Most legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 session will take effect on June 27, including a measure enacted to increase the number of locations where Kentuckians can renew their standard driver’s license.
Provisions of House Bill 161 were included within another measure, Senate Bill 43, to allow third-party entities to issue standard driver’s license renewals, as part of an ongoing effort to make driver licensing services more accessible for Kentuckians living in all 120 counties.
“I am proud to have collaborated with our colleagues in the Senate to get this important piece of legislation across the finish line this session, which makes the process of renewing a standard driver’s license easier and more accessible for all Kentuckians,” said Rep. Chris Freeland, R-Benton, the sponsor of HB 161.
Under this legislation, third-party entities wishing to issue standard driver’s license renewals must apply to and receive approval from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. A third-party entity could include AAA offices, insurance offices, or other government agencies that wish to participate and are approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“With only 34 driver licensing regional offices across the state, many Kentuckians, particularly those in rural areas, are forced to travel long distances to renew their driver’s licenses,” Freeland added. “The passage of this legislation marks an important step toward increasing accessibility to these services by giving local entities the opportunity to offer them closer to home.”
Those Kentuckians wishing to change their standard driver’s license to become REAL ID compliant will still be required to visit one of the driver licensing regional offices, since a REAL ID will be required starting May 5, to be admitted past airport security checkpoints for U.S. commercial air travel, or to visit federal facilities that require a passport of REAL ID, such as the White House or military bases.
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
