SENATOR MATT DENEEN SEES SENATE BILL 46 THROUGH PROCESS
Bill will ensure safety and save dollars
FRANKFORT, KY. (March 24, 2026)— The Senate concurred on changes from the House on Senate Bill (SB) 46 today. Sen. Matt Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, who represents Kentucky’s 10th Senate District and is chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection Committee, gained Senate concurrence on the bill.
SB 46 provides Kentucky school districts with additional transportation options by allowing the use of passenger vans designed to carry up to 10 people, including the driver, for regular school routes. When these vehicles are used to transport students, the bill requires driver qualifications, training and drug testing.
For drivers transporting students to and from school activities, they are required to submit to drug testing. Additional qualifications and training requirements for drivers may be established by the school board.
“As a former school administrator, I know how a commonsense measure like this can alleviate stress and pressure where none should exist in the first place,” Deneen stated. “This ensures our kids are travelling safely when they leave school for those important extracurricular activities. This is also a cost saving measure, saving thousands of dollars in transportation costs that could be put to better use in the classroom.”
The committee substitute clarified training requirements for those driving the vans to and from after-school activities and those driving them on regular or traditional bus routes between home and school.
"SB 46 strikes the right balance between safety and flexibility, allowing schools to better meet transportation needs while ensuring every driver is properly trained, qualified, and tested. I’m glad to see the changes we made to provide more flexibility in using vans in 2024 expanded because they proved successful for districts, said Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville. “Senator Deneen has gone above and beyond to work with stakeholders and I appreciate his efforts to get this update through the legislature.”
This bill enhances flexibility and would also allow students to attend more school activities, thus easing transportation experiences for parents, coaches and teachers.
Drivers using a non-school bus without a school bus commercial license, they must undergo a background check every year to prioritize risk-management measures. These new changes give specific authority to the Kentucky Department of Education to set standards for non-school bus drivers while also establishing credentials for superintendents.
SB 46 will now be sent to the governor’s office for signature.
You can track SB 46 and other legislation sponsored by Deneen on the official Legislative Research Commission website here.