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.

2025-2026 Regular Session

The bill appropriates $600,000 to develop and begin phase one renovations of the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park, including planning, RFPs, and master plan implementation.

Died in Committee

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Purpose / Intent

HB 2398 appropriates state funds to the Kansas State Historical Society to create a master plan for the Quindaro Ruins Archaeological Park (Wyandotte County), to administer the planning process (scope statement, work plan, and request for proposals), and to begin implementing phase one renovations from that master plan. The stated legislative intent is to support historic preservation and prepare the site for future investment, with the prospect of additional appropriations in later years.

Key provisions

Appropriates $600,000 from the State General Fund for FY 2026 to the State Historical Society for the Quindaro ruins archaeological park project.

Requires at least $250,000 of that appropriation be used to:

Issue a scope statement,
Plan the work to be accomplished, and
Issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a master plan.

Directs that remaining funds in the account be used to implement the master plan’s phase one renovations.

States the Legislature’s intent to consider additional funds in future fiscal years based on the master plan.

Effective upon publication in the statute book.

Fiscal impact (from Fiscal Note)

Total appropriation: $600,000 from the State General Fund for FY 2026.

The State Historical Society expects to use part of the funding to hire an additional 0.50 FTE to manage development and implementation of the master plan.

The agency indicates additional resources may be necessary if implementation extends beyond FY 2026.

The fiscal effect is not included in the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.

Who/what is affected

Primary recipient: Kansas State Historical Society (project administration).

Beneficiaries/impacted stakeholders: Wyandotte County and local communities around the Quindaro site; preservation contractors, planners, archaeologists, and cultural heritage/tourism interests tied to Quindaro.

Potential downstream effects: site stabilization/renovation contracts, heritage tourism development, interpretive programming, and possible future state appropriations.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: February 4, 2025.

Scheduled hearing: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 9:00 AM, Room 112-N (House Committee on Appropriations).

Appropriation is for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Bill takes effect upon publication (per the act text).

Notes: The bill text as filed identifies the appropriation and spending requirements; the fiscal note clarifies expected staffing and that further funding may be needed if implementation continues past FY2026.

Bill