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*For Immediate Release:    *     
November 14, 2025
          
*Contact:    *     
Grace Hoge
[email protected]

Governor Kelly Announces Conclusion of ‘The People’s Budget’ Listening Tour

"~~Nearly 820 Kansans Join Governor’s Eight-Stop Tour,  
Donate More Than 2,300 Pounds to Food Drive~~" 

*TOPEKA* – Governor Laura Kelly announced on Friday the conclusion of her eight-stop statewide listening tour, ‘The People’s Budget.’ Joined by Adam Proffitt, Director of the Budget/Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, Governor Kelly traveled to Salina, Hays, Garden City, Kansas City, Kansas, Leawood, Emporia, Pittsburg, and Wichita, and spoke to nearly 820 Kansans. Over the course of the tour, a total of 2,341 pounds of food were donated to food drives to help those in need in partnership with the Kansas Food Bank and Harvesters – The Community Food Network. All of the food donated will be distributed within the communities in which it was collected. 

"When launching this tour, I encouraged Kansans to attend and provide their insight into how my next budget can reflect our shared priorities and values – and over 800 Kansans did just that. A good state budget is one that works for the people and is sustainable over the long term, and the conversations we’ve had over the course of these eight stops will be invaluable when crafting my next budget," *Governor Laura Kelly said. *"I want to also applaud Kansans for stepping up to help their neighbors in a time of need. Through the over 2,300 pounds of food generously donated to food partners across the state, we are making a real difference in many Kansans' lives."

A recap of the eight-stop listening tour is below.   

*Salina* 
Governor Kelly kicked off ‘The People’s Budget’ listening tour at Salina South High School on October 9. Nearly 100 Kansans attended the town hall and focused on continuing to fully fund public education, increasing funding for special education, and Medicaid expansion in Kansas.  

*ICYMI:* 

*Governor urges Kansans to be part of budget process during Salina stop* [ [link removed] ] 
*10.10.25 | Charles Rankin | Salina Journal* 

It's not just her budget, Gov. Laura Kelly told about 100 people Oct. 9 in Salina. 

"It's also your budget," said Kelly, who was launching a statewide listening tour at Salina South High School, where she was joined on stage by Adam Proffitt, state administration secretary and budget director. 

As part of the People's Budget tour, Kelly and Proffitt explained to attendees the importance of the process it takes to create Kansas's budget each year. 

"While I may be the one to propose the budget, it's not just my budget," Kelly said. 


* *Governor Hosts Salina Townhall* [ [link removed] ]  
*10.09.25 | Todd Pittenger | KSAL*   

* *Gov. Kelly kicks off ‘The People’s Budget Tour’ in Salina* [ [link removed] ]
*10.09.25 | Sophia Gernander | KWCH* 

*Hays
*Governor Kelly traveled to Hays on October 29 for the second stop on the listening tour, and the first stop to double as a food drive. Nearly 90 Kansans joined Governor Kelly and Secretary Proffitt at the Bob & Pat Schmidt Community Center to discuss the value of investing in public education, supporting the Jobs for Americas Graduates program, property taxes, and fully funding special education. In partnership with St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, Kansans attending the event donated 347 pounds of non-perishable food items and over 17 pounds of infant formula. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Governor Kelly Hosts ‘The People’s Budget’ Tour Stops, Food Drives in Hays and Garden City* [ [link removed] ] 
*10.30.25 | KRSL* 

*Garden City
*Governor Kelly continued on to Garden City on October 29 for her third stop of the budget tour at Garden City High School. 60 Kansans joined the Governor and Secretary Proffitt to emphasize the need to tackle Kansas’ water challenges and reiterate supporting Kansas’ health care system, particularly rural hospitals and access to mental health care. Kansans donated 117 pounds of non-perishable food to Kansas Food Bank’s Garden City Warehouse. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Gov. Kelly’s listening tour makes stop in Garden City* [ [link removed] ]
*10.31.25 | Garden City Telegram* 

*Kansas City* 
Governor Kelly hosted her fourth listening tour at the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, West Wyandotte Branch, on November 3. Nearly 160 Kansans joined the Governor and Secretary Proffitt to speak in support of funding for infrastructure projects, the Kansas Arts Commission, Jobs for America’s Graduates, affordable housing, and services that prevent children from entering foster care. Kansans donated 356 pounds of non-perishable food items to Harvesters.  

*ICYMI:* 

*KCK residents ask Kansas Governor Laura Kelly about community needs during statewide budget tour* [ [link removed] ]
*11.04.25 | Alyssa Jackson | KSHB* 

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is on the move.  

She calls her travels, "The People's Budget Listening Tour," where she informs Kansans about how the state's budget jeopardizes the state's financial health and listens to how Kansans want to help her fix it.  

It was standing room only on Monday night as roughly 150 people showed up in West Wyandotte Library in Kansas City, Kansas, to hear from the governor. 


