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HB 2553 Kansas House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Providing for the Kansas PBS distinctive license plate and discontinuing the issuance of certain distinctive and educational institution license plates.

HB 2553 would allow Kansas residents who own or lease passenger vehicles or light trucks (under 20,000 lbs gross weight) to obtain a special "PBS Kansas" license plate starting January 1, 2027. Owners would pay a one-time $25-$100 logo royalty fee to PBS Kansas (via the county treasurer) when applying for the plate, with annual renewal fees required. The plate is non-transferable between owners and requires consent to share vehicle and payment details with PBS Kansas. This bill directly affects Kansas vehicle owners seeking a voluntary specialty plate to support public broadcasting.
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Amended by Senate Committee → {As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole} · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill title was updated to reflect that it will discontinue certain other distinctive license plates. The main substantive change is the addition of a new section that amends existing state statutes to increase fees for personalized license plates and repeals the sections governing the discontinued plates.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include the discontinuation of specific distinctive and educational institution license plates, in addition to establishing the PBS Kansas plate.
FISCAL

Added a new section to amend K.S.A. 8-1,141, which increases fees for personalized license plates to double the standard amount starting January 1, 2025.

SCOPE

Added a provision to repeal the existing sections that governed the discontinued distinctive and educational institution license plates.

TITLE

Updated the bill title to explicitly state that it discontinues certain other license plates alongside the new PBS plate.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
11
Committee
6
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Motion to accede adopted; Sen. Mike Petersen, Sen. Jeff Klemp and Sen. Ethan Corson appointed as conferees
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Nonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Rep. Shannon Francis, Rep. Robyn R. Essex and Rep. Henry Helgerson
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Emergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea 34, Nay 6
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Amendment by Sen. Tim Shallenburger was adopted
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Sen. Tim Shallenburger
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Senate Committee on Transportation
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Committee on Transportation
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Received and Introduced
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Final Action - Passed; Yea 67, Nay 55, Absent 3
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee of the Whole - Be passed
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report recommending bill be passed by House Committee on Transportation
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Referred to House Committee on Transportation
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.