KC Tech Council Takes Kansas City’s Tech Priorities to Capitol Hill
April 2026 | Policy & Advocacy
Earlier this month, KC Tech Council led a delegation of Kansas City technology leaders to Washington, D.C. for our annual DC Fly-In in partnership with TECNA, the Technology Councils of North America. Over two days, our team met with Senate and Congressional offices from Missouri and Kansas, participated in national policy programming, and heard directly from federal officials and industry leaders shaping the future of technology policy. We are grateful to the KC Tech Council members and partners who made the trip and represented our community so well.
The conversations reinforced what we already know: Kansas City has a compelling story to tell. Advocacy like this is central to what KC Tech Council does year-round. To learn more about our policy priorities and advocacy work.
The Issues That Defined Our Time on the Hill
The policy landscape in Washington right now is moving fast, and the stakes for the tech sector are high. Across every meeting, a few themes came through clearly.
Federal AI legislation. The window for meaningful federal action is narrowing. With AI bills active across state legislatures and in various stages, the patchwork of state-by-state regulation is creating real compliance burdens for businesses of all sizes, and it is unsustainable. A federal framework is needed, and our delegation made that case directly. We also raised industry concerns that overly broad AI regulation could have unintended consequences, potentially restricting basic functions businesses rely on every day, and offered to serve as a resource for offices working on draft legislation.
Federal data privacy. This came up in nearly every room. Companies in our membership including Kansas City manufacturers, financial services firms, and technology companies operating across state lines are navigating a growing patchwork of conflicting state laws. A uniform federal standard would provide clarity, reduce compliance costs, and allow companies to focus on innovation rather than regulatory complexity.
Workforce development. This remains one of our most urgent regional priorities. We advocated for registered apprenticeships as a practical, employer-driven solution, centering our conversations around KC TechBridge — our employer-led initiative backed by the Kauffman Foundation that brings together employers, educators, and training programs to build a stronger regional talent pipeline. With more than half of open tech positions now at companies hiring 20 or fewer people, a coordinated regional approach has never been more critical. We also discussed a Congressionally Directed Spending request that would directly support KC TechBridge’s work by reducing barriers for small and midsize tech employers sponsoring apprentices — helping close the gap between companies seeking entry-level talent and candidates who need a structured pathway into the industry. We also raised serious concerns about H-1B visa fee increases, which have created significant financial burdens for smaller tech businesses that depend on skilled international talent.
Data center infrastructure. The Kansas City region has real competitive advantages in this space from construction capacity, and a growing ecosystem of enterprise and data center operators and we made sure decision-makers heard that story. We also addressed the growing problem of misinformation around data center development and offered congressional offices technical expertise and tours to help separate fact from fiction. Learn more about our Data Center Alliance and access our Kansas City Data Center Fast Facts.
