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Committee hears proposal to remove ATV/UTV weight caps to ease titling (LB 98)
Summary
LB 98 would remove statutory weight limits for ATVs and UTVs to allow county treasurers to title newer, heavier models; dealers and county officials testified that current limits ($1,200 for ATVs, $2,000 for UTVs) have created titling, theft‑proofing and tax collection problems.
Senator Mike Moser introduced LB 98 to update Nebraska’s statutory definitions for all‑terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility‑terrain vehicles (UTVs) by removing weight limits that officials said prevent county treasurers from issuing titles for newer, heavier models.
Proponents from dealerships and the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association told the committee that modern ATVs and UTVs often exceed the existing statutory weight caps — cited in testimony as £1,200 for ATVs and £2,000 for UTVs — and that the limits have led to inconsistencies in titling and sales‑tax collection. Clayton Novotny (Motiplex of Norfolk and Columbus) and other dealers said removal of the weight restriction would streamline titling and reduce incentives for buyers to purchase across state lines. Kayla Walford (ATV Motorsports) and county‑level representatives said untitled machines raise concerns about theft recovery, lender security and UCC processes when liens are involved.
Beth Bazyn Ferrell, representing the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said county treasurers encounter manufacturer statements of origin or out‑of‑state titles with weights that exceed the statutory definition and therefore cannot be issued a Nebraska title, creating law‑enforcement and lien‑tracking challenges.
Supporters asked the committee to advance the bill; no in‑room opponents spoke during the hearing. The committee heard technical details from dealers about common machine weights and how removing the statutory weight limits would restore consistency with other states and reduce administrative burden for counties and dealers.
