As Amended by Senate Committee
Session of 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 2289
By Committee on Transportation
Requested by Zach Denney on behalf of the Department of Revenue
2-5
AN ACT concerning motor vehicles; relating to license plates; allowing an
applicant for a personalized license plate to be issued one such license
plate rather than two; eliminating the requirement that applications for
personalized license plates be made within 60 days from vehicle
registration renewals; discontinuing the option for a person to display a
personalized license plate on the front of a vehicle; modifying current
requirements for the design and issuance of license plate registration
decals; amending K.S.A. 8-132 and 8-147 and K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 8-
134 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 8-132 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-132.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this section and K.S.A. 8-1,125, and
amendments thereto, the division of vehicles shall furnish to every owner
whose vehicle shall be registered one license plate for such vehicle. Such
license plate shall have displayed on it the registration number assigned to
the vehicle and to the owner thereof, the name of the state, which may be
abbreviated, and the year or years for which it is issued. The same type of
license plates shall be issued for passenger motor vehicles, rented without
a driver, as are issued for private passenger vehicles.
(b) During calendar year 1975 commencing on the effective date of
this act, and during every fifth calendar year thereafter, the division of
vehicles shall furnish one license plate for any type of vehicle an owner
registers or has the registration thereof renewed, but during the succeeding
four-year period following calendar year 1975 and during the succeeding
four-year period following every fifth calendar year subsequent to 1975,
the division of vehicles shall not furnish any license plate for the renewal
of a vehicle's registration. During calendar year 1976 and during each
calendar year thereafter in which a license plate is not issued for the
renewal of registration of a vehicle, the division of vehicles shall furnish
one decal for the license plate issued for a vehicle as provided in K.S.A. 8-
134, and amendments thereto, for each registration and renewal of
registration of such vehicle. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this subsection, whenever, in the discretion of the director of vehicles, it is
determined that the license plates currently being issued and displayed are
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not deteriorating to the extent that their replacement is warranted, the
director may adopt rules and regulations to extend the five-year issuance
cycle provided for in this subsection by one year at a time, and in the same
manner the director may further extend such cycle by one year at a time,
successively as the director determines appropriate. If the cycle is
extended at the expiration of the extended term, new license plates shall
again be issued in the manner and for the term provided in such rules and
regulations, except that the owner of a motor vehicle currently registered
may continue to display the license plate currently being issued and
displayed for a period not to exceed three registration years from the date
of the expiration of the extended term. The division shall furnish one decal
for each such license plate in accordance with the provisions of this
subsection.
(c) Any license plate issued pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) may be a
personalized license plate subject to the additional fee set forth in
subsection (d). The division shall allow an applicant for a personalized
license plate to personalize a license plate design established by subsection
(a), (b) or (d).
(d) TwoOne personalized license plates plate may be issued to any
owner or lessee of a passenger vehicle or a truck licensed for a gross
weight of not more than 20,000 pounds, who makes proper application to
the division of vehicles not less than 60 days prior to such owner's or
lessee's at renewal of registration date. Such application shall be on a form
prescribed by the division and accompanied by a fee of $40, which shall
be in addition to any other fee required to renew the registration of such
passenger vehicle under the laws of this state. One Such personalized
license plate shall be displayed on the rear of the vehicle and, at the option
of the owner or lessee, the other license plate may be displayed on the
front of the vehicle, except that no registration decal shall be issued
pursuant to K.S.A. 8-134, and amendments thereto, for any such license
plate displayed on the front of such vehicle. One personalized license plate
may be issued to any owner of a motorcycle upon proper application in the
same manner provided in this subsection for passenger vehicles and trucks.
The $40 fee shall be paid only once during the registration period for
which such license plates were issued, and any subsequent renewals during
the registration period shall be subject only to the registration fee
prescribed by K.S.A. 8-143, and amendments thereto. The division shall
design distinctive, personalized license plates to be issued which that shall
contain not more than seven letters or numbers on truck or passenger
vehicle license plates and not more than five letters or numbers on
motorcycle license plates, or a combination thereof, to be designated by
the applicant in lieu of the letters and numbers required by K.S.A. 8-147,
and amendments thereto, other than the letters required to designate the
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county in which such vehicle is registered. Unless the letters or numbers
designated by the applicant have been assigned to another vehicle, or
unless the letters or numbers designated by the applicant have a profane,
vulgar, lewd or indecent meaning or connotation, as determined by the
director of vehicles, the division shall assign such letters or numbers to the
applicant's vehicle, and the letters or numbers, or combination thereof, so
assigned shall be deemed the registration number of such vehicle. Subject
to the foregoing provisions, all license plates issued under this section
shall be manufactured in accordance with K.S.A. 8-147, and amendments
thereto. Such license plates shall be issued for a registration period of five
years commencing in 1985 and each five years thereafter.
