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HB 2037

An Act amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial disclosure, further providing for definitions and for restricted activities.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and 13 co-sponsors

HB 2037 expands the Travel and Tourism Council and loosens grant rules, increasing flexibility in awarding tourism matching funds across public, private, and nonprofit groups.

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Bill Summary · HB 2037

Summary — HB 2037 (2025)

Status: Approved by Governor (April 1, 2025)
Introduced: January 23, 2025

Purpose

HB 2037 amends Kansas law governing the Council on Travel and Tourism and the state Tourism Development and Promotion Matching Grant Program to (1) expand and update council membership and related governance language, and (2) change allocation rules for the tourism matching grant program to give the Council greater flexibility in awarding funds.

Key provisions

Council on Travel and Tourism

  • Expands the Council from 17 voting members to 20.
    • Governor-appointed voting members increase from 11 to 14.
    • Of the 14 governor appointees, 6 are to represent the general public and 8 are to represent specified organizations.
  • Adds three new governor-appointed organizational slots representing:
    • National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) — nominees must be Kansas residents;
    • Kansas Museums Association;
    • Kansas Sampler Foundation.
  • Maintains the ex officio (non‑voting) seats for the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Wildlife & Parks, and the Executive Director of the State Historical Society.
  • Requires organizational appointments to be made from lists of three nominees submitted by the organization.
  • Technical and governance updates:
    • Updates legislative committee references (e.g., House committee assignment changed to the Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development).
    • Adjusts quorum language and corrects outdated transitional appointment language.
    • Continues mileage reimbursement for member meeting attendance; the Department of Commerce reports additional mileage costs can be absorbed within current resources.

Tourism Matching Grant Program

  • Retains core program structure: grants may cover up to 40% of a project’s cost; applicants cannot use state funds to meet the required match; both public and private entities remain eligible.
  • Removes prior statutory restrictions:
    • The requirement that a specified minimum percentage of program moneys be allocated to public/nonprofit entities (earlier drafts reduced a 75% requirement to 50%; the enacted amendment removes that statutory allocation requirement entirely).
    • The statutory per-entity cap (previously a 20% cap on awards to any single entity) is removed.
  • Administration remains with the Secretary of Commerce, who may adopt rules and criteria for grants.

Who is affected

  • Council composition and nominating organizations (NIVA, Kansas Museums Association, Kansas Sampler Foundation).
  • State tourism stakeholders (public, private, and nonprofit entities applying for matching grants) — the change broadens the Council’s discretion in allocating grant dollars and may make it easier for private entities to receive awards.
  • Department of Commerce (minor administrative/mileage cost impacts; program administration).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Pros: Broader representation on the Council (additional tourism sectors), increased flexibility to fund projects judged most feasible, potential to attract different types of tourism development.
  • Cons/risks: Removing allocation floor and per-entity caps could allow larger shares of program funds to go to fewer recipients or favor private projects over public/nonprofit ones; oversight and program rules will determine practical outcomes.

Implementation / procedural notes

  • Bill updates statutory sections K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32-1410 and 32-1420 and repeals prior versions.
  • Governor-approved April 1, 2025. Agencies (Department/Secretary of Commerce) will implement changes, including rulemaking and appointment processes where applicable.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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