Committee approves amendment to require dealer inventory titles for certain used non‑highway vehicles

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to amend Senate Bill 97 and then gave the bill a favorable recommendation as amended.

Committee staff member Adam briefed senators on the amendment, saying the changes largely restore current statutory language requiring non‑highway certificates of title for most purchasers. The substantive change in the amendment would require dealers who handle used non‑highway vehicles — specifically all‑terrain vehicles, worksite utility vehicles, recreational off‑highway vehicles and motorcycles as listed in the amendment — to obtain a dealer inventory‑only title rather than a non‑highway certificate of title when they take those used vehicles into inventory.

Adam said the dealer inventory title provision applies to used vehicles acquired by dealers (not new vehicles) and imposes a $10 fee to obtain the dealer inventory title; the fee would be remitted according to current procedures for title fees. The amendment would remove section 2 of the bill so that current law otherwise remains in effect.

Senator Bowers, identified in the transcript as a proponent, told the committee that revenue staff had worked with proponents and that he believed an amendment would address concerns. Senator Warren and other senators asked clarifying questions about the definitions; Adam and a reviser clarified that the amendment’s list of vehicle types is a narrower subset than the broader statutory definition in KSA 8-1907.

The committee voice‑voted to adopt the amendment. Senator Klusz moved that the committee pass Senate Bill 97 as amended; Senator Otterbright seconded the motion. The committee recorded a favorable recommendation to send the bill to the Senate floor.