Kansas HB 2607: Providing a sales tax exemption to Stafford county economic development, inc.

Bill Text

Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2607
By Committee on Transportation
Requested by Representative Ohaebosim on behalf of Representative Martinez
1-30
AN ACT designating the official Kansas railroad hall of fame for the
purpose of celebrating the rich railroad heritage of Kansas and the
Kansans who were and are leaders in such industry; setting the location
of such hall of fame at the great plains transportation museum in
Wichita; establishing the Kansas railroad hall of fame selection
committee; prescribing powers and duties of the committee.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) The legislature finds that the state of Kansas, during the
latter half of the 19
th century, was a nexus for development of rail
transportation in the new frontier of the west. The growth of
transcontinental routes, as well as secondary lines that served the cattle
and farming industries and delivered goods to the burgeoning new
communities across the state, left in their wake a rich heritage of rail travel
and shipment that constituted a pivotal part of Kansas history. Even today,
goods move through Kansas by rail at a high rate, and the railroad
transportation system continues to be an important part of the state
economy. Therefore, the legislature finds that there shall be established an
officially sanctioned Kansas railroad hall of fame to recognize the
important individuals who developed rail transportation in Kansas and
continue such endeavors today. The legislature further finds that the
location that would best serve this purpose is the great plains
transportation museum, located in Wichita, because the museum is
established with a focus on transportation and could provide benefits,
synergies and facilities helpful to establishing and ensuring the success of
the Kansas railroad hall of fame.
(b) The great plains transportation museum, located in Wichita, is
hereby designated as the official site of and repository for the Kansas
railroad hall of fame.
(c) The management of the Kansas railroad hall of fame located at the
great plains transportation museum is vested in the Kansas railroad hall of
fame selection committee established pursuant to section 2, and
amendments thereto.
(d) The provisions of sections 1 through 4, and amendments thereto,
shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas railroad hall of fame act.
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HB 2607 2
Sec. 2. (a) There is hereby established the Kansas railroad hall of
fame selection committee composed of:
(1) The executive director of the great plains transportation museum,
who shall serve ex officio with all powers of an appointed member;
(2) the executive director of the state historical society, who shall
serve ex officio with all powers of an appointed member;
(3) two members who shall be initially appointed by the governor
from a list of at least five individuals nominated by the board of directors
of the great plains transportation museum. Such list shall be comprised of
current or former members of such board of directors. The term of a great
plains transportation museum board member appointed to the selection
committee shall be for the period of such individual's membership on such
museum board of directors. The term of a former board member shall be
four years. All subsequent appointments and any vacancy in office of a
member of the selection committee appointed pursuant to this paragraph
shall be filled by the governor by appointment from a list of at least three
individuals nominated by the board of directors of the great plains
transportation museum who meet the requirements as described by this
paragraph;
(4) one representative of the railroad industry to be appointed by the
governor for a term of two years; and
(5) two representatives of the public who are or have been employed
in the railroad industry as described by section 3(a)(1)(A) or (B), and
amendments thereto, to be appointed by the governor for a term of two
years.
(b) Upon the vacancy of office or expiration of the term of office of
any member who has been appointed, a successor shall be appointed in the
same manner as the original appointment, except as otherwise provided by
paragraph (a)(3). Vacancies in office of appointed members with an
unexpired term of years shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired
term of the member creating the vacancy. The governor may remove a
member at any time, and the resulting vacancy shall be promptly filled as
provided by this section. Appointed members may be reappointed but shall
not serve more than two consecutive terms, including any partial term.
(c) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee shall
organize annually by electing one of the committee members as
chairperson, one as vice chairperson and one as treasurer. Meetings of the
selection committee shall be held upon the call of the chairperson or may
be called by a majority of the selection