Subcommittee restores recurring aviation research funding for Wichita State and removes sunset on $7M digital program

The Higher Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means committee voted to restore recurring funding for aviation research at Wichita State University and to remove a sunset on a separate digital transformation appropriation, ensuring the FY27 digital transformation payment of $7,000,000. Senator Alley moved the aviation funding change and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The aviation action would increase the aviation research account to $15 million, including a $5 million allocation directed to Textron Aviation; Senator Alley said the $5 million addition was intended as baseline funding rather than a one-time infusion. "We're going to add the $5,000,000 in the aviation research account for the 2027 for Wichita State," Alley said when making the motion, and members signaled broad support.

Andy Schlapp of Wichita State University, who answered committee questions, told members the university submits an annual report on the NIAR and related aviation funds "on or before January 9 of every year" that details how the $5,000,000 is spent and how industry partners use matching funds. Schlapp said prior projects have shown leverage from state investments: "for every dollar the state invests in the b 1 bomber program, we're returning $72 from private investment and from the federal government," he said, adding the university would provide the committee the usual report.

Committee members debated whether the added aviation money should be recurring or one-time; several members favored treating it as recurring but flagged the need for periodic review. The motion to add the $5 million to the baseline passed by voice vote.

Separately, members discussed a $7,000,000 digital transformation appropriation that appears in the FY27 budget as part of a prior multi-year commitment. Andy Schlapp and others explained the funds support maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities and related hangar work tied to federal programs and industry partnerships at McConnell Air Force Base. The subcommittee moved to remove the statutory sunset language that would end the funding in FY27, thereby guaranteeing the FY27 payment; members asked that staff draft language next year to authorize continuation starting in FY28 and to define a review period.

Senator Alley made the motion to remove the sunset and Senator Fagg seconded it; the motion carried. The committee recorded that it expects follow-up report(s) and draft bill language in the next session to address the multi-year funding schedule and any review or reporting requirements.

The subcommittee chair said the items and the supplementary material will be available for the full committee to review before final action. No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; both measures were approved by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will provide the annual NIAR/aviation report to the subcommittee members and prepare draft budget language to implement the sunset removal and the intended multi-year continuation, for consideration during the full committee and next year’s budget process.