Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB46: AN ACT relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency.
Status: Signed into law, March 27, 2026
Amend KRS 156.153 to permit schools to use non-school bus passenger vehicles designed for 10, instead of 9, or fewer passengers; limit statewide driver qualification, training, and drug testing requirements to drivers of non-school bus passenger vehicles along regular bus routes and permit local school boards to adopt district policies on the use of those vehicles to and from approved school activities; exclude parents transporting students to and from school pursuant to a compensation agreement from the requirements of the section; amend KRS 160.380 to conform; EMERGENCY.
What the bill says
An act relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 156.153 is amended to read as follows: (1) (a) All school buses for which bids are made or bid contracts awarded shall meet the standards and specifications of the Kentucky Department of Education. The term "school bus," as used in this section, shall mean any motor vehicle which meets the standards and specifications for school buses as provided by law or by the standards or specifications of the Kentucky Department of Education authorized by law and used solely in transporting school children and school employees to and from school under the supervision and control and at the direction of school authorities, and shall further include school bus accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment considered to be reasonably adaptable for purchase from price contract agreements. (b) The standards and specifications for accessory equipment and supplies and replacement equipment under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall be based on federal safety standards and shall not discriminate among manufacturers unless the Kentucky Department of Education finds evidence that a specific manufacturer's product is defective or dangerous to use.[ (c) The Kentucky Department of Education shall provide the list of standards and specifications for accessory equipment and supplies …
Sponsors
- Matthew Deneen (R, SD-010) · primary sponsor
- Greg Elkins (R, SD-028)
- Rick Girdler (R, SD-015)
- Scott Madon (R, SD-029)
- Matt Nunn (R, SD-017)
- Aaron Reed (R, SD-007)
- Brandon Smith (R, SD-030)
Latest actions
- : signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 7)
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : passed 36-0
- : Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
- : posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
- : taken from Rules
- : to Rules (S)
- : received in Senate
Votes
- Senate: FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 46 w/ HCS 1, HFA 2 (HCS 1) RSN# 3978 (March 24, 2026): 36 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 301 (March 20, 2026): 87 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS SB 46 w scs 1 (scs 1) RSN# 3772 (January 22, 2026): 37 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Teachers, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Effective Dates, Emergency, Boards And Commissions, Transportation
Common questions
- What is SB46?
- SB46 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency.
- What does SB46 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of SB46?
- Signed into law as of March 27, 2026. Latest action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 7) (March 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB46?
- Matthew Deneen (R, SD-010), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB46?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb46.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.