AN ACT relating to autonomous vehicles.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 892
Page 1 of 3
XXXX 9/15/2025 12:49 PM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to autonomous vehicles. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 186.763 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Subject to the limitations in subsection (2) of this section, a person may operate a 4
fully autonomous vehicle on the highways of this state without a human driver 5
provided that the automat ed driving system is engaged and the vehicle meets the 6
following conditions: 7
(a) If a failure of the automated driving system occurs that renders that system 8
unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task relevant to its intended 9
operational design doma in, the fully autonomous vehicle will achieve a 10
minimal risk condition; 11
(b) The fully autonomous vehicle is capable of operating in compliance with the 12
applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws and regulations of this state 13
when reasonable to do so, unless an exemption has been granted by the 14
Transportation Cabinet; and 15
(c) When required by federal law, the vehicle bears the required manufacturer's 16
certification label indicating that at the time of its manufacture it has been 17
certified to be in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety 18
standards, including any exemptions granted by the National Highway Traffic 19
Safety Administration. 20
(2) From July 15, 2024, until July 31, 2026, a fully autonomous vehicle for which the 21
declared gross weight of the vehicle and any towed unit is more than sixty -two 22
thousand (62,0 00) pounds shall have a human driver, with the appropriate 23
credentials to operate the vehicle, present in the vehicle to monitor the performance 24
of the vehicle and intervene if necessary. 25
(3) Prior to operating a fully autonomous vehicle on the highways of this state without 26
a human driver, a person shall submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 892
Page 2 of 3
XXXX 9/15/2025 12:49 PM Jacketed
Transportation Cabinet and the Department of Kentucky State Police that describes: 1
(a) How to communicate with a fleet support specialist who is available d uring 2
the times the vehicle is in operation; 3
(b) How to safely remove the fully autonomous vehicle from the roadway and 4
steps to safely tow the vehicle; 5
(c) How to recognize whether the automated driving system is engaged on the 6
fully autonomous vehicle; and 7
(d) Any additional information the manufacturer or owner deems necessary 8
regarding hazardous conditions or public safety risks associated with the 9
operation of the fully autonomous vehicle. 10
(4) A school district shall not operate a fully autonomous vehi cle as a school bus, as 11
defined in KRS 156.153, or use any fully autonomous vehicle to transport 12
students for any purpose. 13
(5) A person shall not operate a fully autonomous vehicle on the highways of this 14
state if the vehicle requires an operator with a co mmercial driver's license as 15
defined in KRS 281A.010. 16
Section 2. KRS 281.764 (Effective August 1, 2026) is amended to read as 17
follows: 18
(1) A motor carrier may operate a platoon on the highways of this state if the motor 19
carrier complies with this section. 20
(2) Motor carriers wishing to operate a platoon shall provide notification to the 21
department and the Department of Kentucky State Police, including a plan for 22
general platoon operations. The department shall have thirty (30) days from the date 23
of receipt to review the notification plan submitted and determine whether it will 24
approve or reject the plan. If the department rejects a submitted plan, it shall inform 25
the motor carrier of the reason for the rejection and provide guidance on how to 26
resubmit the notification and plan to meet the standards. 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 892
Page 3 of 3
XXXX 9/15/2025 12:49 PM Jacketed
(3) Only commercial motor vehicles shall be eligible to operate in a platoon. 1
(4) An appropriately endorsed driver who holds a valid commercial driver's license 2
shall be present behind the wheel of each[the lead] commercial motor vehicle in a 3
platoon. 4
(5) A commercial motor vehicle involved in a platoon shall not draw another motor 5
vehicle in the platoon. 6
(6) Each commercial motor vehicle involved in a platoon shall display a mark ing 7
warning other motorists and law enforcement that the vehicle may be part of a 8
platoon. 9
(7) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with 10
KRS Chapter 13A to set forth procedures for platooning, including required 11
elements of a platooning plan. 12