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Public policy in Kansas

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ThePublic Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all theKansas public policy articles onBallotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on themap below.

For a list of all public policy articles onBallotpedia seehere.

Budget Policy

Budget Policy Logo.png

Budget and finances

InKansas, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicingstate debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as theAffordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, total government spending in Kansas increased by approximately $439.0 million—from $15.1 billion in fiscal year 2015 to an estimated $15.5 billion in 2016. This represents a 2.9-percent increase.[1]
  • In Kansas in fiscal year 2015, 53.7 percent of total tax revenues came from sales taxes and gross receipts. Income taxes accounted for 32.6 percent of total state tax collections.
  • Education accounted for 47.9 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 21.7 percent went to Medicaid.
  • Taxes

    Kansas generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying apersonal income tax and asales tax. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax fromArticle 11 of the state constitution.[2][3]

    Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[4]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the United States Census Bureau, Kansas collected $8.06 billion in tax revenue in 2016. The state's tax revenue per capita was $2,772.
  • Civil Liberties Policy

    Civil Liberties Policy Logo.png

    Affirmative action

    Affirmative action in Kansas refers to the steps taken by employers and universities inKansas to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such asstrict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978United States Supreme Court case,Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[5]

    On June 29, 2023, theSupreme Court reversed lower court decisions inStudents for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College andStudents for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

    As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of theFourteenth Amendment andTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act.[6][7]

    The following information details the use of affirmative action in universities and employment in Kansas, as well as notablecourt cases originating in the state.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In Kansas, no public universities reported considering race inadmissions as of March 2015.
  • At that time, Kansas had one law regarding affirmative action inemployment at state and private employers.
  • The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

    Campaign finance

    Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations andnonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections throughindependent expenditures orissue advocacy.

    This page providesbackground on campaign finance regulation, listscontribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures inKansas,compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Kansas with those from other states, and details thecandidate reporting requirements in Kansas.

    The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[8]

    As of July 2025:
  • Individuals could contribute $4,000 per election to gubernatorial candidates, $2,000 per election to state senate candidates, and $1,000 per election to state house candidates.
  • State parties could contribute $4,000 in a contested primary togubernatorial candidates, $2,000 in a contested primary tostate senate candidates, and $1,000 in a contested primary tostate house candidates. State parties could contribute unlimitedly to these candidates in the general election.
  • Political committees could contribute $4,000 per election to gubernatorial candidates, $2,000 per election to state senate candidates, and $1,000 per election to state house candidates.
  • Corporations and unions could contribute $4,000 per election to gubernatorial candidates, $2,000 per election to state senate candidates, and $1,000 per election to state house candidates.
  • Background

    Seal of the United StatesFederal Election Commission

    TheFederal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions, and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[9] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within 15 days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[10]

    The rules governing federal election campaigns and contributions have evolved over the past generation as result of a number of Supreme Court decisions. In the 2010Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[11] In theSpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of theCitizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[12][13] In 2014'sMcCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[14]

    While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states require their own level of regulation and reporting. The amount of regulation required differs by state, as do the limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations. In Kansas, there are two primary agencies involved incampaign finance regulation: the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission and the Office of theKansas Secretary of State. The former "is charged with administering, interpreting, and enforcing" the state's campaign finance laws; the latter receives the campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and political committees.[15][16]

    Contribution limits

    The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Kansas as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.[17]

    Kansas contribution limits as of July 2025
     IndividualsPACsPolitical partySuper PACsCorporationsUnions
    Statewide Candidate (incl.Governor)$4,000$4,000$4,000 in contested primary, unlimited in general$0$4,000$4,000
    Senate$2,000$2,000$2,000 in contested primary, unlimited in general$0$2,000$2,000
    House$1,000$1,000$1,000 in contested primary, unlimited in general$0$1,000$1,000
    PACUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited$0UnlimitedUnlimited
    Party committees$35,000$35,000Unlimited*$0$35,000$35,000
    Ballot measuresUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited$0UnlimitedUnlimited
    Limits apply per election.
    *National party committees can only give $35,000 per election to state party committees.
    Source:Kansas Public Disclosure Commission, "Contribution Limits," accessed July 20, 2025

    State comparisons in the 2024 elections

    See also:State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements
    Individual contribution limits
    Party contribution limits
    Political committee contribution limits
    Corporation and union contribution limits

    As of the 2024 elections, 38 states, including Kansas, had varying limits on individual contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates. There were no limits in the remaining 12 states.


