Taking Stock at KAIA’s Legislative Day

KAIA’s 2026 Legislative Day may not have been defined by fast-moving legislation or many urgent calls to action, its value was no less significant. The day provided an opportunity to reflect on the session, connect with legislative leaders, and look ahead to what’s next. As always, it reinforced a simple truth: strong relationships remain the foundation of effective advocacy, no matter where we are in the legislative cycle.

Legislative Day often comes with a sense of urgency with key issues at stake and important conversations unfolding in real time as legislators hold hearings, debate policy, and cast votes. But KAIA’s 2026 Legislative Day, held March 10 at the KAIA office in Topeka, offered something a little different. With most of the insurance industry’s priority bills already decided or off the table, the focus shifted to giving attendees an opportunity to take stock of the 2026 session thus far, because for many of our priority issues, the answer was essentially “done or dead.”

Like last session, legislative leaders plan to run on a 90-day calendar, with plans to adjourn in early April, giving legislators time to focus on fundraising and campaigning, as all 125 House seats and all statewide offices are up for election.

We were delighted to welcome an array of speakers from both sides of the aisle to join our agents and carrier partners. Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita), House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard (D-Lenexa), Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Augusta), Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa), and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt (R-Topeka) all joined us to provide a legislative overview from their respective perspectives.

This year’s setting at KAIA’s office allowed for more direct interaction between the speakers and our attendees. Members had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and gain insights that are often harder to capture in a larger, more fast-paced environment. The more intimate format reinforced the importance of Legislative Day as a space for connection and dialogue.

Much of the dialogue focused on this year’s legislative priorities. While the statewide budget and property tax relief are the two primary issues legislators continue to debate, several issues germane to the insurance industry have seen discussion during the 2026 session.

Tort reform continues to be a high priority, and SB 413 was an important bill for this year’s session. SB 413 would prohibit a tactic known as jury anchoring, whereby an attorney uses a figure or range of figures to “anchor” a jury’s decision when determining the amount of non-economic damages. SB 413 successfully passed the Senate but is now stalled in the House Judiciary Committee, and we do not anticipate it will be heard this session.

SB 422 corrects an error from the 2025 session and mandates that agents respond to a consumer complaint within 14 calendar days (instead of the current 15 calendar days). The 14-day time period already applies to insurance carriers, and KAIA is supportive of this bill.

HB 2430 was our priority bill for the 2026 legislative session, and at this time, the bill looks unlikely to pass. HB 2430 would create Insurance Savings Accounts, a tax-incentivized mechanism Kansas consumers and small businesses could use to contribute money to designated accounts at Kansas financial institutions. Funds placed into an Insurance Savings Account would count as a credit on Kansas state income taxes, and the proceeds from such accounts could be used to pay for insurance deductibles and premiums (property and casualty). We applaud the Kansas Department of Insurance for its creativity in advancing a bill to help Kansans offset rising insurance costs.

While much of the industry’s legislative agenda may be settled for the year, the importance of maintaining strong relationships with policymakers remains unchanged. Legislative Day served as a reminder that advocacy does not begin and end with a single bill or session. Building connections with legislators, especially at the local level, ensures that our industry continues to have a trusted voice when new issues arise. And this is your gentle reminder that the conversations don’t need to be complicated, but it’s exceptionally helpfully when they are consistent.

As the 2026 session begins to wind down, attention will soon turn to the upcoming election cycle. With all House seats and statewide offices on the ballot, the months ahead will shape the legislative landscape for years to come. Staying informed and engaged during this time will be just as important as participation during the session itself.

KAIA’s 2026 Legislative Day may not have been defined by fast-moving legislation or many urgent calls to action, but its value was no less significant. The day provided an opportunity to reflect on the session, connect with legislative leaders, and look ahead to what’s next. As always, it reinforced a simple truth: strong relationships remain the foundation of effective advocacy, no matter where we are in the legislative cycle.