KY HB168

Bill

KY HB168

AN ACT relating to boating under the influence.

Introduced
01/07/2026

In Committee
02/24/2026

Crossed Over
02/24/2026

Passed

Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amend KRS 235.240 to require that when a motorboat or vessel is involved in an accident that results in a fatality or serious physical injury, the investigating law enforcement officer shall seek a search warrant for blood testing of the operator of the motorboat or vessel unless the test has already been done by consent; apply the penalties for driving under the influence to boating under the influence; require that in addition to all other penalties, a person found guilty of boating under the influence shall complete a safe-boating course and pay $100 to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to cover the costs of materials and instruction for the course; amend KRS 235.990 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 15 to require a public safety telecommunicator who receives a report of an accident involving a motorboat or vessel on any waters of the Commonwealth to report the accident to the Kentucky State Police post covering where the accident occurred; provide that the Act may be cited as Keegan's Law.

AI Summary

This bill, known as Keegan's Law, strengthens regulations for boating under the influence by requiring law enforcement officers to seek a search warrant for blood tests of boat operators involved in accidents resulting in fatalities or serious physical injuries, unless testing has already been done voluntarily. It also aligns the penalties for boating under the influence with those for driving under the influence and mandates that individuals convicted of boating under the influence must complete a safe-boating course and pay $100 to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for course materials and instruction. Furthermore, the bill requires public safety telecommunicators, who are dispatchers receiving emergency calls, to immediately report any reported accidents involving motorboats or vessels on Kentucky waters to the relevant Kentucky State Police post.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry, Justice

Sponsors (4)

Ken Fleming (R)*, Kim King (R), Steve Riley (R), Mitchum Whitaker (R),

Last Action

to Committee on Committees (S) (on 02/24/2026)

Official Document

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb168.html

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb168.html
BillText	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb168/bill.pdf
Vote History for HB168	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb168/vote_history.pdf
Corrections Impact to House Committee Substitute 2	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS2CI.pdf
House Committee Substitute 2	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB168/HCS2.pdf
Corrections Impact for HCS2	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS2CI.pdf
Local Mandate to House Committee Substitute 1	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS1LM.pdf
Corrections Impact to House Committee Substitute 1	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS1CI.pdf
House Committee Substitute 1	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB168/HCS1.pdf
Corrections Impact for HCS1	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS1CI.pdf
Local Mandate Fiscal Impact for HCS1	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/HCS1LM.pdf
BillText	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb168/orig_bill.pdf
Corrections Impact	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/CI.pdf
Local Mandate Fiscal Impact	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb168/LM.pdf

Bill > HB168

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary