A History-Making Weekend: Kansas Governor Kelly Joins the ASPIRE Coalition

Military families have long struggled with the challenges posed by regular reassignments to new states — these PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves strain family finances and limit the careers of non-military spouses. 

State economies are impacted when military spouses are forced to move quickly and face delays in returning to work. These complications hinder recruiting many high-demand professions, like teachers and nurses, which states desperately need. State licensing and credentialing laws are at the core of these challenges, making it difficult for military spouses to return to work quickly.

Governor Laura Kelly (D-Kansas) took a major step forward for military reciprocity at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, February 11.

Governor Kelly explained her experience with military reciprocity, “I'm a military brat. By the time I was 14, I had moved twelve times,” she told the room of Governors. “Well, my mother had also moved twelve times and had to move three other kids twelve times and was not able to work because she was not allowed to take her skill set from one state to one country and back.” 

The issue of military reciprocity impacts thousands of military families, not only Governor Kelly. The reality is that even when spouses have earned licenses and credentials during their careers, they’re generally only transferable to new states if that state grants reciprocity. This makes it incredibly difficult for military spouses to maintain careers as they move interstate. More than 1 in 3 military spouses work in an industry that requires an occupational license, and nearly 15% of military spouses move across state lines in any given year. 

Governor Kelly is eager to assist military spouses as much as possible in navigating this complicated issue. In October, she hosted a roundtable with military families and veteran leaders in the private sector to learn more about how she can best operationalize the legislation. Terron Sims, a military veteran and West Pointe graduate at the roundtable explained how technology helps empower and operationalize military reciprocity. 

"Merit can provide to any state that needs it – the technology to solve the last mile by making the transfer of license from one state to another safe, secure, and instantaneous.” 

The roundtable focused on participants discussing how critical technology is in eliminating barriers to military reciprocity, which is a key part of our mission at ASPIRE. We support advocating for reform and encourage states to embrace digital licensing and credentialing solutions to help military spouses return to work. Governor Kelly went on to express why supporting military families is so important for her state:

“We have a big military presence in the State of Kansas, and so we have many people coming into Kansas, and many people potentially leaving as they separate from the service. We have worked diligently to create laws that will make coming to Kansas more attractive and provide for the spouses of those transitioning to Kansas to be able to work.” 

When she announced that “Kansas became the first state to join with the ASPIRE Coalition (Alliance for States Providing Interoperable Reciprocity),” Governor Kelly put her words into action. The partnership involves a “digitized system that will allow states to upload their reciprocity agreements and allow military families from across the nation or be able to access that so they know if they move into Kansas,” said Governor Kelly.

Afterward, she encouraged the assembled governors to join her, “So, I would encourage my colleagues to give serious consideration to joining in with ASPIRE because I think the more that we create compacts and arrangements between our states using the same platform, it'll make it easier for all of those military families.”

Like Kansas, other states are filing in line to join our ASPIRE Coalition and better support and serve military families. We are optimistic about more states joining this important coalition and making a difference in empowering military families. However, the honor of being the first state to join ASPIRE will always belong to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.