Read the full stored bill text
Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2583
By Committee on Transportation
Requested by Representative VanHouden on behalf of Representative Brantley
1-28
AN ACT concerning drivers' licenses; relating to commercial drivers'
licenses and the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act;
modifying the definition of commercial motor vehicle in the uniform
act; requiring commercial motor vehicle drivers' license holders to
possess certain identification documents and proficiency of the English
language while operating a commercial motor vehicle; establishing
fines for violations of such provisions on commercial motor vehicle
employers and nonresident commercial driver's license holders;
amending K.S.A. 8-2,128, 8-2,131, 8-2,132, 8-2,141, 8-2,148 and 8-
2,152 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) Any driver in Kansas shall have in such driver's
immediate possession at all times when operating a commercial motor
vehicle a valid, unexpired:
(1) Commercial driver's license issued by Kansas or any state in
accordance with the minimum federal standards as determined by the
federal motor carrier safety administration for the issuance of commercial
motor vehicle drivers' licenses; or
(2) physical copy of:
(A) A commercial driver's license issued by a province or territory of
Canada or Mexico under reciprocal license agreements or a foreign
country that tests drivers and issues commercial drivers' licenses in
accordance with or under standards similar to the minimum federal
standards, as determined by the federal motor carrier safety administration;
(B) work visa; and
(C) verified proof of citizenship issued by the foreign country that
issued the commercial driver's license.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(C), proof of citizenship means
presentation of any valid, unexpired:
(1) Passport;
(2) certified copy of a birth certificate; or
(3) certificate of naturalization issued by the United States
department of homeland security.
(c) (1) A driver who violates the requirements of subsection (a) shall
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
HB 2583 2
be prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle in Kansas until
such time that the driver can meet such requirements. Any driver found to
be operating a commercial motor vehicle in Kansas while prohibited for
violating subsection (a) shall be guilty of a class B nonperson
misdemeanor.
(2) Fines collected by courts pursuant to this subsection shall be
remitted 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 human trafficking victim assistance fund as established in
K.S.A. 75-758, and amendments thereto.
(d) An employer shall be notified by law enforcement of the location
of a commercial motor vehicle involved in a violation of subsection (a).
Upon an employer's presentation of a driver who meets all requirements to
operate such commercial motor vehicle in Kansas, the employer shall take
possession of the commercial motor vehicle. If the employer is unable to
present such a driver within 12 hours after being notified of the violation,
the owner of any cargo being transported by the employer's commercial
motor vehicle shall be notified by such employer and allowed to arrange
for the transfer of the cargo to another vehicle or employer. The state of
Kansas and the owner of the cargo shall not be liable for the expenses for
any reasonable action to transfer the cargo to another commercial vehicle
or employer.
(e) The provisions of this section shall be a part of and supplemental
to the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.
New Sec. 2. (a) (1) A driver in Kansas shall demonstrate
proficiency of the English language when operating a commercial motor
vehicle sufficient to:
(A) Converse with the general public;
(B) understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English
language;
(C) respond to official inquiries; and
(D) make entries on reports and records.
(2) An English language proficiency assessment shall be used to
determine violations of this subsection. Such assessment shall require
drivers to respond in English without the use of any translation tools,
interpreters or cell phone applications. Such assessment shall include, but
not be limited to, an evaluation of the driver's ability to:
(A) Understand and respond to questions about trip details and
destinations, current duty status and hours of service, vehicle equipment
and maintenance, shipping documents and cargo information; and
(B) recognize, read and understand common highway traffic signs
included in the most recent edition of the manual on uniform traffic control
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 3
devices for streets and highways.
(b) (1) A driver who fails to meet the requirements of subsection (a)
shall be prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle in Kansas
until such time that the driver can meet such requirements. Any driver
found to be operating a commercial motor vehicle in Kansas while
prohibited for violating subsection (a) shall be guilty of a class B
nonperson misdemeanor.
(2) Fines collected by courts pursuant to this subsection shall be
remitted 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 human trafficking victim assistance fund as established in
K.S.A. 75-758, and amendments thereto.
(c) An employer shall be notified by law enforcement of the location
of a commercial motor vehicle involved in a violation of subsection (a).
