# Kentucky SB 278: AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police. Kentucky SB 278, AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Aaron Reed (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-04-09 (became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 60)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB278-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 278 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police. - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-26 - Last action: 2026-04-09, became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 60) - Sponsor: Aaron Reed (Republican) - Cosponsors: 11 - Subjects: Motor Vehicles, Police, State, State Agencies - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (124 yes, 6 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State police off-duty jobs and car use: benefit, medium. State police officers and Trooper R/CVE R staff can take off‑duty law‑enforcement work if the commissioner approves it. The job cannot create a conflict, hurt performance, or reflect badly on the department. Allowed work includes public entities, contractors on public projects (including the Transp… - State police get statewide arrest powers: benefit, medium. The commissioner, state police officers, and Trooper R/CVE R staff have peace officer powers across Kentucky. They can enforce criminal and motor vehicle laws statewide and execute any arrest warrant. They have the same legal immunities and defenses as sheriffs and local police. - State police gear and pay for loss: mixed, medium. The commissioner provides needed uniforms, equipment, facilities, and vehicles, and the state keeps ownership. The department tracks the value of gear issued to each person. If the commissioner finds you lost or damaged items through carelessness or neglect, the department may deduct the value from… - Rules for plates and labels on state cars: mixed, low. Most vehicles bought under this law must have official plates and show the state seal and “For official use only” on one door on each side. Vehicles bought under subsections (1), (4), and (5) are exempt from those markings. With written approval from the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Aaron Reed (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Amanda Mays Bledsoe (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Craig Richardson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jimmy Higdon (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew Deneen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Nunn (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Max Wise (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Stivers (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robin L. Webb (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Shelley Funke Frommeyer (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephen West (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-26 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2026-03-16 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 29 | 6 | | ## Actions (20) - 2026-04-09: became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 60) - 2026-04-08: filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State - 2026-03-27: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-27: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-03-27: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-27: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-26: 3rd reading, passed 95-0 (House) - 2026-03-25: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026 (House) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-24: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-03-20: to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H) (House) - 2026-03-17: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-03-17: received in House (House) - 2026-03-16: 3rd reading, passed 29-6 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 16 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-13: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-12: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-09: to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-26: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-16: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb278/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-03-16: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb278/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb278/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb278/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB278-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).