nation. While R supermajority drives conflict, Kelly vetoed popular legislation (born-alive protections, human smuggling enforcement) that enjoys broad public support.

Kelly made 4 of 7 KS Supreme Court appointments via merit-based nominating commission. She defended the merit selection system against GOP reform proposals — because the current system favors her appointment power. Senate President Masterson proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the nominating commission. Appointments are legally proper but ideologically aligned with Kelly rather than the state electorate that votes R by 15+ points.

Kelly implements laws even when overridden. Overridden trans healthcare ban, human smuggling law, election reform — all implemented by executive agencies. No documented refusal to execute enacted law.

IIJA and federal funds deployed effectively. $451.7M BEAD broadband allocation secured. $83.5M ARPA broadband grants. $43M Middle Mile network. No major audit findings. However, $7B+ in Medicaid expansion funding left uncaptured (legislative, not gubernatorial, failure).

Morning Consult 60%+ approval (2025, top 10 nationally). Won reelection 49.5% in state Trump carried by 15+. High approval for D in deep-red state. However, KS voters rejected her position on the Value Them Both amendment 59-41% but also reelected her — suggesting approval is compartmentalized, not a blanket endorsement of all policies.

Dec 2022 audit found 10 of 21 agencies had significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Kelly appointed new CITO (Jeff Maxon, Dec 2023) and adopted reforms (April 2023). Progress made but initial state was poor.

IKE transportation program (bipartisan, 2020) executing well. Fourth round $442M advanced (Oct 2025). $750M and $350M in previous rounds. Kelly deserves credit for IKE execution. Above average capital budget management.

KS disaster readiness adequate for tornado-prone state. FEMA obligations met. Multiple tornado declarations managed effectively.

KS UI system collapsed during pandemic due to 40-year-old mainframe (inherited). KDOL Secretary Garcia resigned (Sept 2021) over UI backlogs. 12,000-person backlog. Kelly funded $37.5M modernization deployed by 2024. Post-pandemic: 3.6% unemployment. Recovery from failure, but the failure happened on her watch.

KS Medicaid has standard error rates. Kelly line-item vetoed SB 125 provision requiring Medicaid unenrollment/reenrollment to maintain CMS compliance — appropriate program management. Average integrity for non-expansion state.

DIRECT ACTION: Kelly vetoed election integrity bills in multiple sessions. Vetoed SB 4 (2025) limiting advance ballot deadline to Election Day — overridden 84-41/30-10. Vetoed SB 209 (2023) requiring advance ballots returned by Election Day. Vetoed voter roll maintenance measures. Pattern of opposing election security measures.

KanView provides transparency. KS OpenGov tracks spending. KLRD independent analysis. Adequate budget accessibility.

Kelly leans toward federal authority over state sovereignty. Sued own AG Kobach (Oct 2025) to assert governor's authority to join multi-state suits supporting federal spending programs. Declined additional Guard border deployment (Nov 2024). Vetoed human smuggling enforcement. Unbalanced posture favoring federal expansion.

LG in place. COOP plan current. Clear succession. Adequate continuity.

KS procurement generally competitive. $4B Panasonic plant secured through competitive process. KDOL UI modernization ($37.5M) competitively procured. No major procurement scandals.

Kansas gas tax is 25.04 cents/gallon, roughly in line with national average. No significant changes under Kelly.

Kansas residential electricity rates (~11-14 cents/kWh) below national average. No mandates driving costs up.

No aggressive renewable mandates or forced EV transitions. Status quo with natural gas and growing wind production.

Worked with legislature on tax relief package that reduced statewide property taxes and repealed state tax on Social Security.

No notable increase or decrease in regulatory burden. Kansas maintains moderate regulatory environment.

No significant evidence of new unfunded mandates on municipalities.

Kansas cost of living remains below national average. Signed food sales tax elimination phased through 2025.

Signed anti-sanctuary city bill in 2022 preventing local governments from creating sanctuary policies.

Supported $40M shelter funding proposal but it died in legislature. Homelessness continued rising.

Legislature proposed encampment enforcement bill but it did not pass. No direct executive action post-Grants Pass.

Kansas has roughly neutral domestic migration. Some rural loss offset by Kansas City metro growth.

Kansas attracted business investment including construction growth (4.4% rate). Below-average costs attract businesses.

No notable action to remove or hold prosecutors accountable.

Vetoed multiple election security bills including ballot delivery tracking requirements.

No significant evidence of weaponizing state agencies against political opponents.

Vetoed SB 172 restricting foreign adversary companies from owning real estate near Kansas military installations.