[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6336952,"mediaKeyId","2277389-a6391ac4783745d436b41503f1a91647","parentId",2277389,"title","Transportation Cabinet explains administrative regulation updates, adopts MUTCD standards and extends OHV pilot to 2027","audioSeconds",252,"startMs",1074000,"endMs",1326000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2277389-a6391ac4783745d436b41503f1a91647&start=1074&end=1326","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2277389-a6391ac4783745d436b41503f1a91647/thumbnail_1074000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6336952/Kentucky/Transportation-Cabinet-explains-administrative-regulation-updates-adopts-MUTCD-standards-and-extends-OHV-pilot-to-2027","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336952-f5c1c4846f4658ccb0c3bd6dd7e8c6a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145286&Signature=Lri1BoYvnzFOhJrkW3r47ghfQUSKbG-tVB6tpEKS2t4dbEua5HWL3FLCJeVkfQe1UY3L6-c9hftPsuP3ZtnAFXgl9fMzXJV~G-GtHnq7b2-b9oPKmch0t~hBjAPjytLzp0Ey7mo2dOjygIU8RCeZLtxXmAbIPNzRG2Sen1-B-0YVejNJd~a24tlmu0A13kVeejixsaOoe9bTOd4NpydtpkgY-jBlUPDIw9szRCdhKWneCbY1xjlp59o9D4PO9zGmuGFnbezBs9qwyyXWaG6nMZ0CrAUCKERnrqXSaS-jnrF8L2Kdh5cxtVW~gkE~4Fc5WxndJVq485LY3b1zfu~5nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kentucky Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Transportation Committee reviewed five administrative regulations from the Transportation Cabinet covering conformity with federal requirements, signage standards, vehicle-weight rules, commercial driver licensing procedures and a pilot on off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

John Johnson, assistant general counsel in the Transportation Cabinet's Office of Legal Services, told the committee the regulations are primarily updates to ensure compliance with federal law. \"603 KAR 5:050 simply adopts the MUTCD standards that went into effect December,\" Johnson said, referring to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He said other regulations reorganize or renumber provisions on truck weight and mass limits and remove an obsolete regulation.

Johnson said one regulation adopts federal CDL fingerprinting and fingerprint-based requirements and another, 603 KAR 23:050, expands the Department of Vehicle Regulation's ability to examine certificate or title applications using electronic methods rather than relying solely on manual review. The cabinet also adopted a new definition for local government in the OHV regulation and extended the OHV pilot program through July 2027.

Committee members asked for a plain-language summary and Johnson provided brief explanations of each change, emphasizing these are updates or \"clean up\" actions to match federal rules and to reflect changes already vetted during the administrative regulations process. The committee did not take a formal roll-call vote on the regulations during this session; Johnson and members described the packet as in order and previously reviewed by the administrative regulations process.

Why it matters: adopting the most recent MUTCD standards affects traffic signage, spacing and other traffic control practices; CDL fingerprinting aligns state practice with federal requirements; allowing electronic examination of title applications may change internal procedures for vehicle registration and title review; and extending the OHV pilot maintains a program set to be continued through mid-2027.

Next steps: the administrative regulations are on the record; the Transportation Cabinet will implement the updated provisions and the OHV pilot extension as described.

