Kansas House Bill HB2716

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/26
• Refer: 2/5/26

Caption

Permitting a person with a disability to be issued one special license plate for each vehicle owned, registered and operated by such person.

Summary

HB 2716 amends Kansas law governing disability license plates and placards. Under current law, a qualifying person with a disability may receive a special license plate or permanent placard, but the statute generally limits a person responsible for transportation of a person with a disability to one special license plate, with exceptions for agencies or businesses providing transportation services. The bill adds a new provision allowing a person with a permanent disability to receive one special license plate for each motor vehicle that the person owns, registers, and operates, so long as the person submits satisfactory proof of permanent disability and pays the regular registration fees. The bill keeps the existing framework for placards, identification cards, physician certification, expiration rules, return requirements, and penalties for failing to return plates or placards after death. It does not create a new fee exemption beyond the existing rule that special plates are issued without an additional fee beyond regular registration costs, and it preserves the ability to personalize disability plates under existing law. The measure is a targeted change to the special-plate eligibility rules rather than a broader rewrite of disability parking or registration law.

Impact

HB 2716 would amend K.S.A. 8-1,125 to expand eligibility for disability special license plates by allowing a permanently disabled Kansas resident to obtain one special plate for each vehicle they own, register, and operate. This changes the current one-plate limitation for individuals and could affect the Department of Revenue, county treasurers, and vehicle registration processes by increasing the number of disability plates issued to qualifying individuals. The bill leaves the rest of the disability placard and identification-card system intact and repeals the existing version of the statute to replace it with the amended language.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a straightforward accommodation bill with a generally supportive policy purpose. Its caption and structure suggest an intent to make disability-related vehicle registration more flexible for affected residents. No formal opposition, amendments, or recorded controversy are shown in the provided context.

Contention

The main policy issue is the expansion from one special license plate per eligible person to one plate for each vehicle owned, registered, and operated by that person. Supporters would likely view this as a practical accessibility measure for people with permanent disabilities who drive multiple vehicles. Potential concerns, though not documented in the provided record, could involve administrative tracking, verification of eligibility, and whether the broader plate availability could increase misuse or complicate enforcement of disability parking privileges. No specific opposing arguments or stakeholders are identified in the available transcripts or votes.