Upon an employer's presentation of a driver who meets all requirements to
operate such commercial motor vehicle in Kansas, the employer shall take
possession of the commercial motor vehicle. If the employer is unable to
present such a driver within 12 hours after being notified of the violation,
the owner of any cargo being transported by the employer's commercial
motor vehicle shall be notified by such employer of the inability to present
such a driver and allowed to arrange for the transfer of the cargo to another
vehicle or employer. The state of Kansas and the owner of the cargo shall
not be liable for the expenses for any reasonable action to transfer the
cargo to another commercial vehicle or employer.
(d) The provisions of this section shall be a part of and supplemental
to the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 8-2,128 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,128.
As used in this act:
(a) "Alcohol" means any substance containing any form of alcohol ,
including, but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, propanol and isopropanol;
(b) "alcohol concentration" means:
(1) The number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or
(2) the number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath;
(c) "commercial driver's license" means a commercial license issued
pursuant to K.S.A. 8-234b, and amendments thereto;
(d) "commercial driver license system" means the information system
established pursuant to the commercial motor vehicle safety act of 1986 to
serve as a clearinghouse for locating information related to the licensing
and identification of commercial motor vehicle drivers;
(e) "instruction permit" means a permit issued pursuant to K.S.A. 8-
294, and amendments thereto;
(f) "commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 4
used or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport
passengers or property, if the motor vehicle is a:
(1) The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more
pounds or such lesser rating, as determined by rules and regulations
adopted by the secretary, but shall not be more restrictive than the federal
regulation Combination Vehicle (Group A) having a gross combination
weight rating or gross combination weight, whichever is greater, of 26,001
pounds or more inclusive of a towed unit or units with a gross vehicle
weight rating or gross vehicle weight, whichever is greater, of more than
10,000 pounds;
(2) the vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers,
including the driver Heavy Straight Vehicle (Group B) having a gross
vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight, whichever is greater, of
26,001 pounds or more; or
(3) the vehicle is transporting hazardous materials and is required to
be placarded in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 172, subpart F Small
Vehicle (Group C) that does not meet Group A or Group B requirements
but either is:
(A) Designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the
driver; or
(B) of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous
materials as defined by this section;
(g) "controlled substance" means any substance so classified under
K.S.A. 21-5701, and amendments thereto;
(h) "conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt or a
determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law
and in a court of original jurisdiction or an administrative proceeding, an
unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's
appearance in court, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the
court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or violation of a condition of
release without bail, regardless of whether the penalty is rebated,
suspended or probated;
(i) "disqualification" means any of the following:
(1) The suspension, revocation, or cancellation of a commercial
driver's license by the state or jurisdiction of issuance;
(2) any withdrawal of a person's privileges to drive a commercial
motor vehicle by a state or other jurisdiction as the result of a violation of
state or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than
parking, vehicle weight or vehicle defect violations;
(3) a determination by the federal motor carrier safety administration
that a person is not qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle under
49 C.F.R. § 391;
(j) "drive" means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a motor
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 5
vehicle in any place open to the general public for purposes of vehicular
traffic. For purposes of K.S.A. 8-2,137, 8-2,138, 8-2,142, 8-2,144 and 8-
2,145, and amendments thereto, "drive" includes operation or physical
control of a motor vehicle anywhere in the state;
(k) "driver" means any person who drives, operates or is in physical
control of a commercial motor vehicle, in any place open to the general
public for purposes of vehicular traffic, or who is required to hold a
commercial driver's license;
(l) "driver's license" means any driver's license or any other license or
permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under, or granted by, the laws of
this state, including:
(1) Any temporary license or instruction;
(2) the privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not
such person holds a valid license; or
(3) any nonresident's operating privilege;
(m) "employer" means any person, including the United States, a
state or a political subdivision of a state, who owns or leases a commercial
motor vehicle or assigns a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle;
(n) "endorsement" means an authorization to an individual's
commercial driver's license required to permit the individual to operate
certain types of commercial motor vehicles;
(o) "felony" means any offense under state or federal law that is
punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(p) "gross vehicle weight rating" means the value specified by the
manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single or a combination
(articulated) vehicle. The gross vehicle weight rating of a combination
(articulated) vehicle (commonly referred to as the "gross combination
weight rating") is the gross vehicle weight rating of the power unit plus the
gross vehicle weight rating of the towed unit or units;
(q) "hazardous materials" means any material that has been
designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. § 5103 and is required to be
placarded under subpart F of 49 C.F.R. part 172 or any quantity of a
material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 C.F.R. part 73;
(r) "motor vehicle" means every vehicle which that is self-propelled,
and every vehicle which that is propelled by electric power obtained from
overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved
solely by human power and motorized wheel chairs;
(s) "out-of-service order" means a temporary prohibition against
driving a commercial motor vehicle, which is imposed when a driver has
any measured or detected alcohol concentration while on duty, or
operating, or in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle or a
declaration by an authorized enforcement officer of a federal, state,
Canadian, Mexican or local jurisdiction that a driver, a commercial motor
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 6
vehicle or a motor carrier operation, is out-of-service pursuant to 49 C.F.R.
