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HOUSE BILL No. 2587
AN ACT concerning driver's licenses; requiring that citizenship status be shown on the
license; requiring that persons who present a driver's license that identify such
persons as noncitizens at a polling place be given a provisional ballot if such persons
claim to be a citizen; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 8-243 and repealing the existing
section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. Any person who displays a driver's license
showing such person as a noncitizen at a polling place shall be given a
provisional ballot for voting purposes if such person claims to be a
citizen.
Sec. 2 . K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 8-243 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 8-243. (a) Upon payment of the required fee, the division shall
issue to every applicant qualifying under the provisions of this act the
driver's license as applied for by the applicant. Such license shall bear
the class or classes of motor vehicles that the licensee is entitled to
drive, a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full legal
name, citizenship status, the date of birth, gender, address of principal
residence and a brief description of the licensee, either: (1) A digital
color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of the
licensee, a facsimile of the signature of the licensee and the statement
provided for in subsection (b). No driver's license shall be valid until it
has been signed by the licensee. All drivers' licenses issued to persons
under the age of 21 years shall be readily distinguishable from licenses
issued to persons age 21 years or older. In addition, all drivers' licenses
issued to persons under the age of 18 years shall also be readily
distinguishable from licenses issued to persons age 18 years or older.
The secretary of revenue shall implement a vertical format to make
drivers' licenses issued to persons under the age of 21 more readily
distinguishable. Except as otherwise provided, no driver's license
issued by the division shall be valid until either: (1) A digital color
image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph of such
licensee has been taken and verified before being placed on the driver's
license. The secretary of revenue shall prescribe a fee of not more than
$8 and upon the payment of such fee, the division shall cause either: (1)
A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a laser-engraved photograph
of such applicant to be placed on the driver's license. Upon payment of
such fee prescribed by the secretary of revenue, plus payment of the fee
required by K.S.A. 8-246, and amendments thereto, for issuance of a
new license, the division shall issue to such licensee a new license
containing either: (1) A digital color image or photograph; or (2) a
laser-engraved photograph of such licensee. A driver's license that does
not contain the principal address as required may be issued to persons
who are program participants pursuant to K.S.A. 75-455, and
amendments thereto, upon payment of the fee required by K.S.A. 8-
246, and amendments thereto. All Kansas drivers' licenses and
identification cards shall have physical security features designed to
prevent tampering, counterfeiting or duplication of the document for
fraudulent purposes. The secretary of revenue shall incorporate
common machine-readable technology into all Kansas drivers' licenses
and identification cards.
(b) A Kansas driver's license issued to any person 16 years of age
or older who indicated on the person's application that the person
wished to make a gift of all or any part of the body of the licensee in
accordance with the revised uniform anatomical gift act, K.S.A. 65-
3220 through 65-3244, and amendments thereto, shall have the word
"Donor" placed on the front of the licensee's driver's license.
(c) Any person who is deaf or hard of hearing may request that the
division issue to such person a driver's license which is readily
distinguishable from drivers' licenses issued to other drivers and upon
such request the division shall issue such license. Drivers' licenses
HOUSE BILL No. 2587—page 2
issued to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and under the age of
21 years shall be readily distinguishable from drivers' licenses issued to
persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and 21 years of age or older.
Upon satisfaction of subsection (a), the division shall issue a receipt of
application permitting the operation of a vehicle consistent with the
requested class, if there are no other restrictions or limitations, pending
the division's verification of the information and production of a
driver's license.
(d) A driver's license issued to a person required to be registered
under K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall be
assigned a distinguishing number by the division which will readily
indicate to law enforcement officers that such person is a registered
offender. The division shall develop a numbering system to implement
the provisions of this subsection.
(e) (1) Any person who is a veteran may request that the division
issue to such person a driver's license that shall include the designation
"VETERAN" displayed on the front of the driver's license at a location
to be determined by the secretary of revenue. In order to receive a
license described in this subsection, the veteran shall provide a copy of
the veteran's DD form 214, NGB form 22 or equivalent discharge
document showing character of service as honorable or general under
honorable conditions.
(2) As used in this subsection, "veteran" means a person who
served in the active military, naval, air or space service, including those
groups and individuals listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.7, and who was
discharged or released therefrom under an honorable discharge or a
general discharge under honorable conditions.
(3) The director of vehicles may adopt any rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
(f) (1) Any person who submits satisfactory proof to the director
of vehicles, on a form provided by the director, that such person needs
assistance with cognition, including, but not limited to, persons with
autism spectrum disorder, may request that the division issue to such
person a driver's license, that shall note such impairment on the driver's
license at a location to be determined by the secretary of revenue.
(2) Satisfactory proof that a person needs assistance with
cognition shall include a statement from a person licensed to practice
the healing arts in any state, an advanced practice registered nurse
licensed under K.S.A. 65-1131, and amendments thereto, a licensed
physician assistant or a person clinically licensed by the Kansas
behavioral sciences regulatory board certifying that such person needs
assistance with cognition.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 8-243 is hereby repealed.
HOUSE BILL No. 2587—page 3
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
I hereby certify that the above BILL originated in the
HOUSE, and was adopted by that body
HOUSE adopted
Conference Committee Report
Speaker of the House.
Chief Clerk of the House.
Passed the SENATE
as amended
SENATE adopted
Conference Committee Report
President of the Senate.
Secretary of the Senate.
APPROVED
Governor.