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12 | Page April 4 I ssueThe roundtable also featured leadership and professionals from Kansas Military Affairs, Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force, the U.S. Department of Labor%u2019s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and Hiring Our Heros. The discussions focused on the approaches necessary to foster economic opportunities for veterans, service members and military spouses in Kansas.%u201cSkillBridge is an important tool we can leverage with employers to get transitioning service members into lucrative careers as soon as possible %u2014 and make sure we keep them in our state for years to come,%u201d Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. %u201cWe have outstanding service members already here %u2014 and excellent employers willing to invest in strong talent pipelines. Quite simply, Kansas is the ideal place to foster SkillBridge success.%u201dThe DoD SkillBridge program assists veterans with post-military employment opportunities such as training, apprenticeships and internships that prepare them for permanent employment at the conclusion of their service. Participating service members are granted up to 180 days as their separation date approaches to focus solely on training and gaining in-demand work experience.%u201cHiring veterans after they complete their time in the military is not only the right thing to do, it allows companies to benefit from the value and skills they bring to the table,%u201d Vice President of Hiring our Heroes at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and SkillBridge Advisor Elizabeth O%u2019Brien said. %u201cWe%u2019ve been impressed with Kansas%u2019 commitment to pairing its workforce resources with DoD%u2019s efforts %u2013 and become a top five state in retention through the SkillBridge program.%u201dWith economic opportunities expanding in Kansas and an already established focus on post-military education and employment, Kansas is an ideal partner for elevating the work of the SkillBridge program and growing the workforce pipeline in Kansas.To learn more about the SkillBridge program, visit here.Interested in learning more about KANSASWORKS and employment resources? Click here.Governor Kelly Signs Bipartisan Bills to Increase Government EfficiencyTOPEKA (4.3.2025) %u2013 Governor Laura Kelly signed on Thursday a collection of bipartisan bills aimed at increasing government efficiency. These seven technical bills eliminate unnecessary requirements, clarify definitions, and streamline processes with the goal of achieving maximum government productivity.\ am always looking for ways to make our government more efficient for the people of Kansas,\Governor Laura Kelly said. \Governor Kelly signed the following bipartisan bills:Senate Bill 104: Provides flexibility to the Shawnee County board of county commissioners to create a citizens commission on local government, giving local officials the discretion to create such a commission.Senate Bill 77: Streamlines processes by removing state agencies that no longer exist from Kansas Administrative Regulations and establishing standards for public notice for the repeal of certain regulations.Senate Bill 13: Reduces requirements for filings, registrations, and licenses certain businesses and organizations must submit to the secretary of state.