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HB 2121

Increasing the annual license fees of electric and hybrid passenger vehicles and trucks and electric motorcycles and distributing the fees to the state highway fund and the special city and county highway fund.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2121 raises annual registration fees for certain electric and hybrid vehicles and creates new fees for all-electric motorcycles and smaller electric trucks, with revenues direct

Died in Senate Committee
#funds #motorvehicles
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Bill Summary · HB 2121

Summary — HB 2121 (2025 session)

Purpose

HB 2121 increases annual vehicle registration (license) fees for certain electric and hybrid vehicles and creates new registration-fee categories for electric motorcycles and light electric trucks. Fee revenues are directed to the State Highway Fund and the Special City and County Highway Fund (apportioned as motor fuel tax receipts). The stated policy rationale from proponents is to offset declining motor fuel tax revenue and to have electric-vehicle (EV) users contribute toward highway maintenance and repair, particularly given heavier vehicle weights.

Key provisions

  • Effective date: January 1, 2026.
  • Changes to passenger-vehicle registration fees:
    • Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles: increase from $50 to $100.
    • All‑electric passenger vehicles (EVs): increase from $100 to $165 (reduced from a higher increase in earlier drafts).
    • Electric hybrid (non plug‑in) passenger-vehicle increase was proposed by the House committee (from $50 to $85) but was removed by the Senate Committee — leaving that fee at $50 in the latest committee amendment.
  • New registration-fee categories:
    • All‑electric motorcycles: $30 (removes prior general motorcycle registration provision and creates $30 fee specific to all‑electric motorcycles).
    • Electric hybrid or plug‑in electric hybrid truck/truck‑tractor with gross weight ≤ 12,000 lbs: $125.
    • All‑electric truck or truck‑tractor with gross weight ≤ 12,000 lbs: $200.
  • Fee distribution: all amounts collected from these license fees must be remitted to the State Highway Fund and the Special City and County Highway Fund and apportioned/distributed the same way motor fuel tax revenue is distributed under continuing law:
    • 66.7% to the State Highway Fund;
    • 33.63% to the Special City and County Highway Fund;
    • Of the amounts for the Special City and County Highway Fund, 57.0% to counties and 43.0% to cities.

Fiscal impact

  • The Division of the Budget / Department of Revenue estimated increased revenues of approximately $3,483,082 beginning in FY2026 (split $2,311,722 to the State Highway Fund and $1,171,360 to the Special City and County Highway Fund). These estimates were produced by applying marginal fee increases to estimated registration counts; some estimates reflect earlier draft fee amounts.
  • Implementation cost: Department of Revenue estimated a one‑time programming/modification cost of $6,700 from the State General Fund in FY2026 to update automated systems; additional costs could occur if combined legislative changes exceed internal programming capacity.

Who is affected

  • Owners/registrants of all‑electric passenger vehicles, plug‑in electric hybrids, electric hybrid trucks (≤12,000 lbs), all‑electric trucks (≤12,000 lbs), and all‑electric motorcycles in Kansas.
  • State and local highway funds (increase in apportioned revenue).
  • Department of Revenue (system updates) and Department of Transportation (no direct operational fiscal effect).

Legislative status and history

  • Introduced January 27, 2025 (requested by Representative Hoheisel).
  • Reported by House Committee on Transportation with amendments; subsequently amended by the Senate Committee on Transportation (notably removing the House‑committee increase to electric hybrid passenger vehicles).
  • Committee report recommends passage as amended. (Effective date in bill text: Jan 1, 2026.)

Support and opposition (summary)

  • Support from Kansas Contractors Association, Kansas Department of Transportation, League of Kansas Municipalities, Fuel True, and Kansas Farm Bureau — proponents cite lost motor fuel tax revenue and heavier EV weights increasing roadway damage.
  • Neutral testimony from General Motors (stated support for EV users paying their share; suggested lower fees for some categories).
  • Opposition from Sierra Club and some citizens — concerns that higher fees could discourage EV adoption and that EVs may cause less net roadway damage due to lower miles driven and environmental benefits.

Notes / uncertainties

  • The bill underwent amendments in committee; some fiscal estimates are based on earlier fee levels (e.g., a higher proposed all‑electric fee). Final revenue impacts depend on the enacted fee schedule and actual registration counts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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