SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2168
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Transportation
Brief*
HB 2168, as amended, would authorize issuance of the
distinctive blackout license plate on and after January 1, 2026,
for use on a passenger vehicle or truck registered for a gross
weight of 20,000 pounds or less. The bill would also establish
the License Plate Replacement Fund (Fund).
The bill would establish the procedures for a vehicle
owner or lessee to obtain the license plate through initial or
renewal of registration for a distinctive blackout license plate
and pay an annual fee of $50 for each such license plate
issued. An application for a distinctive blackout license plate
would be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Director of
Vehicles (Director), Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR).
The bill would establish the Fund, which would be
administered by the Secretary of Revenue (Secretary). The
expenditures from the Fund would be for costs associated with
replacing license plates when the lifespan of such license
plates is exhausted as determined by the Director. Annual
blackout license plate fees collected by the county treasurers
would be credited to the Fund.
The bill would authorize the Director to transfer a
blackout license plate from a leased vehicle to a purchased
vehicle.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.
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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
https://klrd.gov/ Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Transportation at the request of a representative of KDOR.
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of KDOR. The proponent
stated that all funds from the distinctive blackout license plate
would go to the Fund and be used by KDOR to replace aging
license plates. The representative also noted the popularity of
the distinctive blackout license plate in other states, including
Minnesota, where 271,000 distinctive blackout license plates
were sold in the first year of availability, and 750,000 distinctive
blackout license plates were sold in Iowa when Iowa’s program
began 6 years ago.
No other testimony was provided.
The House Committee adopted a technical amendment
to add standard language directing the fees to the Fund that
would be established by the bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by a representative of KDOR. The proponent
stated that the blackout-style license plate is popular in other
states and the revenue generated by such plates would help
KDOR replace remaining embossed license plates and other
aging license plates that are difficult to read.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to make the
effective date to be upon publication in the Kansas Register.
2- 2168 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Department of
Revenue estimates enactment of the bill would increase its
expenditures by $2,890 in FY 2026 for administrative costs
related to designing and manufacturing the new plate. The
Department estimates the bill would decrease revenues to the
State Highway Fund by $4,000 in FY 2026. Any fiscal effect
associated with enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY
2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Transportation; distinctive license plates; blackout license plate; License Plate
Replacement Fund
3- 2168