* *Kansas governor Laura Kelly talks budget, SNAP cuts at KCK event* [ [link removed] ]
*11.04.25 | Jackson Kurtz | KMBC* 

* *Governor Kelly Hosts Fourth ‘The People’s Budget’ Tour Stop in Kansas City, Kansas | KRSL.com* [ [link removed] ] 
*11.04.25 | KRSL* 

*Leawood
*On November 5, Governor Laura Kelly hosted her fifth budget tour stop at Leawood City Hall. Joined by nearly 90 Kansans, Governor Kelly and Secretary Proffitt discussed early childhood initiatives, programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Medicaid expansion, and funding for the arts and humanities. Kansans donated 611 pounds of food items to Harvesters. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Kansas governor faces questions in Leawood on budget, education and shutdown aid* [ [link removed] ]  
*11.05.25 | Kirsten Stokes | Fox4*  

On Wednesday, Leawood residents and community members filled City Hall for Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s fifth stop in “The Peoples Budget Listening Tour’, pressing her with questions about the state’s budget, federal aid, and ongoing political challenges.  

Kelly, joined by Budget Director Adam Proffitt, addressed a range of issues from the state’s fiscal outlook to special education funding. 

*Emporia
*Governor Kelly traveled to the Lyon County History Center on November 6 to speak with nearly 80 Kansans. They continued the trend that has dominated the tour by asking Governor Kelly to continue fully funding public education and increase funding for special education. Kansans also spoke about boosting access to health care in rural areas and expanding Medicaid, investing in transportation, and providing free school lunches to students. In partnership with the Salvation Army Food Pantry, 179 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Emporians share priorities during governor’s statewide budget tour* [ [link removed] ] *11.06.25 | Bryan Grabauskas | WIBW*  

Gov. Laura Kelly was in Emporia Thursday night to get the pulse on what Kansans think the state’s budget should cover.  

The “People’s Budget” Listening Tour brought the governor to the Lyon County History Center, where area residents were able to share their thoughts on what programs and services should be prioritized in next year’s budget. On most people’s mind was educational funding and expanding healthcare.  


* *People’s Budget listening tour brings Kansas Governor to Lyon County History Center Thursday evening* [ [link removed] ]
*11.06.25 | Tagan Trahoon | KVOE*   

* *Gov. Kelly brings 'The People's Budget Listening Tour' to Emporia* [ [link removed] ]
*11.06.25 | Austin Hoagland | The Emporia Gazette*   

*Pittsburg* 
For her second-to-last budget tour stop on November 10, Governor Kelly and Secretary Proffitt spoke to over 120 Kansans at the Frisco Event Center in Pittsburg. Kansans spoke on a variety of topics, including their desire for increased funding for rural hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs, and mental health care, as well as the importance of investing in early childhood initiatives, the impacts tariffs are having on Kansas agriculture, and property taxes. Kansans donated 520 pounds of food items to Wesley House Food Pantry. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Gov. Kelly addresses Kansas budget concerns in Pittsburg* [ [link removed] ] 
*11.10.25 | Dustin Lattimer | KSN* 

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made a stop in Pittsburg Monday night as part of her statewide “listening tour.” 

The governor was joined by State Budget Director, Adam Proffitt. 

The two are on an eight-city tour, speaking to Kansans about the state’s budget ahead of the 2026 legislative session. 

On Monday, they addressed a packed house at the Frisco Event Center before taking questions. 


* Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Discusses Key Priorities in Sit-down Interview with KOAM [ [link removed] ]
*11.12.25 | Blake Gulley | KOAM* 

*Wichita*
For the final budget tour stop on November 12, Governor Kelly and Secretary Proffitt were joined by nearly 120 Kansans at Wichita East High School. Governor Kelly wrapped up the tour by discussing health care access in rural Kansas, bolstering public transit options and strengthening transportation infrastructure across the state, and continuing to invest in services that prevent children from entering foster care. In Wichita, Kansans donated 211 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Kansas Food Bank. 

*ICYMI:* 

*Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly brings budget tour to Wichita* [ [link removed] ]  
*11.13.25 | Sophia Gernander | KWCH*  

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly was in Wichita on Wednesday, her final stop of “The People’s Budget Tour,” an opportunity for Kansans to share their thoughts ahead of the legislative session.  

The top questions for the governor on Wednesday night focused on Medicaid and SNAP benefits. People wanted to know if they’re going to receive their full SNAP benefits. 


* *Gov. Laura Kelly wraps up budget tour in Wichita* [ [link removed] ]  
*11.12.25 | Kate Devine | KAKE*   

Photos from throughout ‘The People’s Budget’ listening tour are available for media use below.


* Photo 1 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 2 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 3 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 4 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 5 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 6 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 7 [ [link removed] ]
* Photo 8 [ [link removed] ]

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