part 386.72, 392.5, 395.13, 396.9 or such compatible laws, or the North
American out-of-service criteria;
(t) "residence" means the place which that is adopted by a person as
the person's place of habitation and to which where, whenever the person
is absent, the person has the intention of returning. When a person eats at
one place and sleeps at another, the place where the person sleeps shall be
considered the person's residence;
(u) "secretary" means the secretary of the Kansas department of
revenue;
(v) "serious traffic violation" means:
(1) Excessive speeding, is defined as 15 miles per hour or more over
the posted speed limit;
(2) reckless driving, as defined under K.S.A. 8-1566, and
amendments thereto;
(3) a violation of any state or local law relating to motor vehicle
traffic control, other than a parking violation, arising in connection with an
accident or collision resulting in death to any person;
(4) changing lanes of traffic illegally or erratically, as defined under
K.S.A. 8-1548, and amendments thereto;
(5) following another vehicle too closely, as defined under K.S.A. 8-
1523, and amendments thereto;
(6) a violation of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-2,132, and amendments
thereto; or
(7) any other violation of a state or local law relating to motor vehicle
traffic control, other than a parking violation, which that the secretary
determines by rule and regulation to be serious;
(w) "state" means a state of the United States and the District of
Columbia;
(x) "state of domicile" means that state where a person has such
person's true, fixed and permanent home and principal residence and to
which where such person has the intention of returning whenever such
person is absent;
(y) "tank vehicle" means a tank vehicle, as defined in 49 C.F.R. §
383.5, as in effect on the date of this act or such later version as adopted by
rules and regulations of the secretary pursuant to K.S.A. 8-2,140, and
amendments thereto;
(z) "United States" means the 50 states and the District of Columbia;
(aa) "division" means the division of vehicles of the Kansas
department of revenue;
(bb) "director" means the director of the division of vehicles of the
Kansas department of revenue;
(cc) "foreign country" means any jurisdiction other than the United
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 7
States;
(dd) "nonresident commercial driver's license" means a license issued
pursuant to K.S.A. 8-2,148, and amendments thereto;
(ee) "fatality" means the death of a person as a result of a motor
vehicle accident;
(ff) "noncommercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle or
combination of motor vehicles not defined by the term commercial motor
vehicle in subsection (f);
(gg) "school bus" means a commercial motor vehicle used to
transport preprimary, primary or secondary school students from home to
school, from school to home or to and from school-sponsored events.
"School bus" does not include a bus used as a common carrier; and
(hh) "gross vehicle weight" means the weight of the vehicle without
load plus the weight of any load on such vehicle. The gross vehicle weight
of a combination (articulated) vehicle (commonly referred to as the "gross
combination weight") is the gross vehicle weight of the power unit plus the
gross vehicle weight of the towed unit or units.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 8-2,131 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,131.
(a) An employer shall require the applicant to provide the information
specified in subsection (c) of K.S.A. 8-2,130, and amendments thereto.
(b) No employer shall knowingly allow, require, permit or authorize a
driver to drive a commercial motor vehicle:
(1) During any period in which the driver has a driver's license
suspended, revoked or canceled by a state; has lost the privilege to drive a
commercial motor vehicle in a state or has been disqualified from driving
a commercial motor vehicle;
(2) during any period in which the driver has more than one driver's
license, except during the ten-day period beginning on the date the
employee is issued a driver's license;
(3) during any period in which the employee, the motor vehicle such
employee is driving or the motor carrier operation is subject to an out-of-
service order; or
(4) in violation of a federal, state or local law or regulation pertaining
to railroad-highway grade crossings;
(5) in violation of section 1(a), and amendments thereto; or
(6) in violation of section 2(a), and amendments thereto.
