HB 258 — AN ACT relating to the transportation of milk.

All vehicles passing over or upon the highways.

(b) "Motor vehicle" includes all vehicles, as defined in paragraph (a) of this subsection, except:

1.

Road rollers;

2.

Road graders;

3.

Farm tractors;

Page 8 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA 4.

Vehicles on which power shovels are mounted;

5.

Construction equipment customarily used only on the site of construction and which is not practical for the transportation of persons or property upon the highways;

6.

Vehicles that travel exclusively upon rails;

7.

Vehicles propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires while being operated within any municipality or where the vehicles do not travel more than five (5) miles beyond the city limits of any municipality;

8.

Vehicles propelled by muscular power;

and 9.

Electric low-speed scooters;

(20) "Reflectance" means the ratio of the amount of total light, expressed in a percentage, which is reflected outward by the product or material to the amount of total light falling on the product or material;

(21) "Sunscreening material" means a product or material, including film, glazing, and perforated sunscreening, which, when applied to the windshield or windows of a motor vehicle, reduces the effects of the sun with respect to light reflectance or transmittance;

(22) "Transmittance" means the ratio of the amount of total light, expressed in a percentage, which is allowed to pass through the product or material, including glazing, to the amount of total light falling on the product or material and the glazing;

(23) "Window" means any device designed for exterior viewing from a motor vehicle, except the windshield, any roof-mounted viewing device, and any viewing device having less than one hundred fifty (150) square inches in area;

(24) "All-terrain vehicle" means any motor vehicle used for recreational off-road use;

(25) "Nondivisible load," as pertains to:

Page 9 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA (a) State highways that are not part of the national truck network established pursuant to 23 C.F.R.

pt.

658, means a load or vehicle, that if separated into smaller loads or vehicles:

1.[(a)] Compromises the intended use of the vehicle, making it unable to perform the function for which it was intended;

2.[(b)] Destroys the value of the load or vehicle, making it unusable for its intended purpose;

or 3.[(c)] Requires more than four (4) work hours to dismantle and reassemble using appropriate equipment;

or (b) Any highway that is part of the national truck network established pursuant to 23 C.F.R.

pt.

658, includes fluid milk products in accordance with 23 U.S.C.

sec.

127(a)(13);

(26) "Electric low-speed scooter" means a device that:

(a) Weighs less than one hundred (100) pounds;

(b) Is equipped with wheels;

(c) Is equipped with handlebars;

(d) Is equipped with a brake adequate enough to stop and park the device;

(e) Is designed to be stood or sat upon;

(f) Is propelled by an electric motor, human power, or both;

and (g) Is designed to operate at a maximum speed of twenty (20) miles per hour, on a paved level surface, with or without human propulsion;

and (27) "Highway work zone" means that portion of a highway and the affected area adjacent to a lane, berm, or shoulder, including a sidewalk, upon which construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, maintenance, inspection, or other work of that nature is being conducted by a government agency, private contractor, or utility company.

Section 3.

KRS 189.270 is amended to read as follows:

Page 10 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA (1) (a) The department may issue permits for the operation of motor vehicles, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, boats, or any other vehicle transporting a nondivisible load, whose gross weight including load, height, width, or length exceeds the limits prescribed by this chapter or which in other respects fail to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

Permits may be issued by the department for stated periods, special purposes, and unusual conditions, and upon terms in the interest of public safety and the preservation of the highways as the department may require.

(b) Subject to the limitations in subsection (4) of this section, the department shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to set fees for permits established under this section.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue a single-trip permit regardless of the type of vehicle or equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load.

(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, the department may, at the request of an applicant, issue an annual permit regardless of the type of vehicle or equipment being transported that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, a[The] vehicle operating under a permit issued under this subsection shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in width exclusive of usual and ordinary overhang, one hundred twenty (120) feet in length including a towing vehicle and trailer combination, thirteen (13) feet six (6) inches in height, or one hundred sixty thousand (160,000) pounds.

(c) Notwithstanding KRS 189.269, a vehicle transporting fluid milk products Page 11 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA under a permit issued under this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) pounds.

