SESSION OF 2020
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2420
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Transportation

Brief*
HB 2420, as amended, would define a “military surplus
vehicle” in the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways
and in law regarding vehicle registration.
The bill would define such a vehicle as one that meets
the following requirements:
● Has three or fewer axles;
● Meets size and weight limits in continuing law;
● Is less than 35 years old; and
● Was manufactured for use in the U.S. military
forces or the military force of any other country with
substantially similar vehicle standards as the U.S.
military and subsequently authorized for sale to
civilians.
The definition would exclude a fully tracked vehicle.
The bill would authorize the owner of a military surplus
vehicle to register it upon payment of an annual fee of $26. A
special interest vehicle license plate would be furnished; the
bill would require a decal be displayed on the license plate to
identify the vehicle as a military surplus vehicle.

____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
 The bill would authorize a military surplus vehicle to be
used as are other vehicles of the same type but would
prohibit use of a military surplus vehicle to transport
passengers for hire.
The bill would prohibit a military surplus vehicle from
being registered until a vehicle identification number
inspection has been completed by the Kansas Highway
Patrol.

Background
The bill was introduced by Representative Williams.
In the House Committee on Transportation hearing,
Representative Williams and a private citizen provided
proponent testimony, and two representatives of Global Parts
Auto Group, Inc., a representative of the Specialty Equipment
Market Association (SEMA), and a private citizen provided
written-only proponent testimony. They discussed uses of
these vehicles, their safety features, and business
opportunities related to refurbishing and reselling these
vehicles, specifically those known as Humvees. The Vehicle
Services Manager, Division of Vehicles, Kansas Department
of Revenue (KDOR), also provided written-only proponent
testimony and described current challenges in registering
some of these vehicles.
Representatives of the Kansas Department of
Transportation (KDOT) and the League of Kansas
Municipalities provided neutral testimony, and a
representative of the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC)
provided written-only neutral testimony. They requested limits
on the size and weight of vehicles to be registered as military
surplus vehicles. No opponent testimony was provided.
The House Committee amended the bill to require a
military surplus vehicle to meet size and weight limits in

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continuing law and to specify a military surplus vehicle may
not transport passengers for hire.
In the Senate Committee on Transportation hearing,
Representative Williams, Senator Hawk, and a private citizen
provided proponent testimony. A private citizen and
representatives of Global Parts Auto Group, Inc., KDOT, and
SEMA provided written-only proponent testimony. A
representative of the KAC provided written-only neutral
testimony. No opponent testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to add to the
definition of “military surplus vehicle” a requirement that the
vehicle have three or fewer axles and to include such
vehicles manufactured for use by the military forces of any
other country whose vehicle standards are substantially
similar to those of the U.S. military.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill as introduced, KDOR and KDOT
estimate enactment of the bill would increase State Highway
Fund revenues by $9,200 in FY 2021 from the application fee
and the one-time license plate fee that would be applicable to
these vehicles. KDOR also indicates the agency would
require $7,366 from the State General Fund to modify the
motor vehicle system. The KAC indicates enactment of the
bill could increase road maintenance costs for local
governments, but a precise estimate of those costs could not
be calculated. Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of
the bill is not reflected in The FY 2021 Governor’s Budget
Report.


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 8-194, 8-195, 8-196, 8-1486
As Amended by House Committee: 8-194, 8-195, 8-196, 8-1486
As Amended by Senate Committee: 8-194, 8-195, 8-196, 8-1486