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Appropriations panel approves $905,000 to finish Kansas Museum of History exhibit walls after heated debate
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee voted to add $905,000 from the state general fund to complete interior exhibit walls at the Kansas Museum of History, after members debated contract authority, alternative funding and timing for the museum reopening.
The House Committee on Appropriations voted to approve a $905,000 state general fund payment to complete interior exhibit walls at the Kansas Museum of History, a move supporters said is needed to finish exhibit construction and critics questioned procurement and oversight.
The vote came during review of the Kansas State Historical Society budget for fiscal 2025-2027. Committee members also debated related items including staffing and a previously approved $300,000 proviso for purchase of the Curtis House and a proposed transfer of a Capitol elevator attendant position to the historical society.
The museum wall project was presented to the committee as a previously unbudgeted need that, according to testimony, was not included in initial project costs and subsequently triggered life-safety upgrades. Chairman Howe, presenting the agency’s request, said the society identified the gallery exhibit walls, the ramp and supporting engineering work as outside the original contract and that those items “triggered the need for additional life safety compliance upgrades,” which together produced the $905,000 total.
Representative Rogers argued against using the general fund without fuller documentation of the contracting process and asked whether all appropriate approvals and the state building committee review had occurred. “If this was a corporation, the corporation wouldn’t just simply say, the treasurer, we’re going to sign off on it,” Rogers said, urging the committee to demand records.
Supporters, including Representative Roberts and Representative Amicks, said the museum has been closed since 2022 and that completing the walls will allow exhibits — including a suspended airplane display — to proceed. Roberts moved a substitute motion to approve the $905,000, which passed after floor debate and a roll-call-style verbal vote.
Committee members disclosed some procurement details in discussion: testimony indicated the Office of Facilities and Property Management accepted the exhibit wall infrastructure project, a pre-bid meeting was held, the initial bid solicitation received no offers, and five bids were received in November. Members said roughly $350,000 of the $905,000 is currently under contract and that a contract execution date of Dec. 4 (year referenced in testimony) exists.
The committee also considered alternatives for funding, including redirecting the $300,000 SGF set aside for the Curtis House purchase; members noted the Curtis House transaction had not closed and the funds remained available. Several members urged research staff to obtain the contract and related approvals before final omnibus budget decisions, while others said delay would push the museum reopening later.
Separately, the committee approved a motion to transfer the Capitol cage elevator attendant staffing to the historical society in fiscal 2026 rather than 2025, contingent on a corresponding deletion in the Department of Administration budget. The committee also instructed staff to seek additional documentation about the wall contract and related approvals.
Following debate, Chairman Howe moved — and the committee approved — the committee’s amended appropriations recommendation for the Kansas State Historical Society for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 as provided in House Bill 2007.
The committee record shows competing priorities: members who emphasized stewardship of public funds sought more documentation about procurement and departmental approvals; those prioritizing reopening the museum stressed that ongoing construction and signed contracts left the state obligated and that delaying funding would postpone reopening.
The museum reopening has been delayed multiple times; the historical society previously targeted Kansas Day 2025 but testimony indicated a fall 2025 target (fiscal 2026) is more realistic. The committee recommended appropriations be revisited in the broader budget package with the additional contract documentation requested.