(4) The department shall establish the following annual permits to transport farm equipment, with the listed fee limits:

(a) For equipment less than or equal to fourteen (14) feet in width, eighty dollars ($80);

and (b) For equipment that exceeds fourteen (14) feet in width, when transported from a dealership to a farm, from a farm to a dealership, or from a dealership to a dealership, one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

(5) Permits issued under this section shall be for nondivisible loads and shall be valid statewide;

however, the department may, as a condition of issuing an annual or single-trip permit, limit the overweight or overdimensional vehicle to specified routes, exclude certain highways, or even cancel an applicant's permit if an unreasonable risk of accident or an unreasonable impedance of the flow of traffic would result from the presence of the overweight or overdimensional vehicle.

A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section is acknowledging that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is not guaranteeing safe passage of vehicles by issuing the permit.

A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section agrees to measure all clearances of highway structures, both laterally and vertically, prior to passage of the person's vehicles along the routes specified in the permit.

A person who applies for, and accepts, a permit issued under this section is classified as a bare licensee whose duty is to assume sole risk involved in using Kentucky's highways without warranty of accuracy.

(6) Subject to the limitations of subsection (12) of this section, the department shall promulgate administrative regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to establish requirements for escort vehicles, safety markings, and other safety restrictions Page 12 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA governing the operation of an overweight or overdimensional vehicle.

The department shall provide each applicant for an annual or single-trip permit issued under this section a copy of all restrictions associated with the overweight or overdimensional permit at no charge to the applicant.

The department shall be prohibited from raising the permit fee established in subsections (2) and (3) of this section by levying additional fees for an overweight or overdimensional permit through the administrative regulation process.

(7) (a) Notwithstanding KRS 189.269, the department may, at the request of an applicant who is a transporter of manufactured housing, issue an annual permit that exceeds the weight or dimension limits established by this chapter if the load being transported is a nondivisible load.

(b) The vehicle operated shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in width exclusive of usual and ordinary overhang, one hundred twenty (120) feet in length including a towing vehicle and trailer combination, fifteen (15) feet in height, or one hundred sixty thousand (160,000) pounds.

(c) The holder of a permit issued under this subsection shall, when transporting a manufactured home:

1.

Abide by all escort requirements, safety markings, and other safety restrictions governing overweight and overdimensional vehicles;

and 2.

Equip each truck operating under a permit with global positioning system technology that keeps a record of locations traveled.

The travel records of trucks operating under a permit shall be open to inspection by the Transportation Cabinet.

(d) Any person with a permit under this subsection who operates a vehicle greater than thirteen (13) feet six (6) inches in height while operating in a restricted area designated by the Transportation Cabinet shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).

Page 13 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA (8) The cabinet shall not issue an annual permit under this section if the person applying for the permit is eligible for an annual permit issued under KRS 189.2716 or 189.2717.

(9) The department may require the applicant to give bond, with approved surety, to indemnify the state or counties against damage to highways or bridges resulting from use by the applicant.

The operation of vehicles in accordance with the terms of the permit issued under this section shall not constitute a violation of this chapter if the operator has the permit, or an authenticated copy of it, in his or her possession.

(10) Any person transporting a parade float which exceeds the dimensional limits on a highway over which it is transported shall be required to obtain a permit as required in subsection (2) of this section.

If the float is being used in conjunction with a parade to be held within the boundaries of the Commonwealth, a fee shall not be assessed by the department to issue the permit.

(11) A person shall not operate any vehicle in violation of the terms of the permit issued under this section.

(12) (a) The cabinet shall not promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to this section that restrict the time or days of the week when a permit holder may operate on the highway, except that travel may be limited from 6 a.m.

to 9 a.m.

and 3 p.m.

to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

In addition to the restrictions established in this paragraph, any manufactured home being transported by permit issued under this section shall not travel on any highway after daylight hours Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday.

(b) The cabinet shall allow a permit holder who has obtained a permit to transport equipment to a work site to return to the permit holder's place of business immediately after work is completed at the job site, subject to the limitations of paragraph (a) of this subsection.

