HB 617 Summary

• Changes the Registrar of Motor Vehicles' program from optional to mandatory implementation of financial transaction device (credit and debit card) payment for motor vehicle registration taxes, fees, and related state charges.

• Requires all deputy registrars, including county auditors and court clerks designated as deputy registrars, to accept credit and debit cards for all Department of Public Safety transactions beginning with contracts awarded July 1, 2015.

• Permits the Registrar to impose and collect surcharges for credit and debit card transactions, subject to applicable court decisions, legal settlements, and federal law, after negotiating fees with card issuers and financial institutions.

• Specifies that the state bureau of motor vehicles is not required to reimburse deputy registrars for costs incurred from accepting financial transaction device payments.

• Removes obsolete references to specific mail fee amounts ($2.75, $3.25) that applied to previous registration years, keeping the current $3.50 mail fee.