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Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2607
By Committee on Transportation
Requested by Representative Ohaebosim on behalf of Representative Martinez
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AN ACT designating the official Kansas railroad hall of fame for the
purpose of celebrating the rich railroad heritage of Kansas and the
Kansans who were and are leaders in such industry; setting the location
of such hall of fame at the great plains transportation museum in
Wichita; establishing the Kansas railroad hall of fame selection
committee; prescribing powers and duties of the committee.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) The legislature finds that the state of Kansas, during the
latter half of the 19th century, was a nexus for development of rail
transportation in the new frontier of the west. The growth of
transcontinental routes, as well as secondary lines that served the cattle
and farming industries and delivered goods to the burgeoning new
communities across the state, left in their wake a rich heritage of rail travel
and shipment that constituted a pivotal part of Kansas history. Even today,
goods move through Kansas by rail at a high rate, and the railroad
transportation system continues to be an important part of the state
economy. Therefore, the legislature finds that there shall be established an
officially sanctioned Kansas railroad hall of fame to recognize the
important individuals who developed rail transportation in Kansas and
continue such endeavors today. The legislature further finds that the
location that would best serve this purpose is the great plains
transportation museum, located in Wichita, because the museum is
established with a focus on transportation and could provide benefits,
synergies and facilities helpful to establishing and ensuring the success of
the Kansas railroad hall of fame.
(b) The great plains transportation museum, located in Wichita, is
hereby designated as the official site of and repository for the Kansas
railroad hall of fame.
(c) The management of the Kansas railroad hall of fame located at the
great plains transportation museum is vested in the Kansas railroad hall of
fame selection committee established pursuant to section 2, and
amendments thereto.
(d) The provisions of sections 1 through 4, and amendments thereto,
shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas railroad hall of fame act.
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Sec. 2. (a) There is hereby established the Kansas railroad hall of
fame selection committee composed of:
(1) The executive director of the great plains transportation museum,
who shall serve ex officio with all powers of an appointed member;
(2) the executive director of the state historical society, who shall
serve ex officio with all powers of an appointed member;
(3) two members who shall be initially appointed by the governor
from a list of at least five individuals nominated by the board of directors
of the great plains transportation museum. Such list shall be comprised of
current or former members of such board of directors. The term of a great
plains transportation museum board member appointed to the selection
committee shall be for the period of such individual's membership on such
museum board of directors. The term of a former board member shall be
four years. All subsequent appointments and any vacancy in office of a
member of the selection committee appointed pursuant to this paragraph
shall be filled by the governor by appointment from a list of at least three
individuals nominated by the board of directors of the great plains
transportation museum who meet the requirements as described by this
paragraph;
(4) one representative of the railroad industry to be appointed by the
governor for a term of two years; and
(5) two representatives of the public who are or have been employed
in the railroad industry as described by section 3(a)(1)(A) or (B), and
amendments thereto, to be appointed by the governor for a term of two
years.
(b) Upon the vacancy of office or expiration of the term of office of
any member who has been appointed, a successor shall be appointed in the
same manner as the original appointment, except as otherwise provided by
paragraph (a)(3). Vacancies in office of appointed members with an
unexpired term of years shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired
term of the member creating the vacancy. The governor may remove a
member at any time, and the resulting vacancy shall be promptly filled as
provided by this section. Appointed members may be reappointed but shall
not serve more than two consecutive terms, including any partial term.
(c) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee shall
organize annually by electing one of the committee members as
chairperson, one as vice chairperson and one as treasurer. Meetings of the
selection committee shall be held upon the call of the chairperson or may
be called by a majority of the selection committee. Meetings shall be open
to the public and shall be held at the facilities of the great plains
transportation museum, if possible, or in proximity to the Kansas railroad
hall of fame.
(d) Members of the Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee
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shall serve without compensation, except that members may receive
reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending meetings or performing
duties for the selection committee from available moneys.
(e) Decisions of the Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee
shall be by the majority vote of all members. Members may participate and
vote remotely if such participation and vote is ascertainable by members of
the public physically present at the meeting.
Sec. 3. (a) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee
established pursuant to section 2, and amendments thereto, shall annually
select two individuals for induction into the Kansas railroad hall of fame.
The purpose of such selections shall be to honor those individuals whose
achievements in or for the Kansas railroad industry have brought
distinction to themselves and to the state of Kansas. A candidate for
induction into the Kansas railroad hall of fame shall have:
(1) (A) Worked within this state with an officially sanctioned railroad
operating within this state;
(B) worked within this state in the manufacture within this state of
railroad-related products, rail cars or locomotives; or
(C) been otherwise significantly involved in the railroad industry in
this state; and
(2) contributed significantly to rail service in Kansas or to the
preservation of the rail heritage of Kansas.