Page 14 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA (c) The cabinet shall not promulgate administrative regulations pursuant to this section setting forth escort vehicle requirements for overdimensional farm implements or vehicles towing overdimensional farm implements that are more stringent than the following:

1.

For a single vehicle and load in excess of twelve (12) feet in width being operated on a two (2) lane highway, no more than one (1) lead vehicle shall be required;

2.

For a single vehicle and load in excess of twelve (12) feet in width being operated on a four (4) lane highway, no more than one (1) trail vehicle shall be required;

3.

For a single vehicle and load in excess of eighty-five (85) feet in length being operated on a two (2) lane highway, no more than one (1) lead vehicle shall be required;

4.

For more than one (1) vehicle and load in excess of twelve (12) feet in width or eighty-five (85) feet in length being operated as a convoy on a two (2) lane highway, no more than one (1) lead vehicle shall be required;

5.

A lead escort vehicle on a two (2) lane highway under this paragraph may also serve as a tow vehicle;

6.

Any distance for lead or trail escort vehicles shall contain provisions allowing for a variance from that distance due to safety or road conditions;

and 7.

A vehicle or its escort shall be required to bear a sign declaring that the vehicle is oversized or be required to use lights, flashers, or flags, but a vehicle or its escort shall not be required to do both.

Section 4.

KRS 189.2717 is amended to read as follows:

(1) (a) Subject to the provisions of KRS 189.222, the department may promulgate Page 15 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA administrative regulations pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A governing the issuance of annual permits for the operation of motor vehicles transporting nondivisible loads in this Commonwealth whose gross weight exceeds the limits prescribed by this chapter.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, the gross weight of a motor vehicle operating pursuant to this section shall not exceed one hundred twenty thousand (120,000) pounds.

(c) Notwithstanding KRS 189.269, the gross weight of a motor vehicle transporting fluid milk products under a permit issued under this section shall not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) pounds.

(d) The movement of the overweight motor vehicle shall be limited to a specific route set forth on the annual permit.

(2) Except as provided is subsection (3) of this section, the following axle weights shall not be exceeded in the loading of a nondivisible load:

(a) Single axle with axles less than forty-two (42) inches apart and being the steering axle with one (1) wheel on each side of the axle to be considered a single axle shall not be more than fifteen thousand (15,000) pounds;

(b) Two (2) axles in tandem arrangement which are spaced forty-two (42) inches or more apart and less than ninety-six (96) inches apart shall not be more than forty thousand (40,000) pounds;

(c) Three (3) axles in tridem arrangement which are spaced forty-two (42) or more inches apart and less than one hundred twenty (120) inches apart shall not be more than sixty-five thousand (65,000) pounds;

and (d) Dual wheel axle with one (1) axle with two (2) wheels on each side of the axle to be considered a dual wheel axle shall not be more than twenty thousand (20,000) pounds each.

(3) Notwithstanding KRS 189.269, the axle weight limits in subsection (2) of this Page 16 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA section shall not apply to a vehicle transporting fluid milk products under a permit issued under this section.

(4) Each motor vehicle operating pursuant to this section shall comply with the safety provisions set forth in the administrative regulations promulgated by the department pursuant to this section.

(5)[(4)] The department shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to set fees for permits established under this section.

(6)[(5)] The department may refuse to issue a permit for a requested route because of the inadequacies of the roadway or a structure on that route.

Section 5.

(5) Any truck, semitrailer truck, or tractor-trailer unit which exceeds a gross weight equal to the sum of six hundred (600) pounds per inch of the combined width of the tires upon which the vehicle may be propelled, but no more than thirty-six thousand Page 6 of 7 XXXX 11/24/2025 8:59 AM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1225 (36,000) pounds;

and Page 17 of 18 HB025810.100 - 1225 - XXXX 2/5/2026 3:04 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 258/GA (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any truck hauling building materials under KRS 189.2226, or to a road construction project on a highway rated less than the maximum weight provided above, may haul up to eighty thousand (80,000) pounds gross weight, including the load, without a permit.

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