Providing that motorcycle license plates shall contain a combination of not fewer than six letters or numerals.

Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2617
By Representative A. Smith
2-2
AN ACT concerning motor vehicles; relating to license plates; providing
that motorcycle license plates shall contain a combination not fewer
than six letters or numbers; amending K.S.A. 8-172 and K.S.A. 2025
Supp. 8-132 and 8-147 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 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
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
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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) One personalized license 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 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. Such personalized
license plate shall be displayed on the rear of the 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 that shall contain not more than seven letters or numbers numerals
on truck or passenger vehicle license plates and not more fewer than five
six letters or numbers numerals on motorcycle license plates, or a
combination thereof, to be designated by the applicant in lieu of the letters
and numbers numerals required by K.S.A. 8-147, and amendments thereto,
other than the letters required to designate the county in which such
vehicle is registered. Unless the letters or numbers numerals designated by
the applicant have been assigned to another vehicle, or unless the letters or
numbers numerals 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 numerals to the
applicant's vehicle, and the letters or numbers numerals , 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
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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. 2025 Supp. 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, and amendments thereto.
(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. 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. 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,
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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.
Motorcycle license plates shall contain a combination of not fewer than
six letters or numbers. 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 registration 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 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.
The director shall change the color of such license plates every time new
license plates are issued under K.S.A. 8-132(b), and amendments thereto.
(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 orders, 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. 3. K.S.A. 8-172 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-172. (a)
Except as provided in subsection (c), license plates issued for antique
vehicles shall be distinctive and shall , contain the words "Kansas" and
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"antique" and there shall be have no year date thereon. The numbering
system shall consist of combinations of not more than seven letters of the
alphabet or numerals or a combination of such letters and numerals. The
combinations of such letters and numerals shall be at the direction of the
director of vehicles, except that any person owning an antique vehicle,
other than an antique motorcycle, may make application for a special
combination of letters and numerals not exceeding seven. Antique
motorcycle license plates shall be the same as other antique vehicle license
plates, except that the numbering system shall consist of not more fewer
than five six letters of the alphabet or numerals or a combination of letters
and numerals. Such application shall be made in a manner prescribed by
the director of vehicles and shall be accompanied by a special combination
fee of $40. Unless the combination of letters or numerals designated by the
applicant have has been assigned to another antique vehicle registered in
this state, or unless the combination of letters or numerals designated by
the applicant have has a profane, vulgar, lewd or indecent meaning or
connotation, as determined by the director, the division shall assign such
combination of letters to the applicant's vehicle.
(b) In addition to the fees required under subsection (b) of K.S.A. 8-
167(b), and amendments thereto, and subsection (a) or (c) of this section ,
the registration fee for any antique vehicle shall be $40 and , once paid ,
shall not be required to be renewed.
(c) In lieu of the license plate issued under subsection (a), a person
who owns an antique vehicle who wants to display a model year license
plate on the vehicle shall make application in a manner prescribed by the
director of vehicles, including the execution of an affidavit setting forth
that the model year license plate the person wants to display on the
person's antique vehicle is a legible and serviceable license plate that
originally was issued by this state or a license plate originally issued by a
Kansas city or a reproduction of such city issued license plate. Except for
license plates issued prior to 1921, such license plate shall be inscribed
with the date of the year corresponding to the model year when the vehicle
was manufactured. For license plates issued prior to 1921, such license
plate shall be the license plate issued by the state or a Kansas city or a
reproduction of such city issued license plate corresponding to the model
year when the vehicle was manufactured. Duplicate numbers for any year
shall not be allowed for any model year license plate under the provisions
of this subsection. Upon application to display a reproduction of a city
issued license plate, the division of vehicles shall issue a number to be
used for such reproduction license plate. The model year license plate fee
shall be $40.
(d) In addition to the license plates authorized under subsection (a) or
(c), a person who owns an antique vehicle may display a model year
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license plate originally issued by the state of Kansas or a Kansas city or a
reproduction of such city issued license plate on the front of an antique
vehicle. Except for license plates issued prior to 1921, such license plate
shall be inscribed with the date of the year corresponding to the model
year when the vehicle was manufactured. For license plates issued prior to
1921, such license plate shall be the license plate issued by the state or a
Kansas city or a reproduction of such city issued license plate
corresponding to the model year when the vehicle was manufactured.
(e) For a model year license plate issued during calendar year 1976 or
thereafter, and which that is displayed on an antique vehicle pursuant to
subsection (c), the owner may display a decal of the type described in
K.S.A. 8-132, and amendments thereto, for the year of the vehicle so long
as if such decal is legible. Otherwise, on and after January 1, 2013, the
owner may obtain from the county treasurer a replacement decal from the
county treasurer which that displays the year of the vehicle.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 8-172 and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 8-132 and 8-147 are
hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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