(b) Any member of the Kansas railroad hall of fame selection
committee or interested individual may nominate a candidate for
consideration by the selection committee for induction into the Kansas
railroad hall of fame. The selection committee shall prepare and make
available to the public a nomination form available in printed format or on
the website or webpage of the Kansas railroad hall of fame. The
nomination form shall include:
(1) Contact information pertaining to the nominee, including the
name, address, phone number and email address or, if the nominee is
deceased, the name and contact information of a relative or close personal
acquaintance of the nominee;
(2) information pertaining to the nominator, including the name,
address, phone number, email address and the nominator's relationship to
the nominee;
(3) a statement of approximately 1,000 words or more explaining
why the nominee should be a candidate for induction into the Kansas
railroad hall of fame, including how the nominee contributed to the Kansas
rail industry and meets the criteria of subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2) and why
such contribution is significant; and
(4) such other information as may be required by the selection
committee.
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(c) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee may
research or request additional information as the selection committee may
find helpful in determining whether to induct a candidate into the Kansas
railroad hall of fame. Information provided to or obtained and considered
by the selection committee for the purpose of reviewing candidates and
making a decision as to which candidates are to be inducted into the
Kansas railroad hall of fame may be made available to the public for the
purpose of informing the public regarding the basis of the committee's
decision and the accomplishments and contribution of candidates to the
railroad heritage of Kansas. The selection committee shall not be required
to disclose information or records, including, but not limited to, personally
identifiable information or other personal information provided on the
nomination form, that are not required to be disclosed by a public agency
pursuant to K.S.A. 45-221, and amendments thereto, or are protected
under any other applicable state or federal law.
(d) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee:
(1) Shall provide for an appropriate location at the facilities of the
great plains transportation museum, if possible, or in close proximity to
such facilities for the display of any plaques, trophies, mementos, awards,
photographs, biographical or historical material or other information that
may come into the committee's possession for the purpose of recognizing
the achievements of the individual Kansans inducted into the Kansas
railroad hall of fame. The selection committee shall also provide for the
appropriate display of such items or information at such location;
(2) may provide an outside display on a printed metal sign or signs
that may include photos of the inductees, abbreviated biographies of
inductees and information about the Kansas railroad hall of fame. The
display may be mounted on public property or a public right-of-way at a
suitable location, as determined by the selection committee in cooperation
with the Kansas department of transportation or local government
authorities. The Kansas department of transportation shall assist with the
siting and establishment of the display upon request by the selection
committee;
(3) shall establish a website or webpage for the Kansas railroad hall
of fame, which may be located on or linked with the website of the great
plains transportation museum;
(4) may solicit and accept gifts, grants, bequests, donations or
gratuities of money, services, real or personal property or rights from
individuals, businesses, organizations or any governmental source to be
used for the Kansas railroad hall of fame. Such moneys, property or
services shall be used for the purposes for which provided, including the
purchase of awards, outdoor or indoor displays, display or exhibit cases,
induction ceremonies, a website or webpage or such other purposes for the
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Kansas railroad hall of fame that the selection committee may deem
appropriate. Such moneys and any fees received pursuant to section 4, and
amendments thereto, shall be deposited by the treasurer in a suitable
account of the Kansas railroad hall of fame at an appropriate financial
institution as determined by the selection committee. All expenditures
from such account shall be used for the purposes and intent of the Kansas
railroad hall of fame act and authorized by the majority vote of the
selection committee. Financial records of the selection committee shall be
maintained by the treasurer; and
(5) may enter into such agreements or contracts with public or private
entities or individuals to fulfill the duties and purposes of the selection
committee and the intent of this act, including, but not limited to,
agreements or contracts with the great plains transportation museum for
the use of facilities and other assistance and cooperation.
Sec. 4. (a) The Kansas railroad hall of fame selection committee shall
provide appropriate ceremonies to induct the individuals selected pursuant
to section 3, and amendments thereto, into the Kansas railroad hall of
fame. Such ceremonies shall be conducted at least annually on
approximately the same date at the facilities of the great plains
transportation museum, if possible, or in proximity to the Kansas railroad
hall of fame. Such ceremonies shall include appropriate awards and
certifications and may include food or entertainment.
(b) The selection committee may fix and charge fees for attendance at
ceremonies described by subsection (a) to recover all or a part of the
expenses of the ceremonies or other expenses of the Kansas railroad hall
of fame. Such fees shall be deposited and expended by the selection
committee pursuant to section 3, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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