Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Following the conclusion of the 2026 legislation session at the state capitol on May 28, area representatives held a Town Hall on Tuesday, June 2, to discuss passed legislation, the state budget, and constitutional amendments on the next ballot.

Wick Thomas, District 19 House of Representatives (D), was joined by Senator Patty Lewis, 7th District (D), and Emily Weber, District 24 House of Representatives (D) at the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, (2657 Independence Blvd.) and spent an hour sharing highlights and lowlights of this year’s General Assembly before taking time to address questions from constituents.

 Representative Thomas’s district includes most of Northeast, as well as Sugar Creek, and a section of Independence.

Thomas stated the highlights of this session included the opening of a satellite office in Kansas City’s West Bottoms and recognizing 120 area students in the Glory of Missouri awards program, including nine from Northeast High School.

Difficulties with passing progressive legislation, stated Thomas, was tied to the Speaker of the House selection of bills to be read before the House, and the Super Majority of House of Representative seats.

Legislator Weber introduced herself as the representative for the downtown and midtown areas, now in her third term, having been elected in 2020. Weber offered that during the session that just concluded, 82 policy bills were TAFPed (Truly Agreed Finally Passed) along with 17 appropriations bills as required by the state constitution.

Governor Mike Kehoe has the power to veto any of those, stated Weber, with the final day to veto set at July 15. Then legislators will go back and fight for those bills and appropriations through bipartisan negotiations on September 16.

“We did not fund a lot of things,” said Weber. “We defunded a lot of things,” she said, and referenced negotiations for $52 million in childcare subsidies the House could not pass, but that Senate negotiations did pass, unless the governor vetoes that appropriation.

Weber also touched on issues placed on the ballot in the August 4 primary, including the elimination of the state income tax and that the language on the ballot could be confusing to voters. She pointed out that the State of Kansas tried to eliminate its income tax under Sam Brownback, Kansas Governor from 2011 to 2018.

“This is the Show-Me State,” said Weber. “Kansas showed us, it didn’t work.”

Senator Lewis introduced herself as a resident of south Kansas City but added her family had ties to Northeast,  stating that her father was a graduate of Northeast High School and she and her husband were married at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church (301 Benton Blvd.)

Lewis was elected to her first term as District 7 Senator in 2024, but has also served in the House of Representatives in District 20 and is a Registered Nurse.

Senator Lewis stated that with 34 senators, it has been easier to pass bipartisan legislation, including Senate bills to address First Responder trauma and have January recognized as Blood Donor Month on the state level.

Legislation that was introduced but not passed included property tax reform and eliminating taxes on grocery items.

Lewis announced that within the Kansas City area, over $2.1 billion of the 2027 state budget was appropriated for operating expenses and $110 million in capital Improvements.

“During the budget process, with all the cuts that were going on, the engagement we had was amazing,“ said Lewis. “It does make a difference when you come down to Jefferson City and advocate for what’s important to you.”

The Kansas City area includes Senate Districts 7, 8, 9,11 and 17. Appropriated operating expenses includes funding for Metropolitan Community College ($34,732,004), University of Missouri System ($518,929,005), and Jackson County Sports Authority ($1,000,000) in addition to numerous health, wellness, and educational programs, foundations and museums.

Capital improvement funding allocated for the Kansas City area includes $299,982,707 for the Kansas City Mental Health Hospital, $39,600,000 for Interstates 35, 29 and US 169, and $237, 180 for the Streetcar Authority, to name a few.

The Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 is $48.704 billion, with 37.29 percent budgeted for Social Services, 17.31 budgeted for Elementary & Secondary Education, and 9.23 percent for Mental Health, as the three largest statewide expenses.

In addition to questions from attendees, the legislators were also able to answer questions from those logged into the Zoom platform.

As the Town Hall concluded, attendees were reminded they should contact their senators and representatives with any state-level policy or budget concerns.

Wick Thomas can reached via email at wick.thomas@mo.house.gov or call 573-751-3310

Patty Lewis can reached via email at patty.lewis@mo.senate.gov or call 573-751-6607