By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Military members may soon be exempt from Kentucky’s vehicle usage tax.
Recently, members of the Interim Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection discussed legislation being worked on by State Representative Peyton Griffee (R) that seeks to “to attract veterans and service members to Kentucky.”
“There’s a six percent tax on motor vehicle usage, and a lot of folks are paying this when they move from somewhere else into the commonwealth,” Griffee said to the committee members.
He noted some people are paying the tax twice — once when they buy a vehicle in another state and again when they move to Kentucky — and added that this legislation would have an economic benefit as well as quality-of-life outcomes.
“These are people that are trained. They are excellent, excellent folks that we want to keep for economic development, add to our workforce,” he said. “So, this is an easy recruiting tool for our state.”
Committee Co-Chair Senator Matthew Deneen (R) said the bill isn’t new, and he’d like to see it win approval during the 2026 Regular Session, which begins in January.
“When I first came to Frankfort, this was one of the bills that I was trying to tackle at the time. Of course, it’s dealing with revenue and taxes and all of that. It has to begin in the House,” he said.
Senator Craig Richardson (R) thanked Griffee for the legislation, and said that while it would probably have minimal financial impact, it would send an important message.
“It certainly goes a long way in waving the flag that we’re open for business for veterans and active duty here in Kentucky,” he said.
As of 2023, Barren County had a population of 45,008 and the most recent census shows that Barren County’s veteran population is 5.9 percent, which is roughly 2,655 people.
The Kentucky General Assembly convenes annually on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January, which means it will meet on Jan. 6 in 2026.
