KC Tech Council charting course for 2025 legislative, policy priorities
The KC Tech Council has updated our Policies & Priorities for 2025 . These policies provide a framework for our legislative work at both the state and federal level. The KC Tech Council Policy Committee Guiding Principles represent the collective voice of KC Tech Council’s 200-plus member companies and organizations, from entrepreneurs to enterprise, and educate membership on the important role public policy plays in the sustainable growth of the tech industry in Kansas City. This empowers and mobilizes our community to effectively use collective voice in supporting or opposing policy matters that affect the growth of the tech industry. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in these discussions and efforts.
Sign up to join the KC Tech Council DC Fly-In
Sign up for the 2025 KC Tech Council DC Fly-In to connect with Kansas and Missouri members of Congress and key federal stakeholders on April 28-29, 2025, in Washington, DC. This event offers an unparalleled opportunity to discuss critical issues, rules, and regulations affecting the tech community. Attendees will gain valuable insights from members and committee leaders and get an exclusive inside-the-beltway perspective on upcoming legislative priorities in addition to exceptional networking opportunities, allowing you to build meaningful connections with peer business leaders and federal officials. Don’t miss your chance to represent Kansas City and champion the growth of our tech industry. Register now and join us for this upcoming trip. Attendees also have the opportunity to participate with TECNA (Tech Councils of North America) conference and speaker lineup. More details to come.
Kansas Senate Bill 51; Data Centers and Tech Infrastructure are Critical to Growth
KC Tech Council CEO Kara Lowe recently testified in support of Kansas Senate Bill 51, which is crucial for the tech and overall business community with an aim to attract significant data center investments to Kansas, foster economic growth and create high-quality jobs. The KCTC’s involvement and your voice in support of SB51 is vital because we represent more than 200 tech companies and the thousands of employees that rely on a robust data infrastructure to innovate and thrive. Supporting this bill aligns with our mission to advance innovation, create jobs, and drive economic development, making Kansas a competitive destination for technology investments. In the coming weeks, we will be asking you to support this effort with us.
Kansas City Area Represented in Missouri State Leadership
The 2025 Missouri Session will be in part lead by the leadership from the Kansas City area with State Rep. Jon Patterson (Lee’s Summit) is now serving as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and he brings strong bipartisan support to this role and true leadership to create policies to grow the State. His ability to unite members from both parties is exemplified by the support he received from Rep. Ashely Aune (Kansas City), the Democratic floor leader in the House. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (Parkville) has been elected Majority Floor Leader of the Missouri Senate. KC Tech Council looks forward to connecting with all three of these elected officials on future policies that are critical to the KCTC businesses.
TECNA recent letters on executive orders on behalf of tech councils
A benefit to The KC Tech Council membership is the connection the KCTC has with TECNA (Tech Councils of North America) and via that relationship KCTC continues to collaborate with the organization’s leadership to track potential impacts that recent Executive Orders may have on our membership’s businesses. Although the federal funding freeze situation remains fluid, we will keep you up to date on TECNA’s activity on the issue. Here is a letter TECNA sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Matthew J. Vaeth. While the Administration has since rescinded the OMB order, we are still seeking clarification on the status of existing grants, the timeline for internal review, and guidance on future grant applications. Many organizations continue to express uncertainty about pending grant disbursements and the long-term stability of vital funding programs. KCTC and TECNA will be monitoring these EOs and any potential legal actions related to them for updates.
Interested in becoming more involved and staying up to date, become a member of KC Tech Council and take advantage of our events, networking opportunities and more. Register today.