Bill
HB 2372
Designates Wichita's Fallen Firefighters Memorial as Kansas's official memorial, replaces the advisory committee with a 9-member Council to oversee honors, funding, and upkeep.
Status & Timeline
- Introduced: Feb 3, 2025 (requested by Rep. Kessler).
- Committee activity: Hearing Feb 17, 2025; amended by House Committee on Federal and State Affairs.
- House action: Passed (as amended) March 5, 2025 — Yea 118 / Nay 0.
- Fiscal note: Enactment would have no fiscal effect; bill takes effect July 1, 2025 (per fiscal note).
Main purpose
- To designate the existing Fallen Firefighters Memorial adjacent to the Kansas Firefighters Museum in Wichita as the official Fallen Firefighters Memorial of the State of Kansas, and to replace the existing Kansas Firefighters Memorial Advisory Committee with a newly created Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Council (the Council), transferring duties, records, and authorities to the new council.
Key provisions
- Official designation: The Fallen Firefighters Memorial at 1300 S. Broadway (adjacent to the Kansas Firefighters Museum, Wichita) is declared the official state Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
- Abolition and transfer: The Kansas Firefighters Memorial Advisory Committee is abolished; all powers, duties, functions, records and property of that committee are transferred to the newly established Council.
- Creation and membership of the Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Council (9 members):
- Seven governor-appointed representatives from specified firefighter-related organizations (including Kansas State Firefighters Association; Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs; Kansas Council of Firefighters; Wichita Park Board; Kansas chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators; Fire Marshals Association of Kansas; and others as specified in amended language).
- The State Fire Marshal (or designee).
- The Executive Director of the Kansas State Historical Society (or designee).
- (Members appointed by the governor serve at the governor’s pleasure.)
- Council organization and meetings:
- Members must annually elect a Chair and Vice-Chair; the Council must meet at least once per year at the call of the Chair.
- The Secretary of Administration (or designee) serves as the Council’s secretary.
- Duties and authorities:
- Make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature about activities memorializing or commemorating Kansas firefighters, including recommendations on updates and repairs to the memorial.
- Solicit and receive grants, gifts, contributions, and bequests for the memorial.
- Remit all monies received to the State Treasury for credit to the Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund.
- Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund:
- Established in statute; expenditures may be made for constructing, updating, repairing the memorial and other purposes related to memorializing Kansas firefighters.
- Monthly interest-crediting provisions to the fund (per amended language) are retained.
- Statutory changes: Amends K.S.A. 75-36,102 and repeals certain prior statutory provisions addressing the prior advisory committee and memorial administration (as reflected in the amended text).
Who is affected
- Firefighter organizations and survivors/families of fallen firefighters (memorial recognition and inscription process).
- Kansas Firefighters Museum and the City of Wichita (site recognition; potential role in maintenance/activities).
- State agencies (State Fire Marshal, Secretary of Administration, Department of Administration) — shifts administrative oversight and advisory responsibility to the Council.
- Donors and grantors (authority to solicit and deposit funds into the memorial fund).
Fiscal impact
- The Division of the Budget fiscal note and affected agencies (Office of the State Fire Marshal and Department of Administration) report no fiscal effect from enactment.
Other notes
- During committee hearing, neutral/supportive testimony was provided by the State Fire Marshal and Wichita City Council; a written proponent comment came from an IAFF local. Some conferees noted concern about creating a new council when prior statutes were linked to a Statehouse-located memorial. The House Committee modified council membership in its amendment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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