Gov. Kelly, GOP leadership share top priorities for 2025

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Governor Laura Kelly speaks to Kansans and lawmakers about her top priorities in her seventh State of the State address Wednesday evening.

At the State of the State address Wednesday, Jan. 15, Kelly gave a recap of the first quarter of the 21st century in the Sunflower State. She discussed the investment into state infrastructure and broadband, as well as the "Axe the Food Tax" legislation that recently took the state food sales tax down to zero.

For 2025, one of Kelly's main goals with her budget proposal is to fully fund public schools across Kansas.

"Prioritizing our public schools means investing in them," Kelly said. "Protecting them. Always fighting to make them better. And never, ever taking taxpayer dollars from our public schools to give to private schools. Doing so weakens our public school system, particularly in our rural communities. As a state, we just can’t afford to do that."

Kelly said $75 million was invested into special education in 2024, putting the state on track to fully-fund special education by the 2028-29 school year.

Kelly moved to discuss taxes. During her time in office, she claims to have signed more than $2 billion in tax cuts. Kelly said moving forward, she will not support any proposals that take funds away from schools.

"While I would prefer that we postpone discussions about taxes until next session, when we’ll have a better handle on the full impact of the tax cuts we passed last year, I will consider proposals to modify our tax structure that pay for themselves and don’t threaten our state’s long-term financial health," Kelly said.

On the topic of healthcare, Kelly said she will propose Medicaid expansion for the seventh year in a row.

"Let’s be honest: the only reason we haven’t expanded Medicaid is partisan politics," Kelly said. "...In 2022, the cost to Kansas taxpayers was $68.5 million. In 2023, $71.5 million. In 2024, $61.8
million. And if we don’t expand Medicaid this year, 2025, it will cost Kansas taxpayers another $78.3 million."

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, shared his response to Kelly's address. Masterson's response is prerecorded, so there is no direct response to Kelly's address Wednesday evening. In it, he shares the GOP's vision for 2025.

Kelly, starting her seventh year as Kansas Governor, has been in office the entirety of Masterson's time he's spent serving as Senate president.

"While we’ve certainly had our differences, I’ve been pleased with our ability to work together across an array of issues," Masterson said. "While the controversial differences certainly garner the most headlines, the vast majority of our work is bi-partisan in nature - and that’s a good thing. I hope, in good faith, that the spirit of working together can continue during her final two years as governor."

Masterson said Kansans re-elected him to put the people first. According to him, that means the GOP needs to focus on property tax relief and reform.

"Property taxes can drive our seniors from their homes and prevent younger Kansans from enjoying the dream of home ownership," Masterson said. "For too long it’s just been a political talking point, we must act... Unfortunately, the governor has at this point pledged to block property tax relief in 2025, I sincerely hope she will reconsider and join us in bringing more tax relief to Kansans."

Some more focal points Masterson mentioned are the GOP's strong support for President-elect Trump's efforts to secure the border, expand access to affordable healthcare with less government regulation, work to reduce the number of abortions in the Sunflower State and not allow "extreme trans agenda to impact" kids in Kansas.

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