KentuckySB 302026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles.

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

More weight leeway for farms and milk

Farm and milk haulers get more room to operate. Milk from a farm to first market can run up to 90,000 pounds on state roads without a special permit (80,000 on interstates). Farm products, livestock, forest products, and farm supplies can run up to 80,000 pounds without a special permit. Off interstates, qualifying farm vehicles get a 10% weight tolerance and are exempt from axle limits (farm, forestry, and ready‑mix concrete). Vehicles with an auxiliary power unit get a 400‑pound allowance. Annual farm‑equipment permits are capped at $80 (≤14 feet wide) or $150 (>14 feet) for dealer‑to‑farm, farm‑to‑dealer, or dealer‑to‑dealer moves.

Annual and single-trip permits for big loads

You can request single‑trip permits for nondivisible loads. Annual permits allow up to 16 feet wide, 120 feet long, 13 feet 6 inches high, or 160,000 pounds. For fluid milk under permit, axle limits do not apply, but gross weight is capped at 100,000 pounds. Axle caps for nondivisible loads are: single steering 15,000 lb; tandem 40,000 lb; tridem 65,000 lb; dual‑wheel axle 20,000 lb. Travel is limited to the route on the permit, and the department can deny unsafe routes. Permit holders must measure clearances and accept the risk. If you qualify for certain other annual permits, you cannot get a duplicate annual permit under this section.

New rules for moving manufactured homes

Annual permits for manufactured homes allow up to 16 feet wide, 120 feet long, 15 feet high, and 160,000 pounds. Trucks running under a manufactured housing permit must have GPS that records travel, and records are open to inspection. Travel for manufactured homes is daylight only Monday–Saturday and not allowed on Sunday. Driving a permitted vehicle taller than 13 feet 6 inches in a Cabinet‑designated restricted area brings a $1,000 fine.

New Motor Vehicle Commission and fund

The law creates a 12‑member Motor Vehicle Commission to oversee dealers and related activities. Members serve staggered 3‑year terms and elect leaders each September. Commissioners are paid $200 per day for duty days, plus travel and expenses. A new Motor Vehicle Commission Fund holds license fees and other money, and unspent money carries over each year.

After the job, return trip allowed

If you hold a permit to take equipment to a work site, you may drive back to your business right after the job is done. You must still follow the time‑of‑day and day‑of‑week limits in the law.

Escort and signage rules for farm equipment

The Cabinet sets escort and safety marking rules and must give permit holders their permit restrictions for free. For over‑width farm implements, rules cannot be stricter than the law’s limits. For example, on two‑lane roads a single over‑12‑foot load needs no more than one lead escort. A vehicle or escort may display an oversize sign or use lights/flags, but not both.

Permit fee rules, bonds, and waivers

The Transportation Cabinet sets overweight and overdimensional permit fees by regulation but cannot add extra fees beyond what the law allows. The department may require a bond to cover road or bridge damage. Parade floats used in Kentucky parades still need permits but pay no permit fee.

Road definitions and local enforcement rules

The Cabinet may write rules to follow federal trucking standards. Cabinet officers do not enforce weight rules on local roads unless the local leader asks in writing. The law also broadens what counts as a highway to include some private residential roads and public parking areas, clarifies what is a nondivisible load (including fluid milk on the national truck network), and defines electric low‑speed scooters.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Greg Elkins
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Rick Girdler
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 162 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

passed

Yes: 35 • No: 1

Senate vote • 1/23/2026