Kansas Legislative Session Wraps Up: House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard Reflects on Key Issues

The contents of this blog come from an interview with Representative Brandon Woodard.

Brandon Woodard

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As the Kansas legislative session comes to a close, lawmakers are reflecting on the policies passed, the challenges that remain, and what lies ahead. In a recent interview, Brandon Woodard shared his perspective on the fast-paced finish to the session, ongoing concerns about property taxes and education funding, and several policy wins he believes will benefit Kansans.

A Fast-Paced Finish to the Session

According to Woodard, the final week of the legislative session is often a sprint to the finish line.

Lawmakers spend long hours moving between conference committees and floor votes, negotiating differences between House and Senate versions of bills before sending final agreements back to both chambers for a simple yes-or-no vote.

During that process, legislators must carefully review conference committee reports to ensure new provisions added late in the session were properly considered. While rules generally require that items included in conference have passed at least one chamber, Woodard noted that standard is not always consistently followed, making close oversight essential.

Property Tax Relief Remains a Major Concern

One of the biggest unresolved issues from the session was property tax relief.

Woodard said a proposal passed late in the process aims to cap property tax assessments, but he expressed concern that the policy may shift financial strain onto local governments rather than providing meaningful relief to taxpayers.

A major factor contributing to higher local property taxes, he explained, is the state’s continued shortfall in funding special education.

Kansas law requires the state to fund 92 percent of special education costs. However, current funding levels fall significantly short of that obligation. As a result, local school districts must use local tax dollars to make up the difference.

Legislative Wins Highlighted by Woodard

Despite ongoing challenges, Woodard pointed to several policy changes from the session that he considers meaningful progress.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform

One major accomplishment involved reforms to pharmacy benefit managers, often referred to as PBMs — the middlemen who negotiate prescription drug pricing between insurers and pharmacies.

Woodard said independent pharmacies across Kansas have struggled in recent years because reimbursement rates sometimes fail to cover the cost of medications. The new reforms are designed to increase transparency and create a more level playing field.

Supporters believe the changes could help stabilize independent pharmacies and potentially reduce prescription costs for Kansans over time.

Expanded Access to Children’s Health Insurance

Another key policy change updated eligibility requirements for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, commonly known as CHIP.

Previously, eligibility thresholds were tied to federal poverty guidelines from 2008. By removing that outdated benchmark, more Kansas children will now qualify for health coverage.

Woodard said expanding access to preventive care will lead to better long-term health outcomes and could reduce overall health care costs in the future.

Child Care Support for Working Families

Lawmakers also expanded tax credits for businesses that help provide child care for employees.

Companies can now receive greater incentives for offering on-site child care or contributing to child care expenses through employee benefit programs. Woodard said the policy is intended to help address ongoing child care shortages and support working families across the state.

Education Funding Remains a Key Issue Moving Forward

Special education funding continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing Kansas schools.

Woodard noted that the state has not fully funded its special education obligations since 2011, and this year’s budget did not close the gap. Instead, he said the issue will likely carry into future legislative sessions.

Attention will now turn to the state’s school funding formula, which is set to expire in 2027. Lawmakers will be responsible for rewriting that formula, a process that could bring significant changes to how schools are funded across Kansas.

Woodard encouraged Kansans to stay engaged as those discussions move forward.

Mental Health Services Funding Partially Restored

Funding for school-based mental health intervention teams was another major topic during budget negotiations.

An initial proposal would have eliminated funding for those services. Lawmakers ultimately restored most of the funding, preserving support for mental health resources in schools, though not at the full level previously requested.

What to Watch Next: The Veto Session

While the regular legislative session has ended, the legislative process is not yet complete.

The governor still has the authority to issue line-item vetoes on specific parts of the budget. Lawmakers will return for a veto session, where they can either uphold the governor’s vetoes or vote to override them.

According to Woodard, the veto session typically focuses on final budget decisions rather than introducing major new policy changes.