(e) The secretary of revenue shall adopt rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, including, without
limitation, rules and regulations concerning: (1) The procedure for insuring
that duplicate license plates are not issued throughout the state; (2) the
procedure for reserving distinctive license plates for the purpose of
obtaining the same on each annual renewal of registration; (3) the
procedure for allowing the transfer of personalized license plates from one
vehicle to another for which such license plates were originally issued,
when the title to the original vehicle has not been transferred and the name
or names of the owner or owners listed on the titles to both vehicles are
identical; and (4) procedures necessary to coordinate this act with other
laws of this state governing registration of vehicles. The director of
vehicles shall remit all moneys received by the division of vehicles under
this section to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of
K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such
remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state
treasury to the credit of the state highway fund.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 8-134 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 8-134. (a) Every vehicle registration under this act shall expire
December 31 of each year, except passenger vehicles and vehicles
provided for in K.S.A. 8-134a, and amendments thereto. The registration
of vehicles to which K.S.A. 8-134a, and amendments thereto, applies shall
expire in 1982 and thereafter in accordance with the provisions of
subsections (b) and (c). Registration of vehicles shall be renewed annually
upon application by the owner and by payment of the fees required by law.
Except vehicles subject to K.S.A. 8-134a, and amendments thereto, and
passenger vehicles, the renewal shall take effect on January 1 of each year,
but the owner of the vehicle shall have until and including the last day of
February of each year to make application for such renewal. The division
shall issue for such vehicles a February month decal to correspond with
the statutory grace period. Criminal sanctions provided in K.S.A. 8-142,
and amendments thereto, for failure to display any license plate or plates
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or any registration decal required to be affixed to any such license plate for
the current registration year shall not be enforced until March 1 of each
year. An owner who has made proper application for renewal of
registration of a vehicle prior to January 1, but who has not received the
license plate or registration card for the ensuing year, shall be entitled to
operate or permit the operation of such vehicle upon the highways upon
displaying thereon the license plate issued for the preceding year for such
time as the director of vehicles finds necessary for issuance of such new
license plate.
(b) Every passenger vehicle required by this act to be registered,
except as otherwise provided, shall be registered for a period of 12
consecutive months. The division of vehicles, in order to initiate a system
of registering or reregistering passenger vehicles during any month of a
calendar year, may register or reregister a passenger vehicle for less than a
12-month period, prorating the annual registration fee, when in the
director's opinion such proration tends to fulfill the purpose of the monthly
registration system.
(c) Passenger vehicle registration, and the authority to legally operate,
use or tow such vehicle on the highway shall expire at 12 midnight on the
last day of the last month of the 12-month period for which such vehicle
was registered, and the owner shall see that such vehicle is reregistered as
required by this act. The director of vehicles shall designate the
registration period for each passenger vehicle in order to as nearly as
feasible equalize registration or reregistration within the 12 months of the
year. Any vehicle after having once been registered shall upon
reregistration, be registered for the same twelve-month period except when
the certificate of title has been transferred as provided by law. In this case,
the vehicle shall be registered by the division of vehicles in accordance
with the system adopted.
(d) For the purpose of this act, hearses and electrically propelled
vehicles shall be classified as passenger vehicles.
(e) Every owner who registers or reregisters a vehicle in a calendar
year, and in any calendar year in which a license plate is not issued for the
renewal of registration of such vehicle, shall be furnished by the division
one decal for the license plate issued for such vehicle and required by
K.S.A. 8-133, and amendments thereto, to be affixed to the rear of such
vehicle. Such decal shall be affixed to the number plate affixed to the rear
of such vehicle and shall contain the letters designating the county in
which such vehicle is registered, as provided in K.S.A. 8-147, and
amendments thereto, shall indicate the license plate number for which the
decal is to be affixed and shall indicate the year in which such registration
expires. The color of a decal shall be such that it contrasts with the color of
the license plate to which it is to be affixed, and the director of vehicles
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shall change the color of such decals each year, without duplicating the
same color in any five-year period or such extended period as the director
designates under K.S.A. 8-132(b), and amendments thereto. Such decals
shall be so constructed that once a decal has been affixed to a license plate,
it cannot be removed without destroying the decal, and the surface of such
decals shall be capable of reflecting light. Consistent with the foregoing,
the director of vehicles shall prescribe the size of and material to be used
in the production of such decals, and the director of vehicles shall
designate the location on a number plate where such decal shall be affixed.
