FRANKFORT — A bill giving counties without regional offices the ability to handle driver’s license renewals cleared a Senate committee Wednesday.
Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, would allow local officials to provide renewal and duplicate license services, though drivers would still need to visit a regional office for an initial license. The legislation gained multiple GOP co-sponsors and support from Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal of Louisville.
“Unless you have a regional office in your backyard, every one of us has heard the same message from constituents that the current driver’s license system is not meeting the needs of Kentucky,” Reed said. “We have long drives, long lines and repeated delays that have created real frustration across the commonwealth.”
The bill passed unanimously in the Senate Transportation Committee. Committee chairman Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, joined Reed at a press conference Tuesday highlighting the legislation.
SB 7 addresses concerns about appointment delays, long wait times, and travel burdens for rural residents. Kentucky currently has 34 regional offices issuing and renewing driver’s licenses.
Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, said his local circuit and county clerks have expressed interest in offering the services. Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, called the bill “truly bipartisan,” noting Neal’s support alongside 27 Republicans.
The measure now awaits a full Senate vote.
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