SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 272
As Amended by Senate Committee on Ways
and Means

Brief*
SB 272, as amended, would increase transfers from the
State Highway Fund (SHF) to the Public Use General
Aviation Airport Development Fund from $5.0 million to $15.0
million annually, starting July 1, 2024. Continuing law
authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to use these funds
to provide grants to public use general aviation airports for
planning, constructing, reconstructing, or rehabilitating
facilities.
The bill would also increase the minimum amount that
must be expended from the fund for such grants from $5.0
million to $15.0 million annually.
[Note: Continuing law defines a public use general
aviation airport to mean any airport used by the general
public for the taking off and landing of aircraft, excluding
those airports classified as primary by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). The FAA defines a primary airport as
one at which more than 10,000 passengers board annually.]

Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Ways and Means at the request of Senator Claeys.


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*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
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
In the Senate Committee hearing on February 14, 2024,
proponent testimony was provided by representatives of the
Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the
Kansas Association of Airports. Proponents noted that
funding supports the Kansas Airport Improvement Program
(KAIP), which has been funded at $5.0 million annually since
FY 2013. KAIP provides assistance to 109 airports that
enable travel, emergency medical transport, search and
rescue operations, and aerial agriculture services.
Proponents further noted that a recent KDOT assessment of
airport infrastructure in Kansas indicates runway pavement
conditions are of concern. The additional funding would go
toward items such as pavement improvement, safety
features, and automated weather observation systems, all of
which the proponents indicate are significant for air
ambulance services in rural areas.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of the Abilene Municipal Airport, Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association, American Council of
Engineering Companies of Kansas, Chamber of Lawrence,
the cities of Lawrence and Liberal, Kansas Hospital
Association, and Salina Airport Authority.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
● Reduce proposed transfers from the SHF to the
Public Use General Aviation Airport Development
Fund from $18.0 million to $15.0 million annually;
● Reduce the proposed minimum amount that must
be expended from the fund from $18.0 million to
$15.0 million annually; and


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 ● Shift the starting date for such transfers from July
1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.

Fiscal Information
According to a fiscal note prepared by the Division of the
Budget, as introduced, KDOT indicates the bill would
increase expenditures from the Public Use General Aviation
Airport Development Fund to $18.0 million, $8.0 million more
than the Governor's budget recommendation in FY 2024.
Continuing law authorizes the Secretary of
Transportation to transfer additional moneys from the SHF to
the Public Use General Aviation Airport Development Fund or
from the Public Use General Aviation Airport Development
Fund to the SHF, provided that a minimum amount of $5.0
million is expended from the fund annually. KDOT notes that
expenditures from the fund were increased from $5.0 million
to $10.0 million, with a commensurate increase in transfers
from the SHF, under the Governor's budget recommendation
in FY 2024 for the agency to make additional grants to public
use airports.
[Note: The Governor's budget recommendation for FY
2025 includes expenditures of $10.0 million from the Public
Use General Aviation Airport Development Fund, with
commensurate transfers from the SHF.]
Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of the bill is
not reflected in The FY 2024 Governor’s Budget Report.
Public Use General Aviation Airport Development Fund; State Highway Fund; airport


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 75-5061
As Amended by Senate Committee: 75-5061