SESSION OF 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2296
As Amended by House Committee on
Transportation

Brief*
HB 2296, as amended, would authorize the Secretary of
Transportation (Secretary) to use toll revenues to support
other transportation improvements on the corridor where the
toll project or turnpike project was constructed. Current law
prohibits the Secretary from using toll revenues for expenses
unrelated to the toll project or turnpike project for which the
toll was collected.
The bill would permit the Secretary to contract with the
Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) to set, collect, and enforce
toll payments for an authorized toll project.
The bill would authorize the Secretary to permit public
transit vehicles to pay a reduced toll rate when using the
tolled lanes of any toll project or turnpike project constructed
by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT); the bill
would define “public transit” for this purpose.
The bill would also make technical changes.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Transportation at the request of a representative of the
Kansas Department of Transportation. [Note: The provisions
of this bill, as introduced, were identical to those of SB 186,
as introduced.]
____________________
*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
House Committee on Transportation
In the House Committee hearing, the Secretary of
Transportation provided proponent testimony, stating the bill
would authorize the Secretary to contract with KTA for tolling,
would allow money collected from tolls to support public
transit or other transportation improvements on a toll project
corridor, and would allow local transit partners to operate in
the express lanes without being charged tolls. A
representative of Johnson County government provided
written-only proponent testimony.
A representative of the Kansas Motor Carriers
Association provided opponent testimony, stating toll funds
should be used only on the toll project roadway and not be
used to subsidize other forms of transportation. The conferee
further stated the bill would unfairly allow public transit
vehicles to operate free from toll charges while tolls would be
charged on other types of vehicles.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of
the KTA, indicating support for partnering with KDOT on
possible toll projects.
The House Committee amended the bill to remove
language that would have authorized the Secretary to use toll
revenues to support public transit on the corridor and to
exempt public transit vehicles from being charged tolls when
using the tolled lanes of any toll project or turnpike project.
The latter provision was replaced with language authorizing
the Secretary to permit public transit vehicles to pay a
reduced toll rate relative to other vehicles when using tolled
lanes.

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, there would be no fiscal
effect on agency operations at this time because KDOT
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indicates the agency has not constructed any toll projects or
turnpike projects. However, if KDOT did construct a toll
project or turnpike project in the future, the bill would allow
the agency to use toll revenues for public transit or other
improvements. Any fiscal effect associated with enactment of
the bill is not reflected in The FY 2022 Governor’s Budget
Report.
Transportation; public transit; tolls; Kansas Turnpike Authority


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 68-20
As Amended by House Committee: 68-20