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At Health Forward Foundation, we’re committed to providing timely updates on key local and federal policy developments that impact the health and well-being of our communities. This resource is designed to help our advocacy partners stay connected to the issues, opportunities, and decisions shaping our region.
The following updates cover recent local and federal policy developments affecting our service area in Kansas and Missouri — with implications for housing, digital access, health, and civic participation.
Land policy approved In late March, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved a new Leveraging Assets for New Development (LAND) policy. It directs county staff to conduct an inventory of county-owned land and evaluate how housing could be integrated into capital projects over the next three to five years.
The policy emerged from the county’s Ad Hoc Housing Work Group and draws from a national “Putting Assets to Work” framework that encourages local governments to leverage existing public real estate to meet community priorities without raising taxes. It is part of a broader, ongoing effort to address housing shortages and development barriers in the county, alongside a comprehensive zoning update expected in July 2026.
Overland Park launches portfolio homes pilot On April 6th, the Overland Park City Council approved the Portfolio Homes Development Pilot Program. The city has pre-approved a variety of single-family home plans for which building permit fees will be waived. Access to pre-approved housing plans helps speed up construction and reduces the financial burden of the permitting and approval process, lowering a key barrier to housing production.
2027 budget process underway The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, recently kicked off the 2027 budget process with a community “DotteTalk” conversation. Budget workshops are expected to continue through the spring, with the County Administrator scheduled to present a proposed budget in early August.
The services funded through the county budget directly shape residents’ ability to access transportation, safe parks, public health supports, and the basic infrastructure that underlies thriving neighborhoods. Public engagement in the budgeting process is critical to ensuring it reflects community needs and values. Visit the UG website for more information on how to participate.
Voters approve property tax assessment limits Voters in both counties approved measures that limit property tax assessments. In Cass County, the plan freezes a single-family homeowner’s property tax bill at the amount owed when they first qualify. In Lafayette County, the plan caps annual property tax assessment increases at 5% or the rate of inflation. Property tax assessment reforms have been a prominent issue in recent years as policymakers and stakeholders work to limit the harm of rising property tax burden without jeopardizing school funding and other local tax revenue.
Broadband and digital equity plan in progress
Jackson County has been developing a Broadband and Digital Equity Plan – an important investment in the county’s digital infrastructure and in residents who face barriers to the digital economy. Access to devices and broadband shapes access to health care, education, economic opportunity, and civic participation. Communities of color and people who are paid low wages are disproportionately impacted by the digital divide. When a family lacks reliable internet access, they may miss telehealth appointments, struggle to help children with schoolwork, or be unable to access public benefits and job opportunities online.
FY 2026–2027 budget adopted In late March, the City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget. The $2.6 billion budget took effect on May 1st. While a significant portion was allocated to public safety, the city also approved key investments in housing stability:
RESOLUTION 260306: Affordable housing permit reforms The City Council approved Resolution 260306, directing the City Manager to expedite permit approvals and waive permit fees for eligible affordable housing development projects serving households at or below 70% of Area Median Income. The City will also establish an Affordable Housing Permit Navigator to guide developers through the process.
Permitting delays and fees add real costs to affordable housing projects, which often translates into higher rents and fewer units built. Health Forward submitted testimony in support of this resolution, as access to stable, affordable housing is associated with better health outcomes.
ORDINANCE 260286: Affordable housing set-aside fee (pending) The City Council has been considering Ordinance 260286, which would reduce the Affordable Housing Set-Aside Payment in Lieu (PIL) fee from $100,000 per affordable unit to just $5,000 per unit of any type. The ordinance would also amend prevailing wage and minority-contracting requirements for projects that receive tax incentives.
Health Forward submitted testimony in opposition. A $5,000 payment in lieu fee is so low that it would function not as a meaningful alternative to building affordable units, but as a near-costless opt-out. Opposition was also voiced by members of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Asset Funders Network. The ordinance is scheduled for full council discussion in May.
RESOLUTION 260362: SECTION 108 Loan guarantee pilot On April 23rd, the City Council passed Resolution 260362, directing the City Manager to implement a pilot program to secure financing through HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program for eligible economic development and community development projects. This funding is intended for projects that address chronic slum and blight, complementing the city’s vacant land activation initiative.
The Section 108 program allows cities to leverage Community Development Block Grant entitlement funds to access larger loans for community development investments. Used well, it can unlock capital for affordable housing production and neighborhood revitalization in communities that have experienced the deepest disinvestment.
FY 2027 BUDGET REQUEST: HUD Cuts proposed On April 3rd, the Trump administration released its full discretionary budget request for fiscal year 2027, proposing a $10.7 billion (13%) reduction in HUD funding compared to enacted FY 2026 levels. Key proposals include:
These eliminations would remove critical tools that communities of color, rural communities, and people who make low wages depend on to access and maintain stable, attainable, and affordable housing.
This proposal follows the administration’s previous attempts to restructure HUD’s Continuum of Care grants, which would have ended funding for hundreds of Housing First projects. Congress intervened via the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. In late April, HUD announced over $1 billion in renewal funding for CoC projects.
FY 2027 BUDGET REQUEST: HHS cuts proposed
The FY 2027 budget also proposes cutting Health and Human Services (HHS) spending by more than 12%, including deep reductions to the National Institutes of Health, elimination of a health research agency, and creation of a new chronic disease-focused agency called the Administration for a Healthy America.
Reductions to federally funded public health research threaten the evidence base that communities and advocates rely on to make the case for equitable policy.
Important context: The president’s budget is a proposal, not law. Congress is responsible for setting final funding levels and is not required to follow the president’s request. In 2026, Congress did not adopt the majority of the proposed HUD cuts
SAVE AMERICA ACT: Democracy and voting rights Health Forward has continued to monitor the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship and photo identification to vote in federal elections. Despite being a priority of the administration, the bill’s path through Congress remains unclear, as congressional leadership has identified other items as higher priorities, including the immigration enforcement reconciliation package.
Health Forward will continue to track these developments and provide timely updates as implementation timelines approach and congressional negotiations unfold.
Together we can build inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities.
