Breakfast briefing brings state legislators together to discuss aging-related issues

Legislators representing the region from both Kansas and Missouri attended the Dec. 11 briefing to learn about policy priorities for older adults in the forthcoming 2024 state legislative sessions. 

The briefing focused on property tax relief for older adults and a variety of related topics:

• Age demographic projection data for both states, counties in the MARC region and legislator districts.
• Policy strategies for caregivers.
• Sales and property tax relief for older adults.
• Small business retirement savings.
• Broadband access.
• Food security.
• Homestead exemption credits and circuit breakers strategies.
• The Missouri Master Plan on Aging.
• The Kansas Senior Care Task Force. 

The briefing was led by representatives from the Leadership in Aging Network, which is comprised of national and local nonprofit organizations, local governments, health care organizations and other partners focused on supporting older adults. 

The Leadership in Aging Network provides a forum for leaders in the aging sector to exchange ideas to collaborate on initiatives that serve older adults and aging practitioners in the region. The network supports advocacy trainings for community-based and nonprofit organizations, legislative briefings with state legislators prior to each session, and ongoing collaboration to understand the needs of older adults and gaps in services in the region.

The state representatives in attendance were;

• Ashley Aune, Chris Brown, Sherri Gallick, Chris Sander, Dan Stacy and Eric Woods of Missouri.
• Allison Hougland and Jarrod Ousley of Kansas.