Kansas Construction Legislative Affairs & Political Action Committee (PAC)

This construction committee monitors local, state and national legislative affairs and regulatory issues that might impact the construction industry and our potential business communities. We educate and update members regularly on key regulatory issues and the effect they might have on Kansas construction business. We also raise valuable political action funds to support pro-business, pro-construction candidates.

Committee Members

Kurt Grier, Martin K. Eby Construction – CHAIR
John Walker (JACO General Contractor, Wichita) – CO-CHAIR
Jim Rinner (Bartlett & West, Topeka)
Ben Hutton (Hutton, Wichita)
Steve Nienke (Midwest Drywall, Wichita)
Joe Samia (Central Consolidated, Wichita)
Paul Sutherland (Sutherland Construction, Wichita)
Dennis Kerschen (The Law Company, Wichita)
Danny Satterfield (Satterfield Drywall Corp, Wichita)
Matt Lashley (Higgins Group, Wichita)
Dean Youngers (McCownGordon Construction, Wichita)
Justin Sanchez (Tatro Plumbing, Garden City)

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (3:30 pm at the AGC office in Wichita), AGC of Kansas’ Legislative & PAC Committee hosted a meeting with Kansas Senator Jerry Moran’s Staff to discuss issues impacting contractors and the construction industry in Kansas.

Those in attendance included:

Kurt Grier, AGCKS Legislative & PAC Chair (Eby Construction)
Alex Breitenbach, JE Dunn
Keatin Herder, Key Construction
Scott Ludwick, Harbinger Concrete
Ryan Pearson, Conco Construction
Chad Mohr, Star Lumber
Todd Knight, McCownGordon Construction
Mike Gibson, AGC staff
Nicole Weltmer, AGC staff
Carole Shannon, AGC staff

Seth Mackinney and Jack Protzman, Senator Moran’s staffers, requested this meeting from Mike Gibson to arrange for AGC members to discuss key issues impacting their companies and the construction industry in Kansas. Some of the key issues discussed included:

• Status of Chips Act approval of applications for Integra and Scorpion projects. Mike Gibson asked why the delays on approval of the state’s applications in that Chip Act funds were approved by Congress nearly two years ago.
• Prescription Drug Costs & Health Care costs. Kurt Grier and Todd Knight shared thoughts on skyrocketing costs associated with prescription drugs.
• Workforce Development
o Moran wants to seek funding opportunities for AGC’s NCCER craft training materials.
o AGC shared the Build Up Kansas programming and AGC mission to ramp up CTE/Vocational programs in Kansas high schools and community colleges.
• Infrastructure
o Energy grid and related utility upgrades.
• NIL updates – impacts on Kansas University Athletics.
• AARP – “Buy America Clauses/Provisions” adding additional requirements on projects that slow procurement processes. Keatin Herder suggested that these provisions were becoming more and more difficult due to supply chain disruptions and giving the industry the flexibility to expedite material procurement on certain materials (steel, electrical components, etc).
• Moran and some other U.S. Senators are working on a plan to allow for 529 Savings Plan to be applicable to apprenticeship programs. Expected to be included in a 2025 Tax Plan.
• Moran and some other U.S. Senators are working on a manufacturing tax credit.

Seth Mackinney and Jack Protzman both requested from Mike Gibson to provide the Kansas Contractors Association’s Executive Director contact information in order to seek feedback on any transportation projects that are seeing delays on federal funding associated with Congress’ Infrastructure Bill. Mike Gibson forwarded this KCA contact information to each person.

Kurt Grier thanked both Seth and Jack for their outreach to AGC of Kansas and its members on key issues impacting the construction industry in Kansas and said AGC of Kansas was looking forward to meeting with Senator Moran in late September at AGC of America’s Legislative/Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 pm.

AGC PAC Update – Spring 2024

AGC Member Companies:
As we approach the 2024 Election season for the State, we thought we would provide a status of your Association PAC.
In short, the PAC is in great shape and in a good position to provide needed funding for our friends in the Legislature, as the Election season heats up.
Historically, fundraising has not been at the top of the list related to our Legislative efforts. However, with encouragement and knowledge of the process, passed along by Mike Gibson and our Legislative Consultant, Scott Schneider, we have made fundraising a much more important part of the PAC experience. Through your generous support, and the coordination of the AGC staff, fundraising since the last Election season has generated the following approximate funds:
2023 fundraising:
– $12,000 Voluntary member dues check-off
– $10,000 Spring Skeet Shoot
– $11,000 Fall Skeet Shoot
2024 fundraising:
– $14,000 Voluntary member dues check-off
– $11,000 Spring Skeet Shoot (estimated)
– $11,000 Fall Skeet Shoot (estimated)
These fundraising efforts have created nearly the largest PAC fund in AGC of Kansas history. Now, due to the funding from the state for our Build Up Kansas campaign and our work force training efforts, the PAC is more important than ever.
Other activities this past year initiated by the PAC included:
Legislative Survey of members to provide better direction for our Legislative Consultant
A study in Alternative Project Delivery (APD) proposed changes, coordinated by Joe Levens (PSU) and a select team of members.
Coordinated meeting with WABA at IMA, led by Marc Nuessen (IMA), to discuss skyrocketing property insurance rates and whether that is affecting Commercial Construction projects.
Legislative Reception at the Topeka Country Club, March 6, with about 80 in attendance, half of which were legislators.
Legislative Day at the Capital, March 7, with about 35 members in attendance.
We appreciate the efforts of the other PAC Committee members and the generosity of the AGC member companies. With your continued support, we can continue to advance the interests of the member companies at the Statehouse and beyond.
– Kurt Grier (Eby Construction) and John Walker (JACO) – Co-Chairs of the AGC of KS PAC