Raymer Files Bill on Local Driver Licensing
Representative Rebecca Raymer signs the bill jacket for HB 332, legislation that would allow local governments and local officials to issue driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards. PHOTO | Submitted
By Jeff Jobe / JOBEnews
FRANKFORT — State Representative Rebecca Raymer has filed legislation aimed at returning basic driver’s licensing and identification card services to the local level, a shift supporters say would restore convenience for families who currently must travel to regional licensing centers.
House Bill 332, filed earlier this week, would allow local governments or authorized local officials to partner with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to issue driver’s licenses and state IDs. The proposal reverses parts of the state’s transition to centralized regional offices launched under the Beshear administration.
“House Bill 332 is about meeting people where they live and where they work,” Raymer said. “It is about making basic government services more accessible for every Kentuckian.”
Many counties lost the ability to issue licenses in-person after the transition to regional centers, leading to longer drives for some residents, limited appointment availability, and longer wait times during peak renewal periods.
“Too many families have had to drive long distances or wait weeks for an appointment just to get a driver’s license or personal identification,” Raymer added. “By allowing trusted local officials to provide these services in every county, we can reduce wait times, ease the burden on regional offices, and ensure no community is left behind.”
Under HB 332, local officials or local governments could apply to offer the services, with the Transportation Cabinet establishing guidelines, technology standards, and oversight. The bill also directs the Cabinet to ensure at least one qualified entity is available in every county by July 1, 2027.
Raymer criticized the current system, saying, “The Beshear administration has spent five years and thousands of dollars to create a system that works for Kentuckians and they’ve only made it harder to get a driver’s license or have it renewed. Let’s let the local governments and local officials who are willing to do this solve the problem.”
If enacted, most provisions of the bill would take effect on July 1, with reporting requirements added to track whether the change eases demand at regional centers.
HB 332 will be considered when lawmakers return to legislative work in the coming weeks.
