Senate panel approves Commerce budget position, restores EDIF funds and greenlights hangar and sunflower-summer add-ons

TOPEKA — The Senate Ways and Means Committee on March 3 approved a committee position on the Department of Commerce fiscal 2026 budget that restores $31,069,866 to the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) and includes two later amendments adding $15,500,000 for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar project and $2,000,000 for the Sunflower Summer program.

The committee heard from Shardae Kane of Legislative Research, who presented Commerce budget worksheets and program details, and from Rachel Willis, director of legislative affairs for the Department of Commerce, who described the department’s proposed FY26 base allocations and said the Commerce proposal “is not an increase in any shape” but an attempt to return to a FY26 base allocation. Willis also reviewed an international-recruitment summary that lists at least 10 foreign capital investment projects tied to Commerce international work and a $4.8 billion figure listed under Asia; Willis said that figure reflects committed private capital investment and does not subtract any incentives.

Why it matters: The EDIF funding and the approved add-ons are discretionary state economic-development appropriations that the committee will forward to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee as the chamber fashions a final budget. The votes change the chamber’s position relative to the House and will affect which Commerce programs have restored or increased funding in the Senate budget proposal.

Most important actions and debate

- EDIF restoration motion: Senator Tom Owens moved to add $31,069,866 back into EDIF, a motion described by Owens as restoring specific lines the department prioritized; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Owens described Commerce’s willingness to reduce its own budget and said the department “came to the table and said, look, we understand the need for cuts.”

- MRO hangar amendment: Senator Rick Dietrich offered an amendment to add $15,500,000 for a hangar project tied to maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities at Forbes Field in Topeka, citing local matching funds, NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research) involvement and existing local commitments. Senator Clouse seconded the amendment and the committee approved it by voice vote. Dietrich said the local chamber and MTAA board had clients interested in the hangar and that planning was complete.

- Sunflower Summer program addition: Senator Tom Titus moved to add $2,000,000 from EDIF to restore Sunflower Summer funding; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (the transcript records three opposed votes). Commerce testified that last year the program saw about 500,000 tickets claimed and 223 participating attractions, of which 76 were rural, and that roughly 90% of participating attractions reported increased visitation related to the program.

Committee discussion and clarifications

- Rural Opportunity Zones and program staffing: Senators questioned the staffing and operating-cost line items for Commerce rural programs, including an item showing $514,000 in salary and fringe and $66,000 in operations for a roughly $10 million program. Senator Tyson said, “I think we've got a problem here,” and asked how many positions those salary/fringe figures covered; Legislative Research and Commerce staff said they would provide additional detail on staffing allocations.

- International recruitment figures: Committee members asked whether the $4.8 billion shown as committed private investment (linked in part to Panasonic) is net of incentives. Willis said it is the committed capital investment and does not subtract the incentives or tax credits that may be earned.

- MRO project scope and timing: Sponsors said the amendment includes a deadline for expenditure (documented as 06/30/2026) and that local matches and planning are in place. Dietrich and others described Washburn Tech and local workforce pipelines as partners for training technicians.

- World Cup allocations: Committee staff reported prior and planned state transfers tied to the FIFA World Cup-related efforts: $10 million SGF in FY24 for planning/area improvements and $28 million in ARPA transfers across FY25 and FY26 (reported as $10 million in FY25 and $18 million in FY26), for a $38 million total noted in committee comments.

Votes at a glance

- Restore $31,069,866 to EDIF (motioned by Sen. Owens): Passed (voice vote). The committee adopted the Commerce position increasing EDIF to $31,069,866 from the House figure shown on the department worksheets.

- Amendment: add $15,500,000 for MRO hangar at Forbes Field/Topeka (motioned by Sen. Dietrich, seconded by Sen. Clouse): Passed (voice vote). The amendment includes an expenditure deadline referenced in committee materials (06/30/2026).

- Amendment: add $2,000,000 from EDIF for Sunflower Summer program (motioned by Sen. Titus): Passed (voice vote; transcript records three opposed). Commerce testified the program had ~500,000 tickets claimed last year and 223 participating attractions.

- Final motion: report the Commerce budget as amended favorably to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee (motioned and seconded): Passed (voice vote).

Attributions and sources

Committee documents presented by Legislative Research and Commerce staff formed the factual record for budget lines, program summaries, vacancy lists and reappropriation schedules. Statements in this article come from the committee hearing transcript: Shardae Kane, Legislative Research; Rachel Willis, director of legislative affairs, Department of Commerce; and senators identified in committee debate, including Senators Owens, Dietrich, Titus, Tyson, Clouse and others.

Ending

The committee will forward the Commerce budget as amended to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee. Committee members asked staff to provide additional staffing and salary/fringe breakdowns for rural programs and other line items before the chamber finalizes its budget position.