The Wichita City Council and the Sedgwick County Commission have approved their annual legislative agendas for the 2024 session of the Kansas Legislature.   The agendas spell out the issues that local officials will be watching as lawmakers conduct the session in Topeka.

The City of Wichita has a joint agenda with Sedgwick County, The Greater Wichita Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wichita Partnership, and other community partners. It will be focused on the following areas:

 Support of education, childcare, and workforce development policies to help grow talent and
workforce density in South Central Kansas;
 Fully fund the downtown Wichita WSU KU Biomedical campus;
 Support a $50 million appropriation to establish a state matching grant program to address local
homelessness needs;
 Support policies that expand commercial air service at Eisenhower Airport;
 Support the extension of the Heartland Flyer Amtrak line connection;
 Support of policies that enhance economic development throughout the South Central region to
grow the economy, increase job opportunities, and enhance the quality of life.”

The City Council voted 6-1 to include medical marijuana in the city agenda.  Becky Tuttle was the no vote, saying she felt the provision in the agenda was too vague.

City Council members Brandon Johnson and Mike Hoheisel called for Medicaid expansion to be included in the agenda. That was approved with a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Lily Wu and Council members Becky Tuttle and Dalton Glasscock voting no.