Updates and Alerts

LOOK TO THE CHAMBER FOR CANDIDATE & VOTING INFORMATION

General elections are here! There are general election races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Kansas Governor/Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Insurance, Kansas House of Representatives seats, State Board of Education, Jo Co Commission Chair, Jo Co Commission seats, and judicial seats.

Research the Candidates
You can review your sample ballot here and then research candidates at www.VoteJoCo.com, a nonpartisan countywide voter resource produced by the area local chambers of commerce. Be sure to share this website with other voters who may be looking for additional candidate information.

Voting in Advance
Advance voting both by mail (ballots mailed Oct. 14) and in person (begins Oct. 17) is underway! Take advantage of this opportunity to vote when it’s most convenient for you, including on Saturdays! Learn how and where you can vote in advance.

 

STATE LAWMAKERS PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OVERVIEW

On Friday, May 15, several Lenexa-area lawmakers returned to the Chamber to provide an overview of the recently wrapped 2026 state legislative session to a full room of Legislative Affairs, Board of Directors, and Economic Development Council members, providing key insights and answering attendees’ questions.

Special thanks to Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, Representative Jo Ella Hoye, R-Lenexa, and Representative Laura Williams, R-Lenexa, and Representative Adam Turk, R-Shawnee, for sharing their time and experience, and to our 2026 Legislative Affairs Chair Dave Kepper of Security Bank of KC for emceeing!

 

2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP

Lawmakers reconvened at the Capitol for the “veto session,” a short wrap-up period to complete unfinished business and consider overriding any vetoes by the Governor since adjournment of the main body of the session. The veto session saw plenty of bills signed into law, plenty of vetoes, many veto overrides, and ongoing negotiations attempting to find legislative consensus on many key issues!

Lawmakers concluded their business and adjourned for the year in Saturday’s early morning hours; they’ll return to the Capitol in January 2027.

For a rundown on how key business issues and the Chamber’s 2026 legislative agenda fared, check out the Chamber’s 2026 State Legislative Session Summary.

LENEXA-AREA LEGISLATOR GUIDE
Kansas Senate

Kansas House of Representatives

Interested in a bill and want to learn more?

  • Explore the legislature’s website kslegislature.org to find House and Senate calendars, links to proposed bills, and committee information including live meeting audio links and posted testimony.
  • Watch House and Senate sessions and many committee meetings via the Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel.
  • Access archived committee meeting audio recordings here.
  • Follow legislative action simultaneously detailed on X/Twitter using the hashtag #ksleg.
  • Call the State Library’s toll-free legislative hotline at (800) 432-3924. Calls and questions are confidential.
  • Ask questions such as how to read the calendar, what’s existing law and what would change in a proposed bill, etc, by contacting Ashley Sherard at asherard@lenexa.org or (913) 888-1414.

 

STATE LAWMAKERS VISIT THE CHAMBER

On Friday, January 16, several Lenexa-area lawmakers brought the State Capitol to the Chamber, joining a packed house of Legislative Affairs, Board of Directors, and Economic Development Council members to provide their insights on the new 2026 state legislative session and answer attendees’ questions about business issues and the legislative process.

Special thanks to Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, Representative Jo Ella Hoye, R-Lenexa, and Representative Laura Williams, R-Lenexa, for sharing their time and experience, and to our 2026 Legislative Affairs Chair Dave Kepper of Security Bank of KC for keeping the meeting on track!

 

CHAMBER BOARD APPROVES 2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The Lenexa Chamber Board of Directors has approved a legislative platform to guide our advocacy in the upcoming 2026 state legislative session.  The platform addresses a spectrum of issues important to the business community including tax policy, key business costs and regulations, K-12 and higher education, health care, transportation, economic development, and others.

Click here to view the Chamber’s 2026 State Legislative Agenda.

Questions or feedback?  Call Ashley Sherard, CEO, at 913-888-1414 or email asherard@lenexa.org.