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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 in and around Kansas City stay connected to the issues, opportunities, and decisions shaping our region — so we can continue working together toward more just and equitable health outcomes. Today we will also share updates from the recent November election. Local elections have a direct impact on people’s daily lives and local officials are the most proximate to community needs.
A majority of voters elected Christal Watson as the next Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas (KCK), and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. She will be the first Black woman to hold this position. Watson’s campaign focused on lower taxes, budget transparency, small business support, public safety, and affordable housing.
Voters also elected new members of the Board of Commissioners. The new Mayor and Commissioners will be inaugurated on December 15 at 5 p.m.
In early October, the Board of Commissioners considered Ordinance 211013, which would have allowed people to be ticketed and fined for unlawful camping. This ordinance would have enabled the police to remove unhoused individuals from certain areas, issue tickets and fines, or impose jail time, and impound their belongings, effectively displacing people without a safe, stable living situation. The ordinance was sent back to committee after several hours of public comment. On November 20, the Commission passed a slightly amended version of the ordinance. People who are found to be in violation of the unsafe camping ordinance may be required to complete community services hours and will receive a referral for services for their first violation. They may be ticketed and fined or jailed for subsequent violations.
On November 6, the full commission passed Resolution 211228, suspending enforcement of certain sections of the code of ordinances to ensure the Unified Government’s full compliance with federal grant requirements. The County’s legal department initiated this action due to concerns about new federal grant requirements mandating the county to certify compliance with Executive Orders and federal anti-discrimination laws. There is uncertainty at the County about whether some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives may conflict with these requirements. Earlier this year, guidance from the Department of Justice emphasized that intent to promote diversity does not excuse unlawful discrimination. The Wyandotte County legal department expressed concern that the federal government could withdraw or demand repayment of federal funds, or that civil claims could be brought under the False Claims Act.
On November 2, voters approved an extension of the $0.0025 sales tax that funds improvements and maintenance for the Allen County Regional Hospital and the Medical Arts Building. Rural hospitals significantly impact the well-being and economic health of their communities. The sales tax extension allows the county to continue investing in other priorities that support a thriving and resilient Allen County.
Voters across many cities elected mayors and city council members. Additionally, Prairie Village residents rejected a ballot measure to abandon the strong mayor-council form of government, which grants the mayor significant administrative authority.
Recently, the Board of County Commissioners voted to authorize up to $121,000 to fund the WIC program in the absence of federal funding. However, the county did not need to use the funds because the federal government fully funded the program throughout the government shutdown.
The WIC program provides access to healthy foods, nutrition education, and other support for pregnant individuals, infants, and children under age five. Participants experiencing economic insecurity who utilize the WIC program give birth to healthier babies with improved infant survival rates.
Residents have new representation on the County Board of Commissioners despite there being no November election. On October 29, Michael Brown was appointed as the interim Southern Commissioner. Before this appointment, Brown served as the Mayor of Concordia for over nine years. Subsequently, on November 3, the Concordia Board of Aldermen appointed Kaleb Nierman to fill the vacant role of Mayor for the remainder of the term.
On October 16, the City Council passed Resolution 250881, establishing a pilot program. This program will provide legal services to neighborhoods to identify dangerous structures that can be adequately repaired and converted into quality, owner-occupied, affordable housing. The program will address 15 properties in the city. Restoring dangerous properties can improve neighborhood health and safety and increase surrounding property values. However, this process must be aligned with the neighborhood to prevent displacement.
On October 23, the City Council passed Ordinance 250902, which provides funding for an emergency rental assistance program for qualified tenants participating in the Right to Counsel Program. The Right to Counsel Program offers legal representation for individuals facing eviction in Kansas City, Missouri. Health Forward helped establish Right to Counsel with an award of funding in 2021.
The City Council also passed Resolution 250853, adopting the 2025 Update of the Citywide Business Plan. Priority areas include: Finance and Governance, Inclusive Growth and Development, Housing and Healthy Communities, Public Safety, and Infrastructure and Accessibility. The plan will be used to inform the city’s priority-based budgeting process. A citywide business plan is a powerful tool for building economically just systems and wealth, but only if racial equity is embedded throughout its goals, policies, investments, and accountability mechanisms.
