Now imagine shorter lines for Kentuckians getting driver's license, renewals and more convenient, especially for the elderly state.

Representative Kevin Jackson says his House Bill House bill 161 would do those things by letting third-party agencies issued those renewals.

As Alan McKenzie Spencer reports, the measure is now ready for a house vote after advancing from committee this afternoon.

In 2022, the state went from having 120 locations to renew your driver's license to 34.

>> Switching to regional offices solely dedicated to licensing services was meant to take pressure off of local circuit court clerks.

Representative Kevin Jackson says fewer locations is causing his constituents.

Big problems.

>> Folks are having to drive and I hour over an hour to get to a regional center, they were having to wait in line for extended periods of time.

That's never good, especially for our elderly folks.

You know, we ask our people to get online and make appointments at these 34 regional centers through a computer.

Well, we have people in Kentucky that don't have Internet access.

We have people in Kentucky that don't have computers and that's where you end up with people.

3, 4, 5, 6, hours standing in line to try to get their license renewed.

So it's just not fair to to our constituents.

>> House Bill, 161 passes.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet could approve entities like AAA or other government agencies to renew driver's licenses.

Representative Jackson says 28 other states have taken up similar programs to great success.

>> In other states already using this tool benefits include savings in labor and overhead, extending service hours.

Some of these places are open on Saturday.

Some of them on federal holidays.

Short wait times decreased parking congestion.

ADA compliant.

Access 2025.

Marks the start of required vision screenings as a part of the license renewal process.

>> Cheering committee, freshman legislator, Representative and Gueydan Worth asked how these third-party agencies would handle the vision test.

Representative Jackson says agencies may be able to lease or buy the equipment from the transportation cabinet.

>> They would have to have the refraction machine in these locations just like they would at the 34 driver's license centers.

From my understanding you look into that refraction machine, it prints out.

You know, you don't have to be a doctor in order to be able to do that.

If it's not appropriate are up to standard, you just wouldn't be able to get your license that day.

Just like you wouldn't be able to at the one of those 34 regional centers.

>> It's House Bill 161.

Passes both chambers in a signed by the governor.

It would most likely not go into effect before the May 7th Real ID deadline.

But Representative Jackson says when those real ID's need to be renewed in 8 years, the proposed third-party agencies could handle it with ease.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm McKenzie spank.

Thank you.

McKenzie House Bill 15 also passed out of the Transportation Committee favorably today.

>> This bill would lower the age.

Kentuckians can get their permit to age 15.

It now heads to the House floor for consideration there.

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