Transportation committee hears ignition-interlock fee bill, trailer-dealer exemptions and advances several plate and naming measures

The Transportation Committee heard testimony on multiple bills Thursday, including House Bill 2222 to create a manufacturer fee for ignition interlock devices and House Bill 2030 to exempt trailer manufacturers from certain provisions of the vehicle dealers and manufacturers licensing act. Lawmakers advanced several measures by voice vote and delayed action on at least one plate-related bill to gather additional cost information.

House Bill 2222, which would require manufacturers of ignition interlock devices to pay a one-time $10 installation fee and a monthly $5 oversight fee to the Kansas Highway Patrol starting July 1, 2025, drew the most detailed testimony. Lieutenant Candace Payne of the Kansas Highway Patrol told the committee the devices prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles and described the program's scope and compliance work. "We feel this program is essential for public safety and the mission and the goals of the Kansas Highway Patrol in reducing those impaired driving incidents," Payne said.

Payne and agency witnesses gave several program statistics: in 2024 the state had 9,915 devices installed; interlocks prevented vehicle starts 212 times at a blood-alcohol concentration around 0.032 and prevented 8,373 attempted starts when a person's BAC was 0.08 or greater. The Highway Patrol said vendor oversight covers seven manufacturers, roughly 300 service centers and about 400 technicians; the agency's compliance reviewers completed 5,135 90-day reviews in 2024, with 3,909 successful program completions and 51 cases still considered noncompliant after review.

On finances, the committee was told the Division of the Budget provided a fiscal note estimating revenue of…