KAIA appreciates everyone who represented Kansas at the 2026 Big“ I” Legislative Conference and helped advocate on behalf of our industry. The relationships built and conversations held during the conference will continue to benefit independent agents and the clients they serve long after the meetings in Washington have ended. •
ADVOCACY
matter. Conversations in congressional offices during the conference helped reinforce the importance of protecting risk management tools essential to Kansas agriculture and rural communities.
Disaster preparedness and mitigation were also major points of discussion. Attendees advocated for policies designed to strengthen resilience against increasingly severe and catastrophic natural disasters, including wildfire mitigation efforts and improvements to FEMA. With insurance markets under pressure across the country and especially in Kansas, these discussions are increasingly important to maintaining market stability and affordability for consumers.
Long-term reauthorizations for the National Flood Insurance Program(“ NFIP”) remains a priority for the Big“ I”, with agents stressing the important of maintaining certainty in the marketplace while also providing options along with the value agents play by helping consumers navigate flood coverage options.
discussions, particularly efforts to improve price transparency and protect employer-sponsored coverage options.
One of the greatest strengths of the conference is the opportunity for grassroots advocacy. Independent agents bring a unique and credible voice to policy discussions because they work directly with consumers every day. Our Kansas congressional delegation consistently tells us how much they value hearing real-world examples from agents who understand how legislation impacts businesses and families at the local level.
Advocacy is one of the most important services our association provides, and participation from members remains crucial to those efforts. Whether meeting with legislators in Washington, responding to action alerts, or building relationships with elected officials at home, grassroots involvement helps ensure the independent agency perspective is heard.
KAIA appreciates everyone who represented Kansas at the 2026 Big“ I” Legislative Conference and helped advocate on behalf of our industry. The relationships built and conversations held during the conference will continue to benefit independent agents and the clients they serve long after the meetings in Washington have ended. •
DAN MURRAY, ROBERT RICHEY, JORDAN CROW, SCOTT STRICKLAND, DAVE HULCHER, DAVE VOGEL, ASHTON FEE, BETH SMOLLER, BROCK ELLIOTT, JOERIN STUTEVILLE
In addition, we discussed legal system abuse and the growing impact of third-party litigation funding and dark money on insurance costs. Big“ I” members encouraged lawmakers to support legislation aimed at increasing transparency and reducing abusive litigation practices that ultimately drive higher premiums for consumers. Health care affordability and transparency initiatives were also part of the
FRONT: JORDAN CROW, ASHTON FEE, GARRETT RICHEY BACK: DAN MURRAY, SCOTT STRICKLAND, DAVE HULCHER, BROCK ELLIOTT, ROBERT RICHEY
MAY / JUNE 2026
13