Governor Kelly signed House Bill 2237, expanding tax benefits for employers who provide child care services. Legislation like this helps support families who've been experiencing barriers to childcare. We hope to see businesses take advantage.

The Early Childhood Transition Task Force - The task force was set up to explore one proposed solution in particular: a major overhaul of state government administration of child care programs. The task force is expected to develop a plan to implement the governor’s reelection campaign promise to consolidate childcare programs spread across multiple agencies, elevating them into a new cabinet-level agency.

Governor Kelly and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) awarded $8.1 million in grants to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka and the Phillips Fundamental Learning Center in Wichita. These funds are the first round of the available $18 million in Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Community Capacity Grants, focused on growing educational opportunities for Kansas children and families.

Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announced funding awards to 52 statewide organizations for the purpose of creating new, sustainable, high-quality licensed cchildcareslots across the state and accelerating capacity-building in support of families, businesses, and economic development. These grants are part of the Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program, which was designed to advance the rapid development of additional chchildcarelots statewide. The program will provide $43.6M in grant funding, which will create 4,211 new chchildcarelots across the state.

Efforts were made to enact the Protect Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, which would require the reporting of instances of suspected financial exploitation under certain circumstances, including by a financial advisor. In the next session, United WE will work with aging policy stakeholders to continue pushing this legislation and others that would benefit women over 65.

The National Telecommunications Information and Administration (NTIA) awarded the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) nearly $43 million to develop infrastructure key to expanding affordable high-speed internet to remote and underserved communities. The open-access “middle mile” infrastructure will connect local Internet networks, primarily in rural areas, to major, high-capacity national and regional networks.

The Broadband Acceleration Grant program is poised to invest $85 million over 10 years toward bridging the digital divide in Kansas, thanks to broadband modernization funding provided through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE). The Grant Program 3.0 opened the application window at the end of June.

The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is led by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) office at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide a total of $42.45 billion to State Broadband Offices to expand broadband to unserved areas across the country.

The Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (LINC) program will provide $30 million in competitive funding opportunities to build the infrastructure needed for more homes and businesses to access broadband. 

Governor Kelly announced that $44.5 million will be awarded to nine service providers to extend high-speed internet to 18,468 locations in 15 underserved counties across the state. This is the third and final award phase of the Kansas Capital Project Funds (CPF) Broadband Infrastructure Program.

Important work has taken place throughout Kansas in educating policymakers at every level on how critical paid family leave policies are to unlocking women’s economic potential.

United WE will continue working with policymakers on opportunities to establish paid family leave policies and will continue to collaborate with business leaders to ensure our efforts resonate with employers of all sizes.

Eyebrow Threading (SB 348) - SB 348 would exempt eyebrow threading (a process of hair removal) from the practice of cosmetology, reducing the barrier to occupational licensing. On April 11th Governor Kelly signed SB 348, which will take effect on July 1st, 2022.

Licensee Electronic Credentials (SB 66) - SB 66 would require all licensing bodies organized by the State of Kansas to issue a paper-based and verified electronic license, registration, or certification. SB 66 was signed into law by Governor Kelly on April 20th. It will take effect as of July 1st, 2023.

Counseling Compact (HB 2288) - HB 2288 would provide the legislative framework necessary to participate in the counseling compact without amending any section of law related to licensure, regulation, or practice of professional counselors. HB 2288 will take effect as of July 1st, 2023.

Adult Care Homes Operations (HB 2125) - HB 2125 permits Board of Cosmetology and Board of Barbering licensees to operate in adult care homes and long term care units without having to apply for a new salon or clinic location. HB 2125 was approved byGovernor Kelly on April 19, 2023.

United WE will continue supporting efforts to create a Maternal Mortality Review Board. Senate Bill 118, from the 2023 session, would expand the Board’s responsibilities to include helping providers/facilities continuity of care, implementation of performance measures, recognize historical trauma related to disparate outcomes, and review of racial/geographic disparities of maternal deaths. No action was taken on SB 118. It is likely to be considered during the 2024 legislative session.

United WE’s Appointments Project® has connected with 2,500 women across the State of Kansas with opportunities to serve on civic boards and commissions.