    Kansas

    Individual contribution limits in Kansas:

    • Governor: $2,000 per election
    • State Senate: $1,000 per election
    • State House: $500 per election
    Comparison to other states

    In the 38 states with individual contribution limits:

    • Governor
    • State Senate
      • Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
      • Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)
    • State House
      • Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
      • Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)

    Candidate reporting requirements

    Seal of Kansas

    DocumentIcon.jpgSee statutes:Kansas Statutes, Chapter 25, Article 41

    Organizational requirements

    Each candidate is required by law to appoint a treasurer or candidate committee within 10 days of becoming a candidate. Upon doing so, the candidate must file an Appointment of Treasurer or Candidate Committee form within 10 days. A candidate for state office (including thestate legislature) must file this form with theKansas Secretary of State. Contributions cannot be received and expenditures cannot be made until this form is filed.[19]

    The treasurer's duties include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:[19]

    • receiving and recording all contributions, including the full name and residential address of the contributor, as well as the date of receipt, description or other receipt, and the amount of the contribution
    • depositing all receipts into and making all disbursements by check from the campaign checking account
    • keeping copies of all contributors' checks in excess of $50
    • keeping written receipts for cash and in-kind contributions of $10 or greater
    • obtaining the occupation and industry in which the individual works, and recording the occupation and industry of each contributor for any contribution over $150
    • keeping a list of all individuals authorized to solicit or receive contributions on behalf of the candidate or committee
    • retaining all bank statements, canceled checks, voided checks, and canceled deposit slips
    • documenting each expenditure, including the full name and address of the payee, as well as the date, purpose, and amount of the expenditure

    The candidate may serve as his or her own treasurer.[19]

    A candidate must open a checking account in a financial institution into which all contributions will be deposited and from which all expenditures will be made. If a candidate intends to make all expenditures from personal funds and not accept outside contributions, this requirement may be waived.[19]

    Within 10 days after the candidate filing deadline, the candidate is required to submit a Statement of Substantial Interests.[19]

    A candidate who intends to receive less than $1,000 in contributions or make less than $1,000 in expenditures may, at his or her discretion, file an Affidavit of Exemption from Filing Receipts and Expenditures Reports by a Candidate for State or Local Office. A candidate who opts not to file reports must still keep records of all contributions and expenditures.[19]

    Each candidate for state-level and local office must pay a registration fee to theKansas Governmental Ethics Commission. For candidates for statewide office, the fee is $650. For candidates for state legislative office, the fee is $50.[19]

    Reporting requirements

    A candidate and/or his or her committee is required to file regular campaign finance reports. All such reports must include the following types of information:[19]

    • Contributions and other receipts
      • The report must include the date the contribution was received, the name and address of the contributor, and the amount received from each contributor whose contribution exceeds $50 in the aggregate for any reporting period; if the contribution is greater than $150, the occupation and industry of the contributor must also be noted. If the receipt is a loan, the full name and address of the lender and each guarantor and endorser must be given.
      • The report must include the full amount of any contribution received via credit card from online payment processing vendors such as PayPal. The fee charged by the payment processing company is reported as an expenditure.
      • The report must include the sum of all monetary contributions from contributors who gave $50 or less.
      • The report must note gross amount of total sales of political materials, such as campaign buttons, hats, banners, etc.
      • The report must include the sum of legal contributions from anonymous donors (anonymous contributions of $10 or less are permitted).
    • In-kind contributions
      • The report must include the date the contribution was received, the name and address of the in-kind contributor, a description of the contribution, and the amount received from each contributor whose in-kind contribution exceeds $100 in the aggregate for any reporting period (if the in-kind contribution is greater than $150, the occupation and industry of the contributor must also be noted, or if the individual contributor is not employed, the occupation of the contributor’s spouse is to be reported).
    • Expenditures and other disbursements
      • The report must include the date the expenditure was paid, the name and address of the payee, the purpose, and the amount of each expenditure greater than $50.
      • The report must note the sum of all other expenditures of $50 or less.
    • Other transactions
      • The report must note loans and other debts owed by the candidate or committee, including the date the loan or debt was incurred, the name and address of the person to whom the debt is owed, the amount, and the purpose. In the case of a loan, each guarantor and endorser must be listed.
      • The report must include loans and other debts owed to the candidate or committee, including the date incurred, the name and address of the payee, and the amount.