(f) (1) The owner of a vehicle may, at the time of such registration or
reregistration, purchase a park and recreation motor vehicle permit. Such
permit shall cost $15 until such time as the amount for such permit is
changed by rules and regulations of the secretary of wildlife and parks.
(2) Such permit shall be nontransferable and shall expire on the date
of expiration of the vehicle registration.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (f)(4), the county treasurer shall
remit all such moneys paid to the county treasurer to the state treasurer in
accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments
thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall
deposit the entire amount in the state treasury and shall be credited as
provided in K.S.A. 32-991, and amendments thereto.
(4) The county treasurer may collect and retain a service charge fee of
up to $.50 for each park and recreation motor vehicle permit issued or sold
by the county treasurer.
(5) As a condition of receiving the park and recreation motor vehicle
permit, the applicant shall consent to the sharing of information, including,
but not limited to, the applicant's name, address, email address and phone
number, with the secretary of wildlife and parks by the division of motor
vehicles.
(g) The secretary of revenue shall adopt rules and regulations
necessary to accomplish the purpose of this act.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 8-147 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-147. (a)
As used in this section, "license plate" means the plate used to externally
evidence registration of a vehicle under chapter 8 of Kansas Statutes
Annotated.
(b) Prior to November 1 of each year, the director of vehicles shall
furnish the secretary of revenue with complete and detailed specifications
for the manufacture of all license plates and registration decals, together
with the number required for delivery in the succeeding year for use
during the following year, and. The state corporation commission shall
furnish the secretary of revenue with complete and detailed specifications
for the manufacture of identification tags together with the number
required for delivery in the succeeding year for use in the following year.
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The secretary of revenue shall cause to be manufactured all license plates
and registration decals and state corporation commission identification
tags based on such specifications and estimates. For such purpose, the
secretary of revenue shall enter into a contract for the manufacture of
license plates, tags and decals with any organization or institution
designated in K.S.A. 39-1208, and amendments thereto. Any such contract
may provide that the secretary of revenue shall furnish or cause to be
furnished the materials and supplies necessary for the manufacture and
distribution of license plates, tags and decals if, in the opinion of the
secretary of revenue, a reduction in the cost of manufacturing and
distribution of the license plates, tags and decals under such contract will
be achieved. Subject to the foregoing, the cost to the state for the
manufacture of the license plates, tags and decals pursuant to any contract
entered into under this section shall be substantially equivalent to such
costs under prior contracts, with the cost of license plates increased in the
amount of the cost of coating with reflective material, but any such
contract shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-3739, and
amendments thereto.
(c) Except as authorized by other provisions of law, license plates,
beginning in the year in which new license plates are issued pursuant to
K.S.A. 8-132, and amendments thereto, shall be lettered, numbered and
designed as provided in this section. Each license plate shall contain a
combination of three letters followed by a combination of three numerals,
except that once all allowable combinations of letters and numerals have
been used, each license plate shall contain an arrangement of numerals or
letters, or both, as shall be assigned by the secretary of revenue. The
arrangement of numerals and letters of license plates shall be uniform
throughout each classification of registration. The secretary may provide
for the arrangement of the numerals and letters in groups or otherwise and
for other distinguishing marks on such license plates. The secretary of
revenue shall design decals to be affixed to the license plates to identify
the county by two letters chosen from the name of the county distinctly
indicative of the name of the county in which the vehicle is registered and
the date registration is to expire expiration information consistent with
K.S.A. 8-134, and amendments thereto. The letters and numerals of such
license plates shall be in such contrast of colors to the background of the
license plate as to make such letters and numerals easily read readable.
(d) As new license plates are issued, the face of every license plate
shall be completely coated with a reflective material. The reflectorized
material shall be of such nature as to provide effective and dependable
performance in the promotion of highway safety and vehicle identification
throughout the service period for which the license plates are issued. The
sum of $.50 shall be added to the cost of each reflectorized license plate.
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The director shall change the color of such license plates every time new
license plates are issued under subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-132(b), and
amendments thereto. The quantity of license plates and registration decals
to be furnished each county shall be computed upon the basis of the
number of motor vehicles registered and reregistered in such county for
the preceding year, and additional license plates and decals shall be
furnished as required.
(e) Any contract entered into pursuant to this section for the
manufacture of license plates and decals shall provide that the license
plates and decals, other than prorate license plates and prorate backing
plates, shall be shipped directly to the treasurer of the county where they
are to be used or, for digitally-fulfilled license plate order, directly to the
customer for whom the plate is issued. Any such contract for the
manufacture of state corporation commission identification tags shall
provide that such tags shall be shipped directly to the state corporation
commission.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 8-132 and 8-147 and K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 8-134 are
hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book Kansas register.
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