Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed the first bill of the 2011 Legislative Session to reach his desk into law during a news conference at the State Capitol today.

House Bill 2033 allows businesses who own 250 vehicles or more to register their vehicles as “fleets” rather than as individual vehicles.  Current law allows fleet registration only for fleets that are exempt from personal property tax or are assessed under tax laws for motor carriers.

“This is a common sense bill that reduces government regulation,” Governor Brownback said.  “I am pleased that the first bill to come to my desk will help cut red tape and make doing business in Kansas easier.  Our top priorities are to grow the Kansas economy and get the more than 110,000 unemployed Kansans back to work.  I am confident HB 2033 is only the beginning for bills that will help us accomplish these goals.”

Cox Communications Central Region Government Affairs Director Coleen Jennison, who testified before the Senate Transportation committee in support of the bill and joined the Governor for its signing, praised the new law.

“HB 2033 streamlines what had been an onerous practice for business without any impact to the state,” Jennison said.  “It is an excellent example of how we can find efficiencies in government that create a win-win for all involved.”

Kansas Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan said the new law allows companies to register their qualified fleets directly with his office – no more driving from county to county.

“One of Gov. Brownback’s priorities is streamlining government for the citizens, families and businesses of this state,” said Sec. Jordan.  “This bill will help do just that by allowing more companies to spend less time waiting in line to register their large vehicle fleets and more time moving the Kansas economy forward.”

Leadership of the House and Senate Transportation Committees as well as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Cox Central Region Janet Barnard and Kansas Motor Carriers Association Executive Director Tom Whitaker also joined the Governor today to show support for the bill.

The law will become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.