SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 410
As Amended by House Committee on
Transportation
Brief*
SB 410, as amended, would designate three portions of
highway as memorial highways.
The bill would designate two portions of highway in
honor of distinguished Kansans:
●The Ken W Brock Memorial Highway would be the
portion of US-69 between Grand Road in Bourbon
County and East 650
th
Avenue in Crawford County;
and
●The Merle Miller Memorial Highway would be US-
81 in Republic County. The bill would remove this
portion from the Frank Carlson Memorial Highway.
The bill would also designate as the First Responders
Memorial Highway the portion of US-281 from the southern
city limits of Russell north to its junction with K-18 in Russell
County.
The bill would make conforming amendments to remove
this portion of US-281 from the current highway designation
of the American Legion Memorial Highway. [Note: The
American Legion Memorial Highway currently extends from
the Nebraska state line to the Oklahoma state line.]
The bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to
place suitable signs to indicate the designations once,
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org pursuant to continuing law, sufficient moneys have been
received from gifts and donations for the cost of placing the
signs, plus an additional 50 percent of the initial cost to defray
costs for future maintenance or replacement of the signs.
Background
As amended by the House Committee on
Transportation, the bill would include provisions of SB 410,
as amended by the Senate Committee on Transportation, and
HB 2799. [Note: As amended by the Senate Committee on
Transportation, SB 410 included provisions of SB 410, as
introduced, and SB 357, as introduced.]
SB 410 (Ken W Brock Memorial Highway)
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Transportation at the request of Senator Tyson.
Senate Committee on Transportation
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by the president of Midwest Minerals and the
chairman of the U.S. Highway 69 Association. They described
Mr. Brock’s advocacy for improving US-69 to four lanes from
Kansas City to I-44 and his involvement in other community
improvement endeavors. Written-only proponent testimony
was provided by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, U.S.
Representative Jake LaTurner, the Pittsburg City Manager,
and the President of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of
Commerce.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to add the
contents of SB 357.
2- 410 House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Senator Bowers, Senator Tyson ,
Representative Moser, the president of Midwest Minerals,
and the daughter of Merle Miller. Proponents described Ken
Brock’s and Merle Miller’s advocacy for improving US-69 and
US-81, respectively, and their involvement in other
community improvement endeavors. Written-only proponent
testimony was provided by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, U.S.
Representative Jake LaTurner, the Pittsburg City Manager,
the President of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce,
and the chairman of the U.S. Highway 69 Association.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to add the
contents of HB 2799.
SB 357 (Merle Miller Memorial Highway)
SB 357 was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Transportation at the request of Senator Bowers.
Senate Committee on Transportation
In the Senate Committee hearing, the daughter of Mr.
Miller and the current publisher of the Belleville Telescope
provided proponent testimony. They described the
dedication of Merle Miller, who was editor and publisher of the
Belleville Telescope, to improving highways, particularly US-
81. Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of the City of Belleville.
No other testimony was provided.
3- 410 HB 2799 (First Responders Memorial Highway)
HB 2799 was introduced by the House Committee on
Appropriations at the request of Representative Waymaster
on behalf of the city of Russell.
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, written-only
proponent testimony was provided by Representative
Waymaster, Senator Bowers, and the mayor of Russell,
Kansas. The proponents generally stated the bill would
demonstrate respect and appreciation for Kansans serving as
emergency responders. The mayor of Russell noted
unanimous city council support for the designation.
No other testimony was provided.
Fiscal Information
SB 410 (Ken W Brock Memorial Highway)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Kansas Department
of Transportation (KDOT) estimates it would cost $5,580 to
manufacture and install two signs indicating the designation,
and a total of $8,370 would need to be received from
donations to install the signs. KDOT indicates implementation
of the bill would require an increase of $5,580 to the
expenditure limitation for the agency operations account for
FY 2025. Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the
bill is not reflected in The FY 2025 Governor’s Budget Report.
SB 357 (Merle Miller Memorial Highway)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on SB 357, as introduced, KDOT estimates it
4- 410 would cost $5,580 to manufacture and install two signs
indicating the designation, and a total of $8,370 would need
to be received from donations to install the signs. KDOT
indicates implementation of the bill would require an increase
of $5,580 to the expenditure limitation for the agency
operations account for FY 2025. Any fiscal effect associated
with enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY 2025
Governor’s Budget Report.
HB 2799 (First Responders Memorial Highway)
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on HB 2799, as introduced, KDOT estimates it
would cost $4,320 to manufacture and install two signs
indicating the designation, and a total of $6,480 would need
to be received from donations to install the signs. KDOT
indicates implementation of the bill would require an increase
of $4,320 to the expenditure limitation for the agency’s
operations account for FY 2025. Any fiscal effect associated
with enactment of HB 2799 is not reflected in The FY 2025
Governor’s Budget Report.
Highway; memorial highway; US-69; US-81; Ken W Brock; Merle Miller; first
responders
5- 410