    A candidate for state-level office may file reports online through theE-Campaign Finance system. A candidate for statewide office is required to file campaign finance reports electronically.[20]

    The election year reporting schedule is established by statute and is summarized in the table below.[21]

    Election year reports
    Report typeReporting periodDeadline to file
    Pre-primary reportJanuary 1 - 12 days prior to the primary8th day prior to the primary
    Pre-general report11 days prior to the primary - 12 days prior to the general election8th day prior to the general election
    Post-general report11 days prior to the general election - December 31January 10 of the year following the election


    In addition to these regular reports, special reports must be filed when a candidate receives a contribution of $300 or greater after the filing of the pre-primary or pre-general election report. Such reports must be filed before the primary and/or general election to disclose the contribution.[19]

    Campaign finance legislation

    The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Kansas' current legislative session.[22]

    Election and campaign ballot measures

    See also:Elections and campaigns on the ballot andList of Kansas ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked 3 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.

    1. Kansas Voting Disqualification Amendment, Constitutional Amendment Question 2 (2010)
    2. Kansas Elections, Amendment 2 (1974)
    3. Kansas Constitutional Amendment 2, County Sheriff Election and Recall Amendment (2022)


    Contact information

    Election agencies

    Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
    See also:State election agencies

    Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Kansas can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

    Kansas County Election Officers

    Click here for a list

    Secretary of State Office, Elections Division

    Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
    120 SW 10th Avenue
    Topeka, KS 66612-1594
    Phone: 785-296-4564
    Toll free: 1-800-262-8683
    Email:election@sos.ks.gov
    Website:http://www.kssos.org/

    Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission

    901 S. Kansas Avenue
    Topeka, Kansas 66612
    Phone: 785-296-4219
    Fax: 785-296-2548
    Email:KGEC_Ethics@ks.gov
    Website:https://ethics.kansas.gov

    U.S. Election Assistance Commission

    633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
    Washington, DC 20001
    Phone: 301-563-3919
    Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
    Email:clearinghouse@eac.gov
    Website:https://www.eac.gov

    Federal Election Commission (FEC)

    1050 First Street, NE
    Washington, DC 20463
    Telephone: (202)-694-1100
    Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530
    Email:info@fec.gov
    Website:http://www.fec.gov/

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsKansas campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
    2. Kansas State Library, "Kansas Constitution," accessed October 17, 2014
    3. Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Shares by Type 2000-2013," June 20, 2014
    4. Brunori, D. (2011).State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
    5. Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
    6. Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
    7. Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
    8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
    9. Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
    10. Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
    11. New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
    12. Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
    13. OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
    14. Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
    15. Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "Home page," accessed July 27, 2015
    16. Kansas Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed July 27, 2015
    17. Vox, "Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on elections, but must disclose their donors," accessed May 21, 2015
    18. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
    19. 19.019.119.219.319.419.519.619.719.8Kansas Public Disclosure Commission, "Campaign Finance Handbook for Candidates and Treasurers 2024," accessed July 20, 2025
    20. Kansas Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance & Ethics Filings," accessed July 21, 2025
    21. Justia "Kansas Statutes Chapter 25, Article 41, Section 48," accessed July 21, 2025
    22. Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page onBallotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
    Ballotpedia
    Editorial Content
    Josh Altic, Director of ContentDaniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & DataCory Eucalitto, Associate Director of FeaturesRyan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot MeasuresMandy McConnell, Managing Editor of NewsDoug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local ExpansionAbbey Smith, Managing Editor of ElectionsJanie Valentine, Managing Editor of LawJoel Williams, Managing Editor of EventsAndrew BahlJaclyn BeranMarielle BrickerJoseph BrusgardEmma BurlingameKelly CoyleJon DunnVictoria EdwardsThomas EllisNicole FisherJoseph GreaneyThomas GrobbenBrianna HoseaMolly KehoeTyler KingGlorie MartinezNorm Leahy, Senior EditorNathan MaxwellJimmy McAllisterBrandon McCauleyEllie MikusEllen MorrisseyMackenzie MurphyKaley PlatekSamantha PostAdam PowellAnnelise ReinwaldEthan RiceSpencer RichardsonVictoria RoseBriana RyanMyj SaintylMaddy SaluckaEmma SoukupAlexis ThackerMina VogelSamuel WonacottTrenton Woodcox
    Flag of Kansas
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    State ofKansas
    Topeka (capital)
    Elections

    What's on my ballot? |Elections in 2025 |How to vote |How to run for office |Ballot measures

    Government

    Who represents me? |U.S. President |U.S. Congress |Federal courts |State executives |State legislature |State and local courts |Counties |Cities |School districts |Public policy

    Nonprofit regulation

    Nonprofit regulation in Kansas involves a complex set of rules that governnonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

    • contribution limits,
    • donor disclosure, and
    • the redefinition ofissue advocacy.


