Chairperson Petersen opened the Hearing on SB353.

Adam Siebers, Staff Revisor gave an explainer on the bill. (Attachment 1) He answered questions from committee members.

Senator Oleatha Faust-Goudeau gave testimony in support of SB353.  (Attachment 2) If passed as written the Great Plains Museum will be the location of the Railroad Hall of Fame. The Great Plains Museum is the best location as it experiences the highest level of tourist foot traffic of any museum found in the state and hosts an impressive array of local and regional artifacts such as the Santa Fe, Rock Island, and Union Pacific. It also possesses two iconic locomotives, the Northern 484 steam engine and the Santa Fe that was commissioned back in 1967.

Lon Smith gave proponent testimony (Attachment 3) as the director of the Great Plains Transportation Museum in downtown Wichita Kansas. The museum has operated for the last 44 years, being completely volunteer until about a year ago. Not only would the Railroad Hall of Fame provide another fantastic exhibit to add to our existing collection, it would also provide an opportunity to spotlight and praise the many Kansans whose work and service have supported the state and its railroad infrastructure development for decades. 

Ty Dragoo testified in support of SB353. (Attachment 4) He stated that this bill honors not just the railroads themselves, but the people, the engineers, conductors, car-men, signal maintainers, machinists, dispatchers, and countless others who made and continue to make rail transportation in Kansas possible.

They took questions from committee members.

Proponent, written only testimony was submitted by;

Jason Watkins, on behalf of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 5)

Anne Marie Yatsula, Staff Attorney, The League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 6)

Tom Bruno, President, Bruno and Associates (Attachment 7)

Heather Schroeder, Executive Director, Downtown Wichita (Attachment 8)

Susie Santo, President and CEO, Visit Wichita (Attachment 9)

John Rolfe, President and CEO, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 10)

There was no Opponent or Neutral testimony submitted.

Chairperson Petersen closed the Hearing on SB353.