News > Legislature

  Legislature  

Vehicle registration fees likely to go up

TOPEKA - Fees to register a vehicle in the state would increase by $4 under a compromise bill sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The increase would start in January 2009 and last four years, raising the cost to about $40 to register a personal vehicle.

The Senate approved the negotiated bill 24-10 Wednesday, followed a few minutes later by a 72-50 House vote.

The money from the increase would go to the Vehicle Modernization Fund to upgrade the state's system for registering vehicles and driver's licenses.

Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon says the current system is about 20 years old and needs to be replaced to provide law enforcement with more information more quickly.

-- Associated Press

Campaign finance

A bill limiting how much money political candidates can transfer from one war chest to another didn't receive enough votes in the Senate to progress to the House.

The bill was prompted by a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that former Rep. Carlos Mayans could not use $24,000 from his legislative campaign fund to pay for his run for Wichita mayor.

The bill limits the amount candidates can transfer from one campaign fund to another to $15,000, said Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, who spoke on behalf of Senate substitute for House Bill 2332.

"It's a pretty self-serving bill for those of us that are in office," noted Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka.

Hensley said he was opposed to politicians being able to transfer any money between campaign funds and called it an "incumbent protection type deal." Senators voted 18-9 on the measure; it needed at least 21 votes to move to the House.

-- Jeannine Koranda

Nuclear plants

Legislation allowing utilities to recover the cost of planning for a nuclear generating facility from ratepayers has been sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The House approved it 101-22 and the Senate endorsed it a few minutes later 29-3.

Supporters say the bill is needed if utilities are going to seriously consider nuclear power. Opponents said it will mean higher bills for utility customers.

It also creates an 11-member advisory committee appointed by House and Senate leaders and gives the Kansas Corporation Commission oversight over any nuclear proposal.

-- Associated Press

Four strikes

A bill to require prison time for a fourth theft conviction or extreme sexual violence has been sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The House voted 122-1 Wednesday night after the Senate approved it 34-0 Saturday.

The bill was reworked from its original form, which called for prison time for anyone convicted of a third felony. That idea was dropped because of concerns about how many additional prisoners would be locked up and what that would cost the state.

-- Associated Press