Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB278: AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police.
Status: Chaptered, April 9, 2026
Amend KRS 16.060 to require the commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police to authorize officers of the department to engage in certain types of law enforcement-related off-duty employment; require the commissioner to establish policies and procedures for off-duty employment; amend KRS 16.070 to require the commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police to establish policies and procedures related to the use of uniforms, equipment, and facilities for off-duty employment; amend KRS 44.045 to allow officers of the Department of Kentucky State Police to use motor vehicles with regular license plates for off-duty employment.
What the bill says
An act relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 16.060 is amended to read as follows: (1) It shall be the duty of the commissioner, each officer of the department, and each individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class [,] (b) Apprehend criminals;[,] (c) Maintain law and order throughout the state;[,] (d) [to ]Collect, classify, and maintain information useful for the detection of crime and the identification, apprehension, and conviction of criminals; and (e) [ to ]Enforce the criminal, [as well as the ]motor vehicle, and traffic laws of the Commonwealth. (2) [To this end ]The commissioner, each officer of the department, and each individual employed as a Trooper R Class or CVE R Class is individually vested with the powers of a peace officer and shall: (a) Have in all parts of the state the same powers with respect to criminal matters and enforcement of [the ]laws [relating thereto ]as sheriffs, constables granted peace officer powers, and police officers in their respective jurisdictions;[,] and[ shall ] (b) Possess all the immunities and matters of defense now available or hereafter made available to sheriffs, constables granted peace officer powers, and police officers in any suit brought against them in consequence …
Sponsors
- Aaron Reed (R, SD-007) · primary sponsor
- Brandon Storm (R, SD-021)
- Matthew Deneen (R, SD-010)
- Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R, SD-024)
- Jimmy Higdon (R, SD-014)
- Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R, SD-012)
- Matt Nunn (R, SD-017)
- Craig Richardson (R, SD-003)
- Robert Stivers (R, SD-025)
- Robin Webb (R, SD-018)
- Steve West (R, SD-027)
- Max Wise (R, SD-016)
Latest actions
- : became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 60)
- : filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 95-0
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 332 (March 26, 2026): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS SB 278 RSN# 3937 (March 16, 2026): 29 yea, 6 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Police, State, Motor Vehicles
Common questions
- What is SB278?
- SB278 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police.
- What does SB278 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the Department of Kentucky State Police.
- What is the status of SB278?
- Chaptered as of April 9, 2026. Latest action: became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 60) (April 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB278?
- Aaron Reed (R, SD-007), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB278?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb278.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.