SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 119
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Transportation
Brief*
SB 119 would increase the portion of two vehicle-related
fees to be retained by the entity that performs the service. As
authorized under continuing law, that entity could be a county
treasurer, the Division of Vehicles of the Kansas Department
of Revenue (KDOR), or a contractor of the Division or county
treasurer. The bill would direct $5.75, increased from $0.75,
of each vehicle registration fee and $3.50, increased from
$2.00, from each fee accompanying an application for a
certificate of title to a fund to be used by the county treasurer,
Division, or contractor to pay expenses related to vehicle
transactions.
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Transportation at the request of a representative of the
Kansas County Treasurers Association.
Senate Committee on Transportation
In the Senate Committee hearing, the treasurers of
Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, and Shawnee counties and a
representative of the Kansas Association of Counties
provided proponent testimony. The conferees stated county
treasurers have for more than a decade performed motor
vehicle functions formerly performed by the Division of
____________________
*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/ Vehicles without any changes to the distribution of fees. The
conferees further stated costs have increased, many counties
subsidize the motor vehicle operations of the county
treasurers from county general funds, and shortfalls lead to
reductions in customer service.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by the
Chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County
Commissioners, a representative of the Kansas County
Commissioners Association, the Saline County treasurer-
elect, and the county treasurers of Crawford, Nemaha, Trego,
and Wallace counties.
Neutral testimony was provided by representatives of
the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the
Kansas Contractors Association, who noted the bill would
reduce revenues to the State Highway Fund (SHF) by
approximately $16 million annually.
No other testimony was provided.
[Note: The amounts deposited to the funds used to pay
vehicle transaction expenses have not changed since 1978
for vehicle registration fees and 1981 for certificate of title
fees.]
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget, KDOR states enactment of the bill would result in
a total decrease to the SHF of $16.2 million based on 2024
totals for applications for vehicle registration and certificates
of title. KDOR estimated its administrative costs would
increase by approximately $475 for workload related to
ensure proper distribution of the fees and $2,400 for changes
to fees in the titles and registration system. KDOT indicates
enactment of the bill could require the agency to reevaluate
expenditures under the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation
Program because of the long-term fiscal effect of the
2- 119 reduction in revenue to the SHF. Any fiscal effect associated
with enactment of the bill is not reflected in The FY 2026
Governor’s Budget Report.
The Kansas Association of Counties notes enactment of
the bill would have a positive fiscal effect on county
operations by helping to cover the costs of the motor vehicle
program.
County treasurer; vehicle title fees; vehicle registration
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