FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2026
Sen. Cindy Holscher Unveils 2026 “Common Sense and Lower Costs” Agenda Focused on Working Families
TOPEKA, KS – Today Senator Cindy Holscher announced her 2026 legislative agenda during a press conference at the Kansas State Capitol.
Sen. Cindy Holscher’s Common Sense & Lower Costs Agenda is a practical plan to lower everyday costs for Kansas families while strengthening schools, health care, and worker protections. It raises wages, cuts property taxes and essential costs, expands access to health care, and ensures government works for people – not special interests.
“Kansas families are stretched thin from increasing grocery bills to property taxes, rent hikes, and increasing health care costs. These legislative priorities are about focusing on making life more affordable for working families, seniors, and small businesses because that’s what Kansans deserve,” said Sen. Cindy Holscher.
“While Ty Masterson and Jeff Colyer have been focused on dividing Kansans and pledging loyalty to the President, I’m laser-focused on finding solutions for hardworking Kansans. Kansans don’t need more political theater — they need leaders who are serious about solving problems.”
See below for Sen. Cindy Holscher’s Common Sense & Lower Costs Agenda:
- Raising Minimum Wage
Immediate income increases for workers earning entry-level wages, providing immediate purchasing power and economic stability. Allow municipalities to raise the minimum wage higher to keep up with cost of living differences across the state. Regularly assess the minimum wage to ensure that wages keep up with cost of living.
- Worker Protections: Paid Sick Time and Repealing Right to Work
Economic security that prevents lost wages when workers must miss work due to illness, protecting both health and household income. Repeal right to work.
- Property Tax Relief for Kansas Families and Seniors
Lower residential property assessment rates from 11.5% to 9.0%, lowering annual tax burdens and providing significant property tax relief for homeowners across all income levels. Establish a task force to determine other avenues for property tax relief.
Fund general education and special education to avoid shifting obligation to localities using property taxes.
- Expanding Medicaid
Healthcare cost relief and expanded access to medical services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, lowering the burden on the health care system and shoring up rural hospitals at risk of closing.
- Free School Lunches
Immediately lowering costs for families by eliminating meal expenses for students, reducing household food budgets, and improving child nutrition.
- Eliminate Taxes on Essential Products For Women and Babies
Tangible everyday savings on essential hygiene products (diapers, feminine hygiene products, etc) that represent significant recurring expenses for families and individuals.
- Fully Fund All Classrooms Across the State
While the state has made progress funding general education, special education has still been underfunded. Fully funding special education would ensure that all classrooms across the state have the resources they need and all Kansas kids get the opportunities they deserve.
Fully fund Special Education using the savings from expanding Medicaid and new tax revenue from sales of medical marijuana.
- Housing Security
Housing affordability protection by limiting penalties for late rental payments, preventing debt accumulation and eviction risk. Exclude Social Security income and raise the income and home value limits so more seniors and disabled veterans can qualify for the property tax homestead exemption.
- Legalizing Medical Marijuana
Lower costs and expand treatment options for patients, reducing reliance on expensive pharmaceutical interventions. Unlock new revenue for the state to fully fund special education. Study the effects of legalization of recreational marijuana on neighboring states.
- Making Government Work for The People
Creating an independent panel for redistricting and prohibiting mid-decade redistricting to ensure that Kansans’ voting rights are further protected.
Enacting term limits and limiting corporate PAC money in elections to break the power of entrenched politicians, fostering citizen-legislators that are responsive to voters, and reduce the influence of special interest lobbyists.
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Cindy Holscher was raised on a farm and brought up with common sense, Midwest values, and a love of her country. Cindy and her husband Greg have lived in Kansas for over 25 years, and their three kids graduated from public schools. She first ran for office to help end the disastrous Brownback experiment and to restore funding to the schools. As a legislator, Cindy co-founded the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus, and she focused on lowering costs for working class and middle class Kansans. Now, she’s running for Governor because Kansas deserves a leader who has a proven track record of fighting for all Kansans.
For more information about Holscher and the campaign, visit CindyforKansas.com.
