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Commission adopts joint 2025 legislative platform with regional partners; some commissioners call for sharper specificity
Summary
Sedgwick County and regional partners adopted a joint 2025 legislative platform focused on economic development, housing and infrastructure. Several commissioners supported the platform but urged staff and partners to identify specific statutory asks and measurable goals to improve effectiveness at the Statehouse.
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt a joint 2025 legislative platform developed with the City of Wichita, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wichita Partnership, REAP (Regional Economic Area Partnership) and Wichita State University.
Assistant County Manager Tanya Cole presented the final platform, which lists six priorities grouped under economic development, housing and infrastructure. The platform calls for support of education, childcare and workforce policies that spur job creation; for policies and tax-credit options aimed at encouraging housing development and affordability; and for water stewardship and transportation funding that would benefit the South Central Kansas region.
Commission debate centered on the platform’s level of specificity. Commissioner Howell said she would vote in favor but urged the group to develop more concrete, measurable “asks” lawmakers can use to draft legislation — for example, naming a particular statutory change or funding request. Commissioner Hepp and others recalled a recent process that produced a specific $50 million governor-level infrastructure ask for a multi-agency center; they said that level of precision yielded concrete legislative attention.
Tanya Cole and county staff said the joint platform is intended to signal regional priorities and that Sedgwick County continues to maintain a more detailed county legislative platform for staff and lobbyists to use when working specific bills. Commissioners noted the platform is a “living document” and can be revised if partners agree.
Action taken: the commission moved to adopt the 2025 joint state legislative platform; the motion passed by roll call (ayes recorded from all five commissioners present).
Why it matters: The unified regional platform aims to coordinate messaging to the Kansas Legislature on topics viewed as key to regional economic health. Several commissioners asked staff and partners to follow up with more specific, measurable bill language or funding requests where possible to improve the chances of legislative success.
What’s next: Staff will file the adopted platform and continue coordination with partner organizations and lobbyists during the legislative session. Commissioners requested follow-up discussions to identify a small number of high-priority, specific asks for the coming weeks.
