House
Signed By Governor
2026 Regular Session

HB7

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AN ACT relating to school bus safety.

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.

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

Introduced: January 15, 2026

Last action: April 9, 2026

Signed By Governor (Acts Ch. 62)
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Legislative History

Jan 15, 2026 · House
Introduced In House
Jan 15, 2026 · House
To Committee On Committees (H)
Jan 23, 2026 · House
To Transportation (H)
Feb 3, 2026 · House
Reported Favorably, 1st Reading, To Calendar
Feb 4, 2026 · House
2nd Reading, To Rules (clerical)
Feb 6, 2026 · House
Posted For Passage In The Regular Orders Of The Day For Monday, February 09 2026 (clerical)
Feb 9, 2026 · House
3rd Reading, Passed 78-15 (clerical)
Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Received In Senate

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of David Hale
David Hale

Representative · House District 074

Primary sponsor
David.Hale@kylegislature.gov
BallotpediaOfficial profile

Co-sponsors (4)

Portrait of Chad Aull
Chad Aull

Representative · House District 079

Co-sponsor
chad.aull@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of George Brown
George Brown

Representative · House District 077

Co-sponsor
George.Brown@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Daniel Grossberg
Daniel Grossberg

Representative · House District 030

Co-sponsor
daniel.grossberg@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Kim King
Kim King

Representative · House District 055

Co-sponsor
Kim.King@kylegislature.gov

Roll calls

February 9, 2026

House: 3rd reading, passed 78-15

Yea: 78
Nay: 15
LegiScan roll call
March 25, 2026

Senate: 3rd reading, passed 37-1 with Committee Substitute (1)

Yea: 37
Nay: 1
March 31, 2026

House: Passed 79-11

Yea: 79
Nay: 11