HOWELL’S SB 110 MODERNIZES ELECTRONIC TITLING, STREAMLINES COUNTY CLERK OPERATIONS

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2026) — Senate Bill (SB) 110, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, advanced from committee this week with a Senate committee substitute that modernizes Kentucky’s electronic vehicle titling system, streamlines county clerk operations and cleans up outdated or duplicate statutes at the request of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and county clerks.

SB 110 builds on Kentucky’s transition to electronic titling and lien processing by setting clear timelines and procedures to ensure the system is fully operational, secure and user-friendly for vehicle owners, lenders and clerks.

“Senate Bill 110 is about making government work better for Kentuckians,” Howell said. “This legislation cleans up outdated requirements, supports county clerks and ensures our electronic titling and lien systems are ready, reliable and efficient before we fully transition.”

Beginning July 1, 2027, lienholders will be required to use the electronic lien application and registration system, with exemptions for smaller dealers who do not typically finance vehicles. The bill also requires KYTC to test and confirm that the electronic titling and centralized lien system is fully operational by Jan. 1, 2027.

Under the legislation, vehicle titles will no longer be automatically printed starting Jan. 1, 2027. Titles will instead be available electronically, with a clear process for owners to request a printed title for a $6 fee.

SB 110 also allows vehicle owners to receive registration renewal and state ad valorem tax notices by email or text message, if they choose, aligning Kentucky law with modern communication practices. Similar updates are made to boat registration notifications.

Additional provisions of the bill include:

  • eliminating late filing fees for title lien statements while maintaining the existing $12 lien notation fee structure,

  • establishing a clear definition and process for lien termination statements,

  • allowing county clerks to accept alternative forms of payment,

  • removing duplicate receipt requirements to KYTC and the Department of Revenue,

  • allowing joint vehicle owners who are not spouses to designate a transfer of ownership upon death,

  • permitting the use of a personal identification card to register a motor vehicle,

  • codifying long-standing KYTC practices, including weigh station bypass systems and electronic branding of hail-damaged vehicle titles, and

  • repealing low-use and outdated statutes, including special permits for hauling industrial materials.

The Senate committee substitute removes a provision from the original bill that would have eliminated the signature requirement for registering farm vehicles, preserving existing safeguards.

“County clerks and KYTC asked for many of these updates, and this bill reflects their real-world experience,” Howell said. “By cleaning up statute and modernizing processes, we’re saving time, reducing confusion and improving service for Kentuckians across the state.”

SB 110 may now be heard by the full Senate.

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Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, represents the 1st Senate District, including Calloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, and Trigg Counties. Howell serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and co-chairs the Tobacco Settlement Committee. He is vice chair on the License and Occupation Standing Committee and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committees. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Banking and Insurance, and Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor. Additionally, Howell serves on the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee.

For a high-resolution .jpeg of Howell, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate101.jpg.