Kentucky HB 58 ALPR limits and 90-day retention (2026)
Kentucky HB 58 (2026) — Automated License Plate Reader Privacy Protections (Acts Ch. 71)
Kentucky · 2026 Ky. Acts Ch. 71 (HB 58)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 15, 2026
- Applies to
- Kentucky law enforcement agencies, the Transportation Cabinet, ALPR vendors/third parties, insurers and financial institutions using ALPR data
- Enforced by
- Not specified in LRC summary
Kentucky's new license plate reader law limits who can use plate-reader cameras and for what, restricts selling the data, and generally requires deleting captured plate data after 90 days unless it is needed for an investigation or a preservation request. Police agencies must adopt written policies and publish where their cameras are.
Who is protected: Drivers and vehicle owners in Kentucky
Legal detail
2026 Ky. Acts Ch. 71 (HB 58, 'AN ACT relating to privacy protection'). Defines ALPR systems/data; permits use by the Transportation Cabinet (revenue collection, commercial vehicle enforcement), law enforcement and contracted third parties (criