Transportation

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; allow the use of camera monitoring systems on school buses operated by a school district and allow the enforcement of a civil penalty for stop arm camera violations recorded by a camera monitoring system; establish the amount of the civil penalty; require that the revenue generated from a civil penalty be retained by the school district; allow a law enforcement agency to charge a fee of $25 from every civil penalty enforced by the law enforcement agency; require specific notice for a stop arm camera violation; establish defenses to a violation; establish procedures for a contest to a violation; allow for suspension of motor vehicle registration for failure to timely pay a penalty; require a school district or law enforcement agency to notify the Transportation Cabinet of the need to release a motor vehicle registration suspension within 1 business day of payment; amend KRS 189.370 to require traffic in the opposite direction of a school or church bus to stop for the bus on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median;amend KRS 189.990 to increase the maximum fines for failing to stop for a school or church bus that is receiving or discharging passengers.

Repeal and reenact KRS 189.292 to define "mobile electronic device"; prohibit the use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; establish exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to define "mobile electronic device"; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalties for violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; require that money from fines be deposited into the traumatic brain injury trust fund, the Kentucky trauma care system fund, and the veterans' program trust fund; provide that a courtesy warning and not a uniform citation shall be issued by a peace officer until October 31, 2026; provide that the Act may be cited as the Phone-Down Kentucky Act.

Amend KRS 156.153 to permit schools to use non-school bus passenger vehicles designed for 10, instead of 9, or fewer passengers; limit statewide driver qualification, training, and drug testing requirements to drivers of non-school bus passenger vehicles along regular bus routes; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to require vehicles operating on a highway with an iron, steel, or wooden wheel to be equipped with a rubberized strip on the portion of the wheel that is in contact with the highway; provide an exception for certain animal-drawn vehicles; amend KRS 189.990 to set penalty for violation at $20 to $100 for each offense.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to require the Transportation Cabinet conduct a quality assurance check 6 months after each highway pavement marking or other highway paint application; require the Transportation Cabinet repair or reapply the highway pavement markings within 30 days of a failed quality assurance check.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 189 to define "agency," "owner," "recorded images," and "traffic control signal monitoring system"; establish a civil penalty of $50 if a motor vehicle is recorded failing to obey the instructions of a traffic control device; set forth forms and procedures; outline defenses for citations for failing to obey a traffic control device; mandate that the Transportation Cabinet shall suspend the registration of the motor vehicle when a person refuses to pay the civil penalty and does not appear to contest the citation; mandate that civil penalties shall not result in points against the driving record of the operator of the motor vehicle in violation; amend KRS 189.231 and 189.990 to conform.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 277 to require each railroad company to destroy or remove obstructive vegetation at intersections with public roads or highways; direct the Transportation Cabinet or local government to remove obstructive vegetation if the railroad company fails to do so after receiving written notice from the cabinet or local government; establish procedures for reimbursement by the railroad company for the vegetation removal.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 177 to define "acknowledgment sign" and "sponsorship agreement"; allow the Transportation Cabinet to enter into sponsorship agreements with private entities to sponsor welcome centers or rest areas on the interstate and state highway system; direct that all contributions shall be used on maintenance and upkeep of the welcome center or rest area; require the Transportation Cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to establish a sponsorship policy and process to enter into sponsorship agreements.

Amend KRS 189.920 to allow wreckers to be equipped with a flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue light, to be used only when the wrecker is stationary and while removing a vehicle or debris from the highway; prohibit a wrecker from using a blue light when towing a vehicle; this Act may be cited as Troy's Law.

Amend KRS 189.222 to allow vehicles with a gross weight of up to 90,000 pounds transporting fluid milk from a farm to the first market to operate on any state highway; allow for a 10% weight tolerance; provide exceptions and limitations; amend KRS 189.221 to conform.