By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The age needed to obtain a learner’s permit has been lowered with a stroke of Governor Andy Beshear’s pen.
Originally, Kentucky House Bill 15 allowed someone 15 years old to apply for “an instruction permit to operate motor vehicle[s]” instead of the previous 16-year-old age limit. The bill was sponsored by Western Kentucky Representative, and Majority Floor Leader, Steven Rudy (R) and 31 other representatives.
In a social media, Beshear said Kentucky was one of the few states “that require teenagers be 16 for their learner’s permit.”
“I signed this bill knowing it will help working families better juggle all of life’s activities,” Beshear said, jokingly putting out a minute-long video of his kids, Will and Lila, “pressuring” him to sign the bill. “To all the 15-year-olds out there, drive safe.”
House Bill 15 was delivered to the governor on March 13 after a 86 to 13 vote in the House of Representatives and a 36 to 1 vote in the Senate with a substitution “requir[ing] that the holder of an intermediate license attain the age of 17 before applying for an operator’s license.”
Representative Steve Riley and Senator David Givens voted “yea” on the bill. Each of them represents Barren County.
