Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB28: AN ACT relating to operating a motor vehicle.
Status: In committee, March 9, 2026
Repeal and reenact KRS 189.292 to define "mobile electronic device"; prohibit the use of a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle; establish exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to define "mobile electronic device"; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalties for violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; require that money from fines be deposited into the traumatic brain injury trust fund, the Kentucky trauma care system fund, and the veterans' program trust fund; provide that a courtesy warning and not a uniform citation shall be issued by a peace officer until October 31, 2026; provide that the Act may be cited as the Phone-Down Kentucky Act.
What the bill says
An act relating to operating a motor vehicle.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to operating a motor vehicle. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. KRS 189.292 IS REPEALED AND REENACTED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section, "mobile electronic device": (a) Means a cellular telephone, portable computer, global positioning system receiver, electronic game, or any substantially similar stand-alone electronic device used to communicate, display, or record digital content; and (b) Does not include a citizens band radio, amateur radio, ham radio, commercial two (2) way radio or its functional equivalent, subscriptionbased emergency communication device, or prescribed medical device. (2) While operating a motor vehicle on any public highway in this Commonwealth, a person shall not: (a) Hold or support, with any part of the body, a mobile electronic device, except that this paragraph shall not prohibit the use of an earpiece or device worn on a wrist to conduct voice-based communication; (b) Read, compose, or transmit any text, including but not limited to a text message, email, application interaction, or website information, on a mobile electronic device; or (c) Watch moving images, including but not limited to a video, movie, game, or video call, on a mobile electronic device. (3) This section shall not apply to a motor vehicle operator who (b) Initiating a voice-based communication that is automatically …
Sponsors
- Jimmy Higdon (R, SD-014) · primary sponsor
- Gary Boswell (R, SD-008)
- Donald Douglas (R, SD-022)
- Rick Girdler (R, SD-015)
Latest actions
- : to Transportation (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : received in House
- : 3rd reading, passed 31-7
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, January 20, 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Transportation (S)
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : introduced in Senate
Votes
- Senate: PASS SB 28 RSN# 3764 (January 20, 2026): 31 yea, 7 nay, passed
Subjects: Police, State, Short Titles And Popular Names, Traffic Safety, Transportation, Police, City And County, Driver Licensing, Motor Vehicles, Telecommunications
Common questions
- What is SB28?
- SB28 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to operating a motor vehicle.
- What does SB28 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to operating a motor vehicle.
- What is the status of SB28?
- In committee as of March 9, 2026. Latest action: to Transportation (H) (March 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB28?
- Jimmy Higdon (R, SD-014), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB28?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb28.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.