House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2398 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Providing funding for the state historical society to issue a scope statement, plan the work to be accomplished and issue a request for proposals for a master plan for the Quindaro ruins archaeological park in Wyandotte county, Kansas, and implement such master plan.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 11, 2025
Chairperson Waymaster opened the hearing on HB2398.
Jennifer Light, Fiscal Analyst, Kansas Legislative Research Department, provided information about HB2398. (Attachment 1)
Jennifer Light stood for questions from the committee.
Proponent in-person testimony was provided by Tyrone Garner, Mayor, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. (Attachment 2)
Mayor Garner answered questions from committee members.
Representative Estes requested it be recorded in the minutes that with her conversations with Representative Marvin Robinson, Representative Robinson was very concerned that the tourism not disturb and ruin what was on site, and that more than one church has been involved to be a prominent player in this discussion.
Chairperson Waymaster asked if anyone wanted to speak to the bill.
No in-person or written opponent testimony was provided.
Neutral in-person testimony was provided by Rev. Stacy R. Evans, Chairperson, Western University Association of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church. (Attachment 3) (Attachment 4) (Attachment 5)
Rev. Evans answered questions from committee members.
Jill Wolters, First Assistant Revisor, Office of Revisor of Statutes, answered questions from committee members.
Representative Penn informed the committee members that the bill is introducing the state of Kansas on the visibility of the Quindaro ruins, an historic site wherein various entities own pieces of the property. Various plans happened in silos and the State has not been a part of the development of those plans or a master plan, and the bill is housed under the State Historical Society in order to bring the development up the level of the Smithsonian standard.
LaVert Murray provided in-person neutral testimony that there were discussions with the National Park Service and the National Park Service would own ground designated within the 200 acres and other entities and individuals would own other pieces of ground near the community. He provided a description of a predominate outlook structure built within the Quindaro area and the vision to make the site a bi-state initiative.
Chairperson Waymaster closed the public hearing on HB2398.
