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HB 425 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle racing.

Summary
Amend KRS 189.993 to establish enhanced penalties for a violation of KRS 189.505, including increased fines, vehicle impoudment for up to 6 months for the first offense, and vehicle forfeiture for the second or subsequent offense; amend KRS 500.090 to provide that the proceeds from any public auction of a vehicle that has been forfeited for a second or subsequent violation of KRS 189.505 be transferred to the Crime Victims Compensation Board.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for motor vehicle racing violations, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnhances transportation safety through stricter penalties for illegal racing, aligning with vehicle regulation and public safety subjects.90% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from a Senate bill (BR 1824) to a House bill (HB 425) and updated with new filing dates. Substantively, the penalties for violating various motor vehicle racing and equipment laws were increased, including higher fines and stricter vehicle forfeiture rules for repeat offenders. Additionally, penalties for fire department members violating racing laws were expanded to include permanent disqualification from public safety employment.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the specific statutes it amends (KRS 189.993) remains the same, but the severity of enforcement has increased.
ENFORCEMENT

Fines for violating KRS 189.045, 189.205, 189.375, and 189.920 were increased or clarified to include higher monetary penalties and potential imprisonment.

Penalties for repeat offenses involving motor vehicle racing now mandate vehicle forfeiture and destruction or public auction, rather than just impoundment.

Fire department and rescue squad members convicted of racing violations face immediate dismissal and a three-year ban from public safety employment, with permanent bans for second offenses.

TECHNICAL

The document was reclassified from a Senate bill (BR 1824) to a House bill (HB 425) with updated filing dates.

Floor votes · House Mar 16, 2026

How they voted

79–20
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 105
Mar 16, 2026
D Democratic21
19 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican84
60 Yea 20 Nay 4
71% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
4
Committee
8
Amendments
1
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 35-3 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) as a consent bill
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
to Transportation (S)
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 75-19
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.