SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2372
As Amended by House Committee on Federal
and State Affairs
Brief*
HB 2372, as amended, would designate the existing
Fallen Firefighters Memorial adjacent to the Kansas
Firefighters Museum in Wichita as the official Fallen
Firefighters Memorial of the State of Kansas and would
replace the Kansas Firefighters Memorial Advisory
Committee with the Kansas Firefighter Memorial Council
(Council).
The bill would also make technical amendments.
Official Fallen Firefighters Memorial of Kansas
(Section 3)
The bill would designate the Fallen Firefighters Memorial
located adjacent to the Kansas Firefighters Museum in
Wichita as the official Fallen Firefighters Memorial of the
State of Kansas. The bill would repeal statutes regarding a
memorial to Kansas firefighters, duties to the State Fire
Marshal, duties of the Secretary of Administration, and the
Kansas Firefighters Memorial Fund.
Kansas Firefighters Memorial Council (New Section 1)
The bill would abolish the Firefighters Memorial Advisory
Committee and transfer all of its powers, duties, functions,
records and other property to the Council.
____________________
*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
https://klrd.gov/ Council Membership (New Section 2)
The Council would be composed of the following
members:
●One representative appointed by the Governor
from each the following organizations:
○Fire Marshals Association of Kansas;
○Kansas Council of Firefighters;
○Kansas Firefighters Museum;
○Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs;
○Kansas State Firefighters Association;
○Kansas State Funeral Assistance Team;
○Wichita Park Board; and
●The State Fire Marshal or designee; and
●The Executive Director of the Kansas State
Historical Society or designee.
Council Organization
The bill would require the members of the Council to
organize annually by electing a Chairperson and Vice-
chairperson and the Council to meet at least once annually at
the call of the Chairperson.
The Secretary of Administration, or the Secretary’s
designee, would serve as secretary for the Council.
Council Duties
The bill would require the Council to make
recommendations to the Governor and the Kansas
Legislature regarding appropriate activities memorializing or
commemorating the services of firefighters in Kansas
including, but not limited to, recommendations concerning
updates and repairs to the Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
2- 2372 The bill would authorize the Council to receive and
solicit grants, gifts, contributions, and bequests to finance
authorized expenditures, including those authorized for the
Memorial, and remit all moneys received for deposit in the
State Treasury to the credit of the Kansas Firefighters
Memorial Fund.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Representative
Kessler.
House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In the House Committee hearing, neutral testimony was
provided by the State Fire Marshal and the Wichita City
Council, who indicated support for the intent of the legislation
and proposed a streamlined approach to recognize the
Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Wichita as the official
state memorial and transfer the funds collected in the State
Firefighters Memorial Fund to the City of Wichita for
maintenance and enhancements. The conferees stated
concerns with creating a new council to oversee the
Memorial, noting the original statutes were required due to
the memorial being located on the Statehouse grounds.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by a
representative of the International Association of Firefighters,
Wichita Local 135.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to make
changes to the membership of the Kansas Fallen Firefighters
Memorial Council .
3- 2372 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Office of the State
Fire Marshal and the Department of Administration indicate
enactment of the bill would have no fiscal effect.
Fallen Firefighters Memorial; Kansas Firefighters Museum; Kansas Fallen
Firefighters Memorial Council; Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund
4- 2372