Vehicle Wheel Rubber Strip Requirement
Summary
Kentucky HB293 enacts a new section of KRS Chapter 189 requiring vehicles operating on highways with iron, steel, or wooden wheels to be equipped with rubberized strips on the wheel portion contacting the road surface. The bill establishes penalties of $20 to $100 per offense for violations. An exception is provided for certain animal-drawn vehicles.
What changed
Kentucky enacted HB293 (2026 Regular Session) creating a new section of KRS Chapter 189 requiring vehicles operating on highways with iron, steel, or wooden wheels to be equipped with rubberized strips on the wheel portion in contact with the highway. The bill passed the House 80-8 and the Senate 38-0, and was signed by the Governor on April 3, 2026. KRS 189.990 is amended to establish penalties of $20 to $100 for each offense.
Vehicle operators using iron, steel, or wooden wheels must ensure compliance with this requirement when operating on Kentucky highways. Owners of animal-drawn vehicles with such wheels are excepted from this requirement. Violators face fines ranging from $20 to $100 per offense. Operators should verify their wheel composition and install rubberized strips as needed to avoid penalties.
What to do next
- Verify whether vehicles in fleet use iron, steel, or wooden wheels
- Install rubberized strips on applicable wheels before highway operation
- Note exception for animal-drawn vehicles
Penalties
$20 to $100 per offense under KRS 189.990
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB293 Signed by Governor HB293 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-03
AN ACT relating to vehicle wheels.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to require vehicles operating on a highway with an iron, steel, or wooden wheel to be equipped with a rubberized strip on the portion of the wheel that is in contact with the highway; provide an exception for certain animal-drawn vehicles; amend KRS 189.990 to set penalty for violation at $20 to $100 for each offense.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb293....
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Sponsors
Walker Thomas (Rep - R) David Hale (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-03 H signed by Governor 2026-03-26 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-26 H received in House 2026-03-25 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-03-24 S passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day 2026-03-20 S posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 2026-03-19 S 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill 2026-03-18 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar 2026-03-16 S to Transportation (S) 2026-02-17 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-17 S received in Senate 2026-02-13 H 3rd reading, passed 80-8 2026-02-12 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 13 2026 2026-02-11 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-10 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-01-16 H to Transportation (H) 2026-01-09 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-09 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-02-13 House: Veto Override RCS# 91 Yea: 80 Nay: 8 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3998 Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-09 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-16 H Transportation 2026-02-11 H Rules 2026-02-17 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-16 S Transportation 2026-03-19 S Rules
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Highways, Streets, and Bridges Motor Vehicles Traffic Safety Transportation Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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