Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com

During the first 2025 Legislative Coffee on February 15, Kansas State Senator Mike Fagg and Kansas House Representative Will Carpenter were present to discuss issues of concern with area residents. The meeting took place at the El Dorado Civic Center in conjunction with the Butler County Farm Bureau Association and El Dorado Chamber of Commerce.

About 30 people were in attendance of the event, ready to hold real dialogue with their local politicians and receive answers. Coffee, donuts and water were served to all who came. Several topics were discussed among the group after the political figures gave their introductions.

Medical marijuana

One of the first hot-button topics brought fourth was medical marijuana. Legalizing marijuana in Kansas has been a long controversial topic due to the state’s conservative majority, often being seen as a “gateway” drug to harder and more dangerous drugs, despite lack scientific evidence. Last year the committee to work towards legalizing marijuana for medicinal use only was headed by Senator Fagg himself as the committee’s Chair and Representative Carpenter as the Vice-Chair.

Despite efforts the bill failed to move onto the Senate and move forward to the governor. A citizen attending the town hall asked if there was word on the bill making a comeback this year and what the Fagg and Carpenter’s thoughts were on it. The majority of people in the room agreed that medical marijuana was better than using opioids, especially for those with chronic pain or elderly patients who would prefer a natural alternative to pain relief in addition to lower pain management costs.

“I’m for a well-regulated medical marijuana,” said Representative Carpenter. “When we went into committee, it was two things; one is that it’s well regulated and two that it’s grown in our state. If we’re going to make money off of it, there should be growers in our state. That was one of my priorities. I don’t want to open it up to recreational marijuana or anything like that.”

One citizen stated that she moved to El Dorado last year and is handicapped from being in multiple car accidents and has chronic pain due to them. Her medical bills stack up to over $10,000 per year for prescription medications just to manage her pain. She says medical marijuana would allow her to sleep better, be in less pain and pay less.

Carpenter referenced the process and regulations used and implemented in Utah as a good example. To receive a medical marijuana card in Utah, you must: be a Utah Resident, have at least one qualifying condition, submit an application online, meet in-person with a medical provider registered with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to recommend medical cannabis, the medical provider certifies your eligibility for a medical cannabis card online and pay a $15 application fee online. A minor cannot receive a medical cannabis card unless their parent or legal guardian qualifies for a medical cannabis guardian card.

“We had two hearings on this, there is a lot to this folks,” said Senator Fagg. “The police don’t want it, the doctors don’t’ want it, so if when you jump into that you’ve got to have a good reason of what you’re getting into and how you’re getting into it.”

Property taxes

El Dorado City Commissioner Kendra Wilkinson said she is in favor of medical marijuana but wanted to discuss the bill that would cap raising property taxes.

“As you know we operate on property taxes as do school districts, as does the county and I just want explained what it is that the state’s trying to figure out when it comes to valuation,” said Wilkinson.

Senator Fagg stated that he voted against the bill in hopes the house would clean the bill up and send it back to the Senate. The bill would cap increases in appraised property values at 3%, which in turn raises taxes.

“Any of that portion that we reduce is going to be back filed by either income tax or sales tax,” said Carpenter. “That’s the reality of it. It’s not necessarily a reduction on your property taxes; it’s something that you’ll pay somewhere else is what I’m saying.”

School vouches and public education

The topics of private school vouchers, school choice and Department of Education grant funding cuts were brought up, involving most of the crowd to participate. Some were in favor of school vouchers while others were not. School choice and open borders is already readily available and passed for the 2024-2025 school year, meaning students can enroll into school districts outside of the district in which they live. Private school vouchers haven’t been passed yet but will continue to be discussed in legislature.

“I support school choice,” said Carpenter. “What it looks like; we don’t know.”

“Republican, democrat; whatever,” said Carpenter. “I just can’t believe the democrats are against school choice, public schools and that’s okay but I don’t understand why they don’t get on board with that mentality there of these kids are trapped in these low, underperforming schools that gangs are running through, and they don’t have the money because they can’t afford an option.”

While having options may be important to citizens, what’s true is that this is a bi-partisan issue that shouldn’t be politicized as republican or democrat. Calling out our schools as low and underperforming describes an issue deeper than school choice, no matter who says it. The issue is seeded in public school performance, not abandoning them entirely. Public schools have been at the forefront of educating the masses since the inception of education.

When the Times-Gazette asked if there were any discussions circulating on how to better the public school system instead of throwing money the other way, the answer was clear; no.

“We’re the appropriators so I think we’ve been funding schools at a huge level,” said Carpenter. “We’re putting the consumer price index in Kansas into schools every year. After that we don’t have a lot of control over curriculum or what happens on a school level. We’re the appropriators so we give the schools money.”

Some residents spoke up on increasing teacher salary, smaller classrooms and other incentives. Other topics of the meeting included rural hospital funding and support, Pharmacy Benefit Manager reform, higher education funding, working from home options and the ongoing housing crises.

Next town halls

The next Legislative Coffee will be held this Saturday, March 1 in Andover from 8-10am. The town hall will be hosted at the Andover Music Scene located at 546 N Andover Road in Andover in conjunction with the Andover Chamber of Commerce. Those in attendance will include Representatives Susan Humphries, Patrick Penn, and Kristey Williams.

UPDATE 02/28 10:42am: This post has been updated to reflect an event time change for March 1 event.