Phil LeVota was sworn in as the interim Jackson County Executive on October 16, a position he will hold through December 31, 2026. Jackson County voters will elect the next county executive in November 2026.
Voters recently approved a ballot measure to amend the county charter, changing the county assessor position from appointed to elected. The Assessor’s Office manages the property assessment process, which has been a significant point of concern in the county. The first election for Jackson County Assessor will be in 2028. Previously, Jackson County was the sole county in Missouri without an elected assessor. Processes by which assessors are elected are thought to result in fairer assessments and appeal systems that are more equitable and reduce assessment disparities.
Jackson County is poised to allocate a total of $35 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to community nonprofits. This funding will support initiatives that advance equitable access to resources, improve quality of life, and address systemic disparities. The county will award up to $1.5 million per nonprofit. The application period closed on November 20.
The Cass County Auditor’s Office held a public hearing on November 14 regarding the proposed 2026 budget. The County Auditor will now make necessary changes to the proposal before the County Commission considers it later this year. The proposed 2026 budget is available on the Cass County website. Public engagement in this process is crucial because local government budget decisions directly influence community health and well-being.
The federal government shutdown concluded on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, lasting 43 days. During the shutdown, federal employees were furloughed or had to work without pay. Some federal employees, including at HUD and HHS, received layoff notices that were eventually rescinded. SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans were delayed. The shutdown ended when Congress passed a budget bill that will fund the federal government through January 2026. A few programs, including nutrition programs like the SNAP, will receive funding until the end of 2026.
Congress did not include an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans in the budget bill. However, the Senate Majority Leader agreed to hold a vote on the extension in December as part of the compromise to reopen the government. The bill also included provisions to ensure that federal workers receive back pay after the shutdown and to rehire any federal workers who were laid off.
In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified states that funding for November SNAP benefits was unavailable. This led to a court dispute regarding whether the USDA was obligated to use contingency funds to provide at least a portion of the benefits. The administration appealed a ruling that mandated the USDA provide full benefits for the month. However, the USDA ultimately provided full funding for SNAP benefits after the government shutdown ended.
The lapse in SNAP benefits increased hurdles for people who paid low wages and strained local economies. Communities of color face obstacles to food access due to systemic racism, disinvestment, and other economic factors. Similarly, rural communities encounter barriers to food access stemming from disinvestment, economic factors, and geographic isolation.
November 1 marked the effective date for the new SNAP work and community engagement requirements. To be eligible for benefits, individuals aged 18 to 64 must complete 80 hours of work or community engagement activities unless they qualify for specific exemptions. Individuals aged 55 and older were previously exempt from these requirements.
Recipients may face additional or increased difficulty verifying their compliance, which could result in disqualification from receiving benefits even if they complete the required hours.
Open Enrollment and Premium Costs Open enrollment for ACA marketplace health insurance plans began on November 1. At the time of this update, Congress had not extended the enhanced premium tax credits. The cost of premiums for many ACA marketplace plans increased significantly from 2025 to 2026. It is uncertain how long it would take to reprogram websites or update premiums if the tax credits are extended.
The implementation of premium tax credits in 2021 led to a surge of 12.1 million people enrolling in the ACA marketplace, and it substantially increased marketplace enrollment in communities of color. Due to the increased premiums, people may choose to, or be forced to, forgo buying health insurance, which could result in delayed or deferred medical care.
Following the shutdown, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released information about changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which provides support and services for people experiencing homelessness. For the upcoming funding opportunity, no more than 30% of the funding will be allocated for programs that provide permanent housing, when the current funding ends in January.
Communities of color experience homelessness at significantly higher rates due to historic systemic discrimination. Permanent housing offers long-term stability and can increase access to care when supportive services are incorporated. Rural communities will also be strained by this reduction as it may further restrict access to housing and supportive services.