Sources: Committee hearing transcript; remarks by John Johnson (Transportation Cabinet).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Standing Committee on Transportation (2-12-25)","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Transportation Committee reviewed five administrative regulations from the Transportation Cabinet covering conformity with federal requirements, signage standards, vehicle-weight rules, commercial driver licensing procedures and a pilot on off-highway vehicles (OHVs).","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kentucky","taxId",29209,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6336954,"Senate committee advances bill banning texting while driving, bars phone use by drivers under 18",818,182000,1000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2277389-a6391ac4783745d436b41503f1a91647&start=182&end=1000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2277389-a6391ac4783745d436b41503f1a91647/thumbnail_182000.jpg","/articles/6336954/Kentucky/Senate-committee-advances-bill-banning-texting-while-driving-bars-phone-use-by-drivers-under-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6336954-ca174c1129ea56fc227d473530e060aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145286&Signature=FQ0Aj8yqcN8TlxiAFnog3VQNApelv-M-hfi6sdudqubSHEM2zebgfUcAB8QJiTBfRc~UGq2O7irgbgGQ9iXV0ArUYX96Wss7LA99NMmJxYHWvJ9nMU~Pz8zqDLBpO9GL5aIC3PibmkwGwyXTmDX-I5KzeybSVA51DwDYQQiFQRFBuR~nPeAXDIarWQZNrFpgOwCVrEsoeq48RWuUxR-VvAnsAYRphaik-I8yUfA66~pA6JiFhU-DcrdLfqMw5ounA2Lh4CqPFEE-Nk0OCfy8906Rk7vWBJhA9UlMH1ha3Se08DuDeK~vTOwP41mgh8s6bvzwQn8lNHzf-imOVFjccw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Don Douglas introduced Senate Bill 99 to the Senate Transportation Committee, saying the measure updates KRS 189.292 to prohibit use of personal communication devices to write, send or read text messages while operating a motor vehicle and to strengthen protections for pedestrians and other road users.

Douglas told the committee the bill defines \"operating a motor vehicle,\" defines \"personal communication device,\" and specifies what constitutes use of the device. He said committee substitute 1 protects use of integrated GPS systems and includes limited exceptions for emergency or public-safety uses. \"I am looking to improve the safety of operating motor vehicles in the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as those who are not distracted,\" Douglas said.

The committee substitute bars anyone under age 18 from operating a personal communication device in any manner while driving, including hands-free operations, but retains exceptions for summoning emergency medical help, law enforcement or public-safety agencies. Section 3 of the bill, as described by Douglas, establishes a $100 fine for the offense and states that no points will be assessed against the driver’s record. Section 4 provides for a 90-day license revocation for drivers under 18 who violate the prohibition. Section 5 makes conforming changes to KRS 189.2327.

Chris Nolan of the Insurance Institute of Kentucky told the committee the institute has supported the bill for years. \"We've supported this bill for many years,\" Nolan said after the committee reported the bill. Several senators described personal or industry experience they said supported the measure; Senator Elkins described similar changes in the trucking industry and said the shift to hands-free rules had made the roads safer.

The committee reported Senate Bill 99 favorably with the committee substitute attached and an expression that it ‘‘shall pass.’' Members who publicly stated their votes and explanations during the roll call included Senators Berg, Don Douglas, Elkins, Smith, Wheeler, Williams, Higdon and Cassie Armstrong, each of whom voiced support on the record. No opposing votes were recorded in the committee transcript. The clerk's summary: \"Senate Bill 99 is reported favorably with expressions of opinion that same shall pass with committee substitute attached.\"

Why it matters: committee members and witnesses framed the bill as a public-safety measure aimed at reducing collisions involving pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users by limiting distractions for drivers and adding stronger penalties for minors.

The committee discussion also noted the transportation cabinet's role in updating administrative regulations to reflect the statutory changes; Douglas said the cabinet is willing to update regulations to align with the bill. The bill will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 99 — reported favorably with committee substitute; recorded supporting votes and explanations from Senators Berg, Don Douglas, Elkins, Smith, Wheeler, Williams, Higdon and Cassie Armstrong. No opposing votes were recorded in the committee transcript.

Sources: Committee hearing transcript; remarks by Senator Don Douglas and Chris Nolan (Insurance Institute of Kentucky).","The Senate Transportation Committee reported Senate Bill 99 favorably with a committee substitute that would ban reading, writing or sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle, bar drivers under 18 from using personal communication devices in any manner while driving and set a $100 fine with a 90-day license revocation for minors.","actionData","errors"]

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Transportation Cabinet explains administrative regulation updates, adopts MUTCD standards and extends OHV pilot to 2027

Senate committee advances bill banning texting while driving, bars phone use by drivers under 18