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KentuckyHB 72026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to school bus safety.

Sponsored By: David Hale (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Police, City And CountyPolice, StateTraffic SafetyTransportationCourts, DistrictCrimes And PunishmentsEducation, Elementary And SecondaryHighways, Streets, And BridgesMotor Vehicles

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Criminal penalties for passing school buses

Drivers must stop for a school bus with its stop arm and lights on. You do not have to stop when coming the other way on a four‑lane (or more) highway that is divided by an elevated barrier or an unpaved median. If you are convicted of passing a stopped bus, a first offense is a $200–$500 fine or 30–60 days in jail, or both. A later offense within three years is a $300–$1,000 fine or 60–180 days in jail, or both. At least six points are added to your driving record on conviction.

School bus camera tickets and fines

The law uses school bus cameras to ticket drivers who pass a bus with its stop arm out. Police, peace officers, or school resource officers review the video and can issue a ticket. A notice must be mailed within 30 days with the images and a sworn officer statement. The first civil fine is $300; later fines within three years are $500. If you do not pay or contest within 60 days, your vehicle registration is suspended until you pay; after payment, the agency must ask the state to lift the suspension within one business day. Camera images are allowed as evidence, and the law presumes the bus was loading or unloading when the arm and lights show in the image. You can defend your case in District Court, with defenses like a stolen car or plates, not being the driver (you must name the driver under penalty of perjury), an on‑scene citation, letting an emergency vehicle pass, or a funeral procession. These civil tickets do not add points to your driving record.

Privacy rules for bus camera images

Buses with cameras must post a clear warning sign. Camera images and related records are private and only used by authorized staff to enforce tickets. Images must be deleted within 31 days if no ticket is issued, or after the case is finally resolved if there is a ticket.

Districts keep money from camera fines

School districts can install and run bus camera systems and may hire vendors to do it. The district keeps the civil penalty money, though court costs can be taken out if a court collects it. If police enforced the case, the district must pay that agency a $25 fee for each collected penalty.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • David Hale

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Chad Aull

    Democrat • House

  • Daniel Grossberg

    Democrat • House

  • George Brown Jr.

    Democrat • House

  • Kim King

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 194 • No: 27

House vote • 3/31/2026

passed

Yes: 79 • No: 11

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 37 • No: 1

House vote • 2/9/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 78 • No: 15

Actions Timeline

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 62)

    4/9/2026

  2. delivered to Governor

    3/31/2026

  3. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

    3/31/2026House

  4. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

    3/31/2026House

  5. passed 79-11

    3/31/2026House

  6. House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)

    3/31/2026House

  7. posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)

    3/27/2026Senate

  8. to Rules (H)

    3/26/2026House

  9. received in House

    3/26/2026House

  10. 3rd reading, passed 37-1 with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/25/2026Senate

  11. passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day

    3/24/2026Senate

  12. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026

    3/20/2026Senate

  13. 2nd reading, to Rules

    3/20/2026Senate

  14. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/19/2026Senate

  15. to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)

    3/16/2026Senate

  16. to Committee on Committees (S)

    2/10/2026Senate

  17. received in Senate

    2/10/2026Senate

  18. 3rd reading, passed 78-15

    2/9/2026House

  19. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 09 2026

    2/6/2026House

  20. 2nd reading, to Rules

    2/4/2026House

  21. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

    2/3/2026House

  22. to Transportation (H)

    1/23/2026House

  23. to Committee on Committees (H)

    1/15/2026House

  24. introduced in House

    1/15/2026House

Bill Text

  • Current

    3/31/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/9/2026

    PDF

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