    Kansas is one of39 states that require charitable organizations, and those intending to solicit on their behalf,to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a Kansas organization or based out-of-state. In Kansas a number of groups and organizations are exempt from registration. These groups are not required to apply for exempt status; it is automatic.[1]

    Kansas is one of32 states that allows registrants to use either theUnified Registration Statement (URS) or the state registration form.[2] Only seven states requiring registration do not accept the URS.

    According to Guidestar, an organization that reports on nonprofit companies, regulation of nonprofit activity protects donors and organizations from potential fraud and helps "to maintain trust in the [nonprofit] sector." According to the London School of Economics, nonprofit disclosure requirements can create privacy concerns among potential donors, thereby having an unintended negative impact on donor participation.[3][4]

    Education Policy

    Charter schools  •  Higher education  •  Public education  •  School choice 

    Education Policy Logo.png

    K-12 Public education

    TheKansas public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022 Kansas had 497,753 students enrolled in a total of1,305 schools in 287 school districts. There were 36,406 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 14 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Kansas spent on average $12,697 per pupil.[5] The state's graduation rate was 87 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[6]

    Higher education

    Kansas' higher education system is composed of 75 colleges and universities. Of these, 33 are public institutions, 26 are nonprofit private schools, and 16 are for-profit private institutions.[7]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Students who graduated from public colleges in Kansas had more debt on average than those who graduated from private schools: $25,610 compared to $24,868, respectively.
  • Between 2012 and 2014, full-time enrollment in Kansas followed a national trend of decline, falling from about 143,000 to about 138,000; however, enrollment was still 8.8 percent higher than in 2008, before the recession.
  • At public four-year colleges in Kansas, 27.6 percent graduated within four years, while 54.6 percent graduated within six years. These figures were lower than nationwide graduation rates.
  • School choice

    School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies,magnet schools, andcharter schools. Other options includeschool vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[8][9]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 10 total charter schools in Kansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 2,800 students.
  • In Kansas, there were 41,520 students enrolled in 360 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 7.94 percent of the state's total school-age population.
  • Implemented in 2015, the Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program allows corporations to claim tax credits for contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations, which provide private school scholarships to low-income students in underperforming public schools.
  • Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

    Charter schools

    Charter schools in Kansas are public schools operated independently of public school systems, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 10 total charter schools in Kansas in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 2,800 students.
  • Overall, charter school students accounted for 0.57 percent of total public school enrollment in Kansas in 2015.
  • TheKansas State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1994.
  • Election Policy

    Election Policy Logo.png

    Ballot access requirements

    In order to get on the ballot in Kansas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines.These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

    There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

    1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
    2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
    3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

    This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Kansas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates,click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contactstate election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

    Redistricting

    Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Kansas' four United States Representatives and 165 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[10][11][12][13]

    Kansas was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information aboutredistricting in Kansas after the 2020 census.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Following the 2020 United States Census, Kansas was apportioned four congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.
  • Kansas' House of Representatives is made up of 125 districts; Kansas' State Senate is made up of 40 districts.
  • In Kansas, the state legislature draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. State legislative district maps must be approved by the state supreme court.
  • Voting



    Election Policy VNT Logo.png

    Election Information
    2026 election and voting dates
    Voter registration
    Early voting
    Absentee/mail-in voting
    All-mail voting
    Voter ID laws
    State poll opening and closing times
    Time off work for voting

    Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

    Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

    The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which includevoter identification requirements,early voting provisions,online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

    This article includes the following information about voting policies in Kansas:

    Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

    For information on elections happening this year,click here.

    Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Clickhere to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

    Energy Policy

    Energy Policy-Logo.png

    Energy information

    Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as availablenatural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

    Fracking

    Read about Kansas' state energy profile »

    As of May 2017, there were 1,039 horizontal wells that were hydraulically fractured. In 2016, Kansas had 93,464 producing oil and gas wells. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, approximately 244,000 oil and gas wells were drilled in Kansas from 1947 to 2011. Of that total, approximately 57,000 wells—23.4 percent of all wells—were hydraulically fractured.[14][15][16]

    The map to the left shows known oil and gas fields in Kansas as of May 2017. The map to the right shows the location of hydraulically fracturedhorizontal wells as of January 2015.

    Oil and natural gas fields in Kansas as of May 2017 (click to enlarge)
    Hydraulically fractured horizontal wells in Kansas as of January 2015 (click to enlarge)

    Environmental Policy

    Environmental Policy Logo.png

    Environmental information

    Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy inKansas.

