2023 LEGISLATIVE & POLICY PRIORITIES

With headquarters in Topeka, the Kansas Chamber is the leading statewide, memberdriven organization that serves as the most credible legislative voice for the Kansas business community at the statehouse. Its president and CEO, Alan Cobb, said it is a reputation the Chamber doesn’t take lightly.

“Kansas has seen improvement in some economic metrics. Our regulatory climate has improved, and our employment laws are among the best in the nation. Unfortunately, the work is not done.”

—Alan Cobb President/CEO Kansas Chamber

“There is no other organization in the state focused on the laws, rules and regulations that impact a business’ operations like the Kansas Chamber,” Cobb said. “Regardless of the business sector or industry, what happens in Topeka at the Kansas Statehouse can help or hurt expansion and investment. The Chamber is there to stop the bad policy ideas and promote the good ones.”

The Chamber recently released its legislative and policy priorities in connection with the beginning of the

2023 legislative session in Topeka. The agenda’s priorities are based on the work of member working groups, months of conversations with business leaders across the state as well as research from the Chamber’s Annual Business Leaders Poll, Kansas Tax Modernization report, and the Kansas Competitiveness Analysis report.

“Kansas has seen improvement in some economic metrics. Our regulatory climate has improved, and our employment laws are among the best in the nation,” Cobb said. “Unfortunately, the work is not done. Actions taken by other states have made them more attractive to investment and to workers. We must act to become competitive.”

Pointing to examples of the challenges facing the state and its business community, Cobb said, “The lack of population growth continues to be a barrier for greater economic prosperity. And our legal climate has become favorable to the trial bar.”

Cobb said the Chamber’s 2023 agenda proposes how the state can address the challenges and seize on the opportunities before it. The agenda includes policy positions on numerous issues, but the Chamber will actively pursue about a dozen bills focused on five areas: taxes, workforce, legal reform, energy and regulations.