Kansas legislators begin 2025 session amid stronger Republican supermajority

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Kansas Legislature convenes for its 2025 session Monday, marking the start of a new year with a fresh slate.

Lawmakers will be sworn in, and the debate on new bills and important issues will begin. Among the significant changes this year, new pay raises for legislators will take effect.

Republicans enter this session with a stronger supermajority, having gained three seats each in both the House and Senate during November’s election. This expanded majority will give Republicans a better chance of overriding any vetoes by Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, significantly shaping the legislative agenda for the year.

One issue expected to take center stage is taxes, particularly property taxes. Dr. Russell Arben Fox, a political science professor at Friends University, noted that property tax reform is a priority for lawmakers across party lines. While property taxes are typically viewed as a local issue, Dr. Fox said the state can play an influential role in providing relief through significant funding programs for cities and counties.

“We’re going to see property tax be at the forefront,” Dr. Fox said. “That’s been a key topic for Republicans, and leaders in both parties have expressed a willingness to address it.”

While issues like abortion and transgender rights have dominated political discussions in recent years, Dr. Fox said many newly elected Republicans are not prioritizing these topics. In fact, some Republicans shared that abortion did not come up frequently during their door-to-door campaigning, signaling that other issues may be of higher concern for voters.

As Governor Kelly enters her final two years in office, her push for Medicaid expansion, one of her key legislative priorities, is unlikely to move forward after Democrats faced significant losses in the November election.

Dr. Fox pointed out that the political landscape now makes further progress on Medicaid expansion highly unlikely.

“The last hope for Medicaid expansion is gone,” Dr. Fox said, reflecting on the challenges Democrats face after the election results.

The 2025 legislative session kicks off on Monday at 2 p.m., with Governor Kelly delivering her State of the State address on Wednesday evening. Her budget recommendations will be released on Thursday, though lawmakers have already begun working on the budget process ahead of time, signaling that this session will begin with a focus on fiscal matters.