Hickam Public Affairs represents our clients directly to state and local governments. We maintain valuable, relationships with elected and appointed officials, regulators, and community and advocacy organizations. In today’s digital world, we never forget the most important relationships in politics and public relations are still personal. We leverage the relationships our firm maintains to achieve the results our clients depend on.

Our firm has extensive experience and knowledge of Kansas legislative and administrative procedures, rules, and deadlines. We tap into this expertise, and our extensive network of relationships throughout state and local governments, to help our clients impact the legislative process, regulatory procedures, and contracts for providing government services. No matter the challenges our clients have, we find solutions to achieve their end goals as the case study below demonstrates.

Challenge

Transportation network company, Uber, was interested in passing a new Kansas law that would create statewide insurance, safety, and oversight standards for transportation network companies. Against the advisement of the Hickam Public Affairs team, Uber flooded the legislative email system with thousands of emails from app users, causing the legislative email system to crash during the legislative session and angering legislators. This action caused both the Kansas House and Senate to overwhelmingly pass anti-Uber legislation.

Solution

After engineering a Governor’s veto of the onerous legislation, our team worked to repair Uber’s relationship with key legislators and created a strategy with Governor Brownback’s legislative team.

Results

The legislature passed Uber’s preferred comprehensive transportation network company legislation. This legislation was ultimately signed into law by Governor Sam Brownback. Uber services are now legally available throughout Kansas.