Attorney General Cobach touts staffing gains, settlement dollars and a reported drop in fentanyl deaths while requesting supplemental funding

Attorney General Chris Cobach told the Executive Subcommittee, Ways and Means that his office has substantially rebuilt legal capacity since he took office, citing a net gain of about 25 attorneys and an increase from roughly 35 to 60 attorneys on staff. Cobach said the office is now at its targeted staffing level and praised retention improvements.

Cobach described outreach and consumer-protection efforts, saying his office reached more than 10,000 Kansans at more than 70 events (with a focus on older adults) to combat scams and provide direct access to attorneys. He credited the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and joint task forces with federal partners for progress on fentanyl enforcement and cited the latest KDHE report showing a 17% drop in fentanyl deaths in Kansas; he also said the statewide crime index is at its lowest point in 56 years (about 23 crimes per 1,000 people per year).

The AG summarized program outcomes across divisions: the solicitor general’s office expanded appellate work for counties (from 44 to 62 counties under contract), the economic crimes unit secured roughly $1.1 million in restitution for victims, and victim services processed about 1,600 compensation applications totaling just over $2 million. Cobach said the Office of Inspector General’s audits identified $83,000,000 in wasteful spending in FY2025 and an additional $238,000,000 identified for FY2026 (as reported in his testimony).

Cobach also requested supplemental funding to implement five bills enacted in the 2025 legislative session that lacked appropriations. The request totals about $1,500,000 for FY2026 and a similar amount for FY2027, adding roughly 15.5 FTEs (mostly non-attorney staff). Major items included funding for a regulatory relief ("regulatory sandbox") division, nine OIG positions to expand audits of Medicaid and welfare programs, staffing for the Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act to research land acquisitions near military installations, and modest funding for scrap-metal investigations (SB237) and amendments to the consumer protection act.

Cobach closed by noting that the office brought in just over $85,000,000 in settlements and restitution in FY2025, but only about $3,300,000 of that amount funded AG operations; most settlement proceeds are passed through to other programs and boards.