Joint Committee backs five‑year capital plans for state agencies, historical society and public universities

The Joint Committee on State Building Construction on Nov. 18 heard a slate of five‑year capital improvement presentations and recommended plans for multiple state agencies, cultural institutions and the state university system. Committee members voted on each plan in turn; most recommendations were approved after brief Q&A.

Key approvals and summaries

- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: Martin Naboor, chief of staff to the secretary, explained the agency's FY‑26 emphasis on rehabilitation and repair, noting a planned CI (capital improvements) program of roughly $33 million for FY‑26 and describing use of federal funds for projects including the Flint Hills Trail and shooting range work. The committee accepted KDWP's five‑year plan.

- Kansas Historical Society: Patrick Zollner, executive director, described historic building restorations including the Shawnee Indian Mission West Building restoration (a National Park Service Save America's Treasures grant match) and a mobile shelving retrofit in the archives. The committee moved and approved the historical society's five‑year capital plan.

- Kansas State School for the Deaf and Kansas State School for the Blind: Administrators outlined HVAC, safety and roof projects at both campuses and requested targeted major upgrades (including HVAC upgrades aimed at…