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 decommissioning a central boiler at the School for the Deaf and roof work). The committee approved both schools' five‑year plans.

- Veterans services: The Kansas Office of Veterans Services described renovations and deferred maintenance at the Kansas Veterans Home (Winfield) and Soldiers Home (Fort Dodge), cemetery expansion work at Winfield funded by the National Cemetery Administration and planning for a Northeast Kansas veterans home. The committee recommended the veterans office five‑year plan.

- Board of Regents and public universities: Chad Bristow and representatives from Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Wichita State, Emporia State, Kansas State and the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center presented their campus capital plans. Several universities highlighted completed or ongoing major projects (examples included Fort Hays' Tebow Library renovation and Stroup Hall addition; Wichita State's University Stadium improvements and the NIAR hub; Pittsburg State's downtown Kelce College of Business; Emporia State's new nursing and student wellness center; Kansas State's Ag Innovation projects and planning tied to the Kansas Campus Restoration Act; KU Medical Center's cancer center and imaging renovations). The committee approved the Regents' and the universities' five‑year plans.

Votes at a glance

- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: motion to recommend the five‑year capital improvement plan — outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: presentation began at 00:00:43.575; motion passed at 01:31:13.6901.

- Kansas Department of Corrections (overall plan; committee action separate for Hutchinson central unit): committee initially deferred action pending additional materials, then later recommended the KDOC plan excluding the Hutchinson central‑unit rebuild — outcome: approved (committee recommendation excluding central unit). Provenance: department presentation began at 00:19:01.745; final action recorded at 01:14:49.7603.

- Kansas Historical Society: motion to recommend the five‑year capital improvement plan — outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: presentation began at 00:43:35.43; action recorded at 00:57:35.775.

- Kansas State School for the Deaf: motion to recommend plan — outcome: approved. Provenance: presentation began at 01:16:36.725; action recorded at 01:31:21.765.

- Kansas State School for the Blind: motion to recommend plan — outcome: approved. Provenance: presentation began at 01:26:30.2246; action recorded at 01:32:31.22.

- Kansas Office of Veterans Services: motion to recommend plan — outcome: approved. Provenance: presentation began at 01:31:18.375; action recorded at 01:54:12.655.

- Kansas Highway Patrol: motion to recommend plan — outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: presentation began at 01:55:55.145; action recorded at 02:39:45.485.

- Kansas Board of Regents / Public universities (Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Wichita State, Emporia State, Kansas State, KU Medical Center, University of Kansas): motion to accept the Regents and university five‑year capital improvement plans — outcome: approved. Provenance: Regents overview began at 03:53:98.88; committee motion and voice vote recorded at 21:27:66.00.

What members asked for next

Committee members asked several agencies for follow‑up information on specific items before or during the regular session. Requests included: - Updated population projections and more detailed cost/phase breakdown for KDOC’s Hutchinson options; - A more detailed breakdown of architectural and engineering fee line items for parks/projects (KDWP and others); - Project timelines and procurement schedules for large, funded initiatives (KHP dispatch center, university multi‑year projects, veterans home planning); - Clarification of funding sources and balances for certain funds (e.g., gaming revenue transfers supporting KDOC rehab and repair projects).

The committee's recommendations are advisory to appropriations and bonding decisions the Legislature will take up in the regular session.