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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 596 alters driving under the influence penalties, lookback periods, and ignition interlock device requirements
Last action · February 17, 2026: to Judiciary (H)Sponsor: Chad Aull
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky House Bill 596 modifies driving under the influence (DUI) laws by adjusting fines, mandatory jail terms, license suspension durations, and ignition interlock device fee structures based on income levels. The measure revises statutory provisions under KRS Chapter 189A governing chemical testing timeframes, , and prior offense calculations.
Drivers convicted of driving under the influence face revised jail terms, mandatory minimum periods, and structured fee reductions for ignition interlock devices tied to federal poverty guidelines. The legislation directly impacts sentencing guidelines enforced by the Transportation Cabinet and local county jails.
- House Bill 596 originates from the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2026 Regular Session. context
- KRS Chapter 189A governs driving under the influence laws, chemical testing procedures, license suspensions, and ignition interlock requirements in Kentucky. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
motor vehicle operators
Drivers are subject to revised DUI penalties, mandatory jail terms, testing admissibility rules, and license suspension durations.
Transportation Cabinet
The agency is tasked with suspending licenses, issuing ignition interlock licenses, receiving conviction records, and determining income levels for fee reductions.
ignition interlock device providers
Providers are subject to statutory caps on installation, monthly, removal, reset, and missed appointment fees.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalties for a first-time DUI offense under this bill?
Are there fee discounts for ignition interlock devices based on income?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommitteeto Judiciary (H)
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Income-Based Fee Scaling for Interlock Devices
The bill establishes explicit tiered fee reductions for ignition interlock devices tied directly to federal poverty guidelines.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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