Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor
Division of the Budget
February 20, 2025
The Honorable Tom Kessler, Chairperson
House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 346-S
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Representative Kessler:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for HB 2051 by House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning HB 2051 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
HB 2051 would require the approval of the Kansas Legislature through the adoption of a
concurrent resolution for the designation of any national heritage area or national historic trail
within the state of Kansas, if the designation includes land that is not federally owned. Legislative
approval would be required for any state lands, water, property, or facilities to be included in a
national heritage area, national historic trail or any similar or successor designated areas. The bill
would also require legislative approval through the adoption of a concurrent resolution of the use
of state funds to match federal funds for any national heritage area or national historic trail.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) states that the Freedom’s Frontier
National Heritage Area (FFNHA), which was established in 2006, encompasses 29 counties in
eastern Kansas and an additional 12 counties in Western Missouri. Within the 29 counties in
Kansas, there are 14 state parks, and two additional state park managed properties. These 16
properties are important economic assets to the local communities they are situated within.
Additionally, this area contains KDWP Wildlife Areas.
Due to the current locations of the 16 state park properties, within the FFNHA and aligned
with the Santa Fe National Historical Trail, the bill would have a direct effect on operations,
revenues, and expenditures for the Parks Division of the KDWP. The agency could not operate
those parks unless the Legislature approved expenditures for those parks. The agency could not
relocate the parks and prohibiting the existence of these facilities within the state budget would
eliminate 54.00 positions at the parks. The agency cannot estimate the amount of revenue it would The Honorable Tom Kessler, Chairperson
Page 2—HB 2051
lose or the amount of expenditures it would save if these parks were to close. The agency does
not spend state funds to add to public properties in the National Heritage Areas or trails nor does
the agency receive federal funds for National Heritage Areas.
The Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Department of Health and
Environment, Kansas Department of Agriculture, and the Adjutant General’s office indicate that
HB 2051 would have no effect on agency operations, revenues, or expenditures. Any fiscal effect
associated with HB 2051 is not reflected in The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
The Kansas Association of Counties indicates that the bill could prevent counties from
getting certain federal grants and private citizens would not be able to allow their land to be
designated as a National Heritage Area without legislative approval. However, the Association
states that fiscal effect would be negligible. The League of Kansas Municipalities states that the
bill would not have a fiscal effect on cities.
Sincerely,
Adam C. Proffitt
Director of the Budget
cc: Martin DeBoer, Department of Wildlife & Parks
Brendan Yorkey, Department of Transportation
Lita Biggs, Department of Agriculture
Michael Neth, Office of the Adjutant General
Jay Hall, Kansas Association of Counties
Wendi Stark, League of Kansas Municipalities
Amy Penrod, Department of Health & Environment