The Chair opened the hearing on HB2578.

Chris Waggoner provided  a briefing to the committee on the bill.(Attachment 6)

John Donley spoke to the committee as a proponent of the bill on behalf of the Kansas Farm Bureau since the bill would properly define antique farm vehicles consistently with the definition of those farm vehicles in the current law, and it would direct the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) to  create a decal for the antique license that properly identifies the vehicle as an antique farm vehicle.(Attachment 7)

Jeremy Erickson provided virtual proponent testimony as a private citizen of McPherson County in that it would clarify the  definition of antique farm vehicles and create a design for a decal on antique vehicles  to exempt them from the Kansas uniform commercial drivers' license act. This bill would provide solutions for the small farmer and vehicles they may own on their farms.  (Attachment 8) 

Donald Lee gave opposing testimony that consideration in the bill was not given to farm usage or the additional weight of these types of vehicles. The bill would require a more extensive system of upgrades and testing as well as the updating of its policies and procedures for all staff and counties. (Attachment 9)

Michael White presented opposing testimony to the bill in that the funding for the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation  (IKE) program would be directly impacted fiscally based on the lowering of registration fees for antique trucks. The reduction or elimination of registration fees as noted in the bill will result in either elimination of infrastructure projects or reducing the scope of these projects. (Attachment 10)

Joel Skelley also spoke to the committee opposing the bill on behalf of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)  that would provide farm vehicles over 35 years old to qualify as an antique farm vehicle. The bill in itself has a significant fiscal impact on the State Highway Fund (SHF) resulting in a loss of approximately $4 million in annual  revenue due.(Attachment 11)

Discussion followed.  

The Chair closed the hearing on HB2578.