Additionally, United WE held a joint event with American Public Square on July 11th, 2023 to dive into the issue of incivility in politics and how it can be a barrier for women when they’re contemplating their civic leadership journey.

Childcare has garnered significant media attention and has been the focus of bipartisan legislative efforts. Some important strides have been made with the help of United WE’s research and advocacy, including:

$78 million boost in funding for Missouri’s childcare subsidy program. This funding increases the reimbursement rates to providers with the goal of encouraging child care providers to offer services to low-income and foster families.

$56 million dedicated Pre-K programming. The 2022 state budget included an expansion of state-funded pre-kindergarten targeted at households of low-income four-year-olds. The priority is to serve children whose families are at or below 185% of the poverty line.

Progress was made in building a coalition of stakeholders to advocate in passing a series of tax credits to stabilize the childcare industry. The proposed legislation includes three kinds of tax credits: 1) For donors to child care facilities, 2) for employers who help pay for employees’ child care and 3) for child care providers.

However, much more work must be completed on this critical issue if women are going to be able to maximize their potential in the workforce. Additionally, women of color make up the majority of the childcare workforce, making this an equity issue. In addition to advocating for increased funding for childcare and Pre-K, United WE will continue pushing for strategic credentialing frameworks for the early childhood workforce that balances child welfare and workforce development.

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In 2022, United WE was granted funding by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to conduct a two-year nation-wide research study to identify licensing barriers in the childcare industry. Learn more here. The results of the study will be released by early 2024 and supplemented by research in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma on childcare licensing barriers at the county and municipal levels.

A concerted legislative push has been made to increase funding for long-term care oversight.

Looking ahead, United WE will collaborate with stakeholders, including AARP, to increase the circuit breaker tax credit, which is an important tool that assists elderly homeowners and renters with property taxes. Additionally, we will advocate for allowing SNAP benefits to be used for meals prepared outside the home. Lastly, we believe more paid family leave policies would positively impact the ability of Missourians to care for their elderly loved ones.

The State of Missouri awarded roughly $260 million to 60 recipients, including companies, nonprofits and municipalities, to expand broadband. Projects receiving funds are expected to create more than 55,000 connections in locations that previously lacked adequate internet access.

United WE will continue educating its audience about broadband funding opportunities and monitoring connectivity due to this additional funding, as access to broadband impacts Missouri women’s ability to seek telehealth services.

In addition to expanding opportunities for more telehealth services, Missouri extended Medicaid postpartum benefits to new mothers. Previously, state law limited Medicaid postpartum care to 60 days. Under newly passed legislation that United WE helped advocate for, that coverage now lasts for a full year — giving mothers more opportunity to treat health conditions and mental health issues.

Occupational licensing is an area where United WE has had several legislative wins, ranging from eliminating regulations that sharply overesaw shampooing and hair braiding to passing reciprocity agreements for military spouses in sectors that require licenses and certifications.

In addition, the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program addresses workforce needs by encouraging adults to pursue a certificate, degree, or industry-recognized credential in an area designated as high need. Many of these gaps can be filled by entrepreneurs at all corners of the state.

Stakeholders will also continue pushing for the Right to Start Act, which includes a series of pro-entrepreneur provisions including dedicating five percent of government contracts to small new businesses and spurring new investors in entrepreneurs.

This fall, we are partnering with the Center for American Entrepreneurship on a roundtable with women entrepreneurs to dive deeper into understanding the barriers they face.

Important work has taken place throughout Missouri in educating policymakers at every level on how critical paid family leave policies are to unlocking women’s economic potential. For example, Kansas City recently expanded its paid leave policy, which was the first of its kind in the country for city employees.

United WE will continue working with policymakers on opportunities to establish paid family leave policies and will continue to collaborate with business leaders to ensure our efforts resonate with employers of all sizes.

United WE’s Appointments Project® has connected 2,500 women with opportunities to serve on civic boards and commissions.

In partnership with MU Extension, we launched SHOW ME R.E.D.I in February 2022. This 12-week program prepared women for public office through appointments or elected positions.

Additionally, we held a joint event with American Public Square on July 11th, 2023 to dive into the issue of incivility in politics and how it can be a barrier for women when they’re contemplating their civic leadership journey.