SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2169
As Recommended by House Committee on
Transportation
Brief*
HB 2169 would amend statutes authorizing issuance of
certain specialized license plates to military veterans to align
requirements with statutory changes made in 2024 that
standardized definitions and qualifications in multiple statutes
with regard to benefits to veterans.
The bill also would remove a requirement that an
application for license plates authorized for those in active
military service or separated from it be made not less than 60
days before the applicant’s registration renewal date.
The provisions would apply to a license plate available
to members or veterans of all branches of the U.S. military
and the Merchant Marines (all-branch plate) and to license
plates specific to the branch of service: Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force.
The bill would authorize issuance of these specialized
license plates to U.S. military veterans who were released or
discharged under an honorable discharge or a general
discharge under honorable conditions, and it would amend
provisions regarding proof of military service to clarify the
acceptable forms of proof.
The bill would amend the statute establishing the all-
branch plate to require, rather than allow, proof of veteran
military status to be shown by presentation of a Kansas
driver’s license with a “VETERAN” designation (as allowed in
____________________
*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/ continuing law) or a copy of the veteran’s DD form 214, NGB
form 22, or an equivalent discharge document as permitted
by the Director of Vehicles, Kansas Department of Revenue
(KDOR), showing character of service as honorable or
general under honorable conditions.
Statutes for license plates specific to a branch of military
service would be amended to remove references to proof of
service as authorized in rules and regulations of the
Secretary of Revenue and to reference the requirements in
the statute establishing the all-branch license plate. The bill
also would replace “was honorably discharged” with “under
an honorable discharge or general discharge under
honorable conditions” in the statutes authorizing specific-
branch military license plates.
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, a KDOR
representative provided proponent testimony, stating the bill
would align the definitions of “veteran” in these statutes with
changes enacted in 2024 HB 2760, a bill that, among other
things, established common definitions of “veteran” across
statutes administered by various agencies. Among the 2024
HB 2760 amendments were those to definitions in statutes
regarding eligibility for disabled veteran license plates and the
placement of “VETERAN” on a driver’s license or KDOR-
issued identification card.
No other testimony was provided.
2- 2169 Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, KDOR indicates the bill’s enactment
would increase expenditures by $1,200 to update various
agency forms, policies, and procedures. Any fiscal effect
associated with enactment of the bill is not reflected in The
FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
License plate; military service; veteran
3- 2169