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Minutes for SB229 - Committee on Transportation
Short Title
Providing for the city of Topeka distinctive license plates.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 21, 2023
Chairperson Petersen called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. and opened the hearing on SB229.
Assistant Revisor Adam Siebers briefed the Committee on the bill (Attachment 1). He explained that the bill provides for a new distinctive license plate containing the City of Topeka flag on the plate. The plate would be subject to a 250 initial plate commitment and payment of up to $5000 for development costs; a fee of $25 to $100 would be required, which would be allocated to the Greater Topeka Partnership.
Amanda Stanley, Legal Department, City of Topeka, testified as a proponent for the bill (Attachment 2). She noted that the City of Topeka has worked closely with the Greater Topeka Partnership to create the license plate
Braden Werner, Citizen, Topeka, Kansas, explained that as a social studies teacher at Shawnee Heights High School he encourages his students to be involved in government, and he was pleased to be a part of developing the license plate for the city (Attachment 3).
Curtis Sneden, President, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Topeka flag license plate, designed through a community-input process, offers a new way for the Topeka community to show its pride (Attachment 4). He referenced the meaning of the colors, the sunflower, and the state motto to showcase the significance of the proposed license tag.
Zachary Surritt, Chair Elect, Forge Young Talent, spoke in support of the bill by saying that Forge Young Talent managed and championed the community development of the City of Topeka flag, which will be featured on the license plate (Attachment 5).
Responding to a question, Lindsay Lebahn, Senior Program Manager, Plug'n'Play, commented that the design of the flag was a collaborative project highlighted by members of Forge Young Talent.
Written-only testimony in support of the bill was provided by Senator Kristen O'Shea (Attachment 6).
A motion was made by Senator Dietrich and seconded by Senator Kloos to recommend the bill as favorable for passage. The motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023.