Sec. 5. K.S.A. 8-2,132 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,132.
(a) On and after April 1, 1992, Except when driving under a commercial
class A, B or C or class A or B instruction permit or a valid class C license
and accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for
the vehicle being driven, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle
unless the person has a valid commercial driver's license and is in
immediate possession thereof and applicable endorsements valid for the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 8
vehicle they are driving , except that in accordance with section 1, and
amendments thereto. No person charged with violating this subsection
shall be convicted if such person produces in court or the office of the
arresting officer a commercial driver's license issued to such person and
valid at the time of the arrest.
(b) No person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle while their
driving privilege is suspended, revoked or canceled or while subject to a
disqualification.
(c) No person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle in violation of
an out-of-service order.
(d) Any commercial driver in violation of this section shall be guilty
of a class B misdemeanor.
Sec. 6. K.S.A. 8-2,141 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,141.
Subject to the requirements of sections 1 and 2, and amendments thereto,
notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person may drive a commercial
motor vehicle if the person has a commercial driver's license issued by any
state in accordance with the minimum federal standards for the issuance of
commercial motor vehicle drivers' licenses or by a foreign jurisdiction
which country that tests drivers and issues commercial drivers' licenses in
accordance with or under standards similar to the minimum federal
standards, as determined by the federal motor carrier safety administration,
if the person is not suspended, revoked or canceled; and if the person is not
disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle, or subject to an out-
of-service order.
Sec. 7. K.S.A. 8-2,148 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,148.
(a) The division may issue a nonresident commercial driver's license to an
applicant who is at least 18 years of age and employed by a Kansas
employer but is a resident of a foreign country for the operation of any
commercial class of vehicles if such person has passed a knowledge and
skills test pursuant to K.S.A. 8-2,133, and amendments thereto. Any
person who is applying for a nonresident commercial driver's license shall
be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 8-2,125 through 8-2,145, and
amendments thereto;
(b) A nonresident commercial driver's license issued pursuant to
subsection (a) shall contain on the face of the license the statement
"nonresident commercial driver's license" or "nonresident CDL";
(c) Any such license issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall be valid
only for the period expire when the period that the nonresident is
authorized to be employed in the United States expires. The fee for a
nonresident commercial driver's license will be the same as for a resident
commercial driver's license;
(d) If the nonresident applicant is the holder of a nonresident
commercial driver's license issued by another state, such license shall be
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
HB 2583 9
surrendered to the state of Kansas at the time a Kansas nonresident
commercial driver's license is issued;
(e) The provisions of this section shall be a part of and supplemental
to the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.
Sec. 8. K.S.A. 8-2,152 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2,152.
(a) A driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order shall be
subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,100 nor more than $2,750, in
addition to any disqualification under K.S.A. 8-2,142, and amendments
thereto.
(b) An employer who is convicted of violating subsection (b)(3) of
K.S.A. 8-2,131(b)(3), and amendments thereto, shall be subject to a civil
penalty of not less than $2,750 nor more than $11,000.
(c) An employer who is convicted of a violation of subsection (b)(4)
of K.S.A. 8-2,131 (b)(4), and amendments thereto, shall be subject to a
civil penalty of not less than $2,750 nor more than $11,000.
(d) An employer who is convicted of a violation of K.S.A. 8-2,131(b)
(5), and amendments thereto, shall be subject to a civil penalty of $3,000.
(e) An employer who is convicted of a violation of K.S.A. 8-2,131(b)
(6), and amendments thereto, shall be subject to a civil penalty of $3,000.
(f) Civil penalties shall be enforced and collected by an attorney for
the division of vehicles in the appropriate district court.
(e)(g) Civil penalties shall be remitted in accordance with the
provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto, to the state
treasurer. 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.
(f)(h) The provisions of this section shall be a part of and
supplemental to the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act.
Sec. 9. K.S.A. 8-2,128, 8-2,131, 8-2,132, 8-2,141, 8-2,148 and 8-
2,152 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32