December 2025 Newsletter
By Kansas Action for Children | December 17, 2025
Best Wishes for a Warm and Bright Holiday Season!
As we wrap up another year of advocacy and progress for Kansas children and families, we're grateful for your support, whether through speaking up on behalf of kids, following us on social media, or supporting our work directly.
May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and time with loved ones.
Congress Is Creating a Health Care Crisis
Over the past month, there's been endless coverage of Congress' refusal to renew the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which were previously at the center of the government shutdown this fall.
Since our last update, Congress has gotten no closer to passing the tax credits or another health care plan that could make insurance more affordable for millions of Americans.
Now, with Congress failing to move forward on a plan to make premiums on the ACA Marketplace more affordable, 200,000 Kansans are facing skyrocketing premiums. Around 73,000 of those Kansans are projected to lose health care coverage all together.
Let's be clear: Millions of Americans, including tens of thousands of Kansans, losing affordable health coverage is a crisis of Congress' own making. Families shouldn't have to choose between their health and their budget, yet that's exactly the reality Congress is creating for many.
Congress' next steps are still uncertain and often changing by the hour, but the window of opportunity for Congress to act is closing fast.
The U.S. House could vote on a health care plan (which doesn't include any extension of the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits) as soon as today.
And just this morning, enough U.S. House Republicans joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition to force a floor vote on a three-year extension of the tax credits. But just because the discharge petition now has enough signatures, that doesn't mean a floor vote will happen immediately. The U.S. House Speaker could speed up the process, but if he doesn't, it could be more than one legislative week before the measure can be voted on, pushing a vote into January 2026.
Use our action alert, where we'll send an email to the Kansas congressional delegation on your behalf, urging Congress to stop playing politics with families' health care.
Tell Your Story
The 2026 legislative session begins January 12, and we're mindful of the various federal and state funding cuts that make it harder for families to access the services they rely on.
We are initiating a story collection project to help illustrate the ways lawmakers' decisions impact the lives of everyday Kansans.
We are asking Kansans to share stories of how recent funding and policy decisions are impacting their lives. A storyteller could be someone who hasn't been able to access services, a provider who has had to adjust the services they provide, or nonprofit professionals who have seen funding cuts to their organizations.
If you or someone you know has a story to tell, complete the submission form below.
When someone submits their story, it will be just the beginning of how we hope to elevate unique voices and experiences.
We understand that sharing a story requires vulnerability so the survey includes a range of options that allow storytellers to choose how their story is shared. With permission, a story may be shared in handouts to lawmakers, on social media, or anonymously to show community impact.
We appreciate your help in this effort as we work together to ensure every Kansas kid has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive.
New KAC Resources
A Diminishing KEY Fund Puts Kids at Risk: For 25 years, the Kansas Endowment for Youth (KEY) Fund has funded early childhood programs. But due to past diversions to cover state budget gaps and the Fund's revenues trending downward, it isn't reaching as far as it could. Our blog explains how the Fund got to where it is today and three steps the Kansas Legislature can take to help bolster the Fund for future generations of Kansas kids.
How the State Budget Works: Budget decisions affect the long-term health and prosperity of our state and its residents in very real ways. That's why it's one of the most important bills lawmakers pass every year. Understanding the budget process is key to ensuring Kansans can advocate for a budget that works for them. Learn more in our updated explainer.
Recent Estimates Show Increased State Revenues — But the Outlook is Far from Certain: Kansas collected more in revenues than expected so far this year, but despite the improved outlook, the state is still on track for budget shortfalls starting in FY 2028. Read more about what the Consensus Revenues Estimating Group anticipates for the Kansas economy and state budget in the coming years.
Funding for At-Risk Services Meets Students' Unique Needs: In July, the Education Funding Task Force reviewed the At-Risk weighting for school funding. Learn more about what the Task Force heard and what they're considering when it comes to funding supportive services to students who need them.
State Estimates for Work Requirements Will Cost More Than Providing SNAP Benefits: The Department for Children and Families just released their budget request seeking more than $2.1 million in state dollars to implement work reporting requirements for 800 Kansans newly subject to the rules under the federal H.R. 1 legislation passed this summer. The kicker? Total benefits for this population cost around $1.7 million in federal dollars. Read more here.
Feeling the Pinch: The Need for a Kansas Child Tax Credit: Since 2015, the cost of living has jumped significantly. Families are stretching their budgets more than ever – and the Legislature can help alleviate some of that financial pressure. Read more about how a state child tax credit could help the families of 170,000 Kansas kids by putting money back in parents' pockets for groceries, rent, and other essentials.
The Cost of Childhood Housing Insecurity: Housing across the country has become increasingly unaffordable – and Kansas is no exception. This gap between wages and housing costs leaves families struggling to stay in affordable, safe homes. From chronic stress in crucial times of development to educational challenges, the effects of housing instability follow kids throughout their lives. Kansas lawmakers can do much more to prevent any child from not having a safe home to sleep in at night. Learn more here.
State of the State Economy: As state and federal agencies strive to get their data release schedules back on track, November was a month of delayed reports. In this edition, we catch up on some federal data from September and look toward what data we need to see how the national and state economies are really doing.
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