    Endangered species

    Endangered species policy in Kansas involves the identification and protection ofendangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of July 2016, Kansas was home 18 species—nine endangered species and nine threatened species—listed under the federalEndangered Species Act (ESA).
  • Of these, 16 were animal species and two were plant species.
  • Finance Policy

    Policypedia Finance Final.png

    Financial regulation information

    The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to theFederal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[17]

    Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and theFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[18][19]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • In 2015, there were a total of 260 distinct commercial banks in Kansas, with total deposits of $68.16 billion.
  • The Office of the State Bank Commissioner of Kansas is responsible for the regulation of banks in Kansas.
  • In 2015, a total of 11,325 financial crimes were reported in Kansas according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), an agency of the United States Department of Treasury.
  • Some, such as theBrookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as theCato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[20][21]

    Healthcare Policy

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    Healthcare information

    Healthcare policy in Kansas involves thecreation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such asinsurance,pharmaceuticals andhealth information technology.

    According to theNational Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[22]

    Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is therising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as onstate budgets.

    Other issues in healthcare policy include

    Medicaid spending

    Kansas'Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is theChildren's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program fromMedicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

    Effect of the Affordable Care Act

    Theimpact of theAffordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. PresidentBarack Obama (D) signed the ACA into law in 2010. The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system ofhealth insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain healthinsurance.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Between 2013 and 2016, the number of uninsured individuals in Kansas declined by 28.4%.
  • About 86,000 individuals in Kansas were enrolled in health plans offered through the health insurance exchange in 2017. Enrollment in Medicaid amounted to about 387,000 in May 2017.
  • TheKaiser Family Foundation found that between 2016 and 2017, average monthly premiums forbenchmark plans on Kansas's exchange increased by an average of 46% in the Wichita market, from $248 to $361.

  • Immigration Policy

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    Immigration information

    Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

    Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

    Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known assanctuary jurisdictions.

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Kansas enacted a law in 2004 that allowed individuals residing in the state without legal permission to access in-state tuition rates under certain circumstances. Eligible individuals must have lived in Kansas for three years and must have graduated from a high school in the state.
  • In 2014, the population of Kansas amounted to nearly 2.9 million residents. Native-born citizens comprised 93.2 percent of the population; 2.4 percent of residents were naturalized citizens. Approximately 4.4 percent of Kansas residents were non-citizens.
  • Kansas' poverty rate during 2014 was 9.4 percent. Among native-born citizens, 8.4 percent lived below the poverty line, compared to 28.1 percent of non-citizens.
  • Pension Policy

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    Public pensions

    Kansaspublic pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Kansas receive retirement benefits.

    There were 12 public pension systems in Kansas as of 2020. Of these, one was a state-level program. Membership in Kansas' various pension systems totaled 331,493, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 159,804 were active members.[23]

    HIGHLIGHTS
  • Total contributions of $1.6 billion were made to Kansas' state and local pension systems, in fiscal year 2020. Of this amount, $464.0 million came from employees.
  • Kansas' state and local pension systems made payments totaling $2.0 billion, in fiscal year 2020.
  • Kansas' state and local pension systems held $22.2 billion in total cash and investment holdings, as of fiscal year 2020.

  • Public policy in other states

    Click your state for an overview of policy information in your state.
    http://ballotpedia.org/Public policy in STATE


    Footnotes

    1. Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012).Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
    2. "Multistate Filing Form," accessed December 17, 2014
    3. Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
    4. London School of Economics, "Campaign finance laws that make small donations public may lead to fewer people contributing and to smaller donations," January 7, 2015
    5. United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
    6. National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
    7. National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Kansas," accessed July 12, 2016
    8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
    9. Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
    10. All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
    11. Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
    12. The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
    13. Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
    14. Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs nameddatabase
    15. Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs namedstats
    16. Cite error: Invalid<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs namedKSfracking
    17. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Government Performance and Results Act Annual Performance Report 2011," July 10, 2012
    18. The National Bureau of Economic Research, "A Brief History of Regulations Regarding Financial Markets in the United States: 1789 to 2009," September 2011
    19. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "The U.S. Federal Financial Regulatory System: Restructuring Federal Bank Regulation," January 19, 2006
    20. Brookings, "The Origins of the Financial Crisis," November 24, 2008
    21. The Cato Institute, "Did Deregulation Cause the Financial Crisis?" July 2009
    22. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Health," accessed July 8, 2015
    23. United States Census Bureau,2020 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Tables accessed February 23, 2022
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