AFP Foundation-Kansas Finally Receives Long-Awaited KORA Documents on STAR Bonds
By
| March 3, 2025
After more than three years, Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Kansas has finally received the last batch of documents from our Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) request filed in November 2021 regarding the Kansas Department of Commerce’s administration of the STAR Bonds program.
This long-overdue release follows an investigation by the Kansas Office of Attorney General, which determined that the Department of Commerce had violated KORA by not providing all responsive records.
In the process of responding to our inquiry, Mr. (Bob) North noted he discovered an additional group of documents should have been provided to you that were not provided in the department’s response to your request,” the AG’s office wrote. “We have confirmed these records have been mailed to you.
Because the department did not provide all records responsive to Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s November 10, 2021 request, the department violated the KORA.
The 228 pages of documents—now publicly available here—mark the conclusion of a years-long struggle for transparency in how taxpayer dollars are allocated through economic development incentives. The release of these records was only made possible after a 2021 KORA request, subsequent complaint in 2022, and a formal investigation by the Attorney General, culminating in an official ruling in December 2024 that confirmed the Department of Commerce had failed to comply with KORA’s disclosure requirements.
Why This Matters
Transparency is essential for ensuring that taxpayer funds are used responsibly. The STAR Bonds program, which provides state-backed financing for development projects, demands public scrutiny to assess whether it truly delivers promised economic benefits. The Department of Commerce’s failure to comply with our records request for over three years raises serious concerns about government openness and accountability.
The Fight Continues
AFPF Foundation-Kansas remains committed to fighting for the public’s right to know. This victory demonstrates that persistence pays off—but it shouldn’t take three years, a formal complaint, and an attorney general investigation to access public records. Kansans deserve a government that upholds transparency laws from the outset.
