Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB189: AN ACT relating to pedestrians.
Status: Chaptered, April 5, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to define terms; prohibit a person from remaining on any portion of a state-maintained right-of-way that is not designated for pedestrian use; provide exemptions and authorize local governmental exceptions; allow local governments to enact ordinances to authorize limited exceptions to the prohibition; allow the Transportation Cbinet to promulgate administrative regulations to define minimum standards for state-maintained rights-of-way; amend KRS 189.570 to conform.
What the bill says
An act relating to pedestrians.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to pedestrians. WHEREAS, the presence of individuals remaining physically stationary in narrow medians, highway shoulders, and exit ramps presents a significant safety risk to both pedestrians and motorists; and WHEREAS, at the present time, Kentucky lacks a clear statewide standard in the law for this behavior, and law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in dangerous pedestrian presence in non-pedestrian portions of the state-maintained rightof-way; and WHEREAS, the General Assembly wishes to promote roadway safety by restricting stationary pedestrian behavior in rights-of-way that are not designed or designated for pedestrian use, while allowing local governments, in coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, to authorize limited exceptions through objective and safetybased permitting; NOW, THEREFORE, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 189 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Local government" means any city, county, consolidated local government, urban-county government, charter county government, or unified local government; and (b) "State-maintained right-of-way" means any land, property, or infrastructure under the jurisdiction or maintenance of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet that is used by the public for transportation purposes, including but not limited to travel lanes, paved and unpaved shoulders, medians, entrance and exit ramps, and adjacent grassy or drainage areas not …
Sponsors
- Kevin Jackson (R, HD-020) · primary sponsor
- Robert Duvall (R, HD-017)
- Scott Lewis (R, HD-014)
- Shawn McPherson (R, HD-022)
- Michael Meredith (R, HD-019)
- Steve Riley (R, HD-023)
Latest actions
- : became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 32)
- : filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : received in House
- : passed 31-6
- : floor amendment (1) withdrawn
- : 3rd reading
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026
Votes
- Senate: PASS HB 189 RSN# 3980 (March 24, 2026): 31 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 58 (February 5, 2026): 80 yea, 11 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Highways, Streets, And Bridges, Traffic Safety, Transportation, Local Government, Administrative Regulations And Proceedings
Common questions
- What is HB189?
- HB189 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to pedestrians.
- What does HB189 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to pedestrians.
- What is the status of HB189?
- Chaptered as of April 5, 2026. Latest action: became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 32) (April 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB189?
- Kevin Jackson (R, HD-020), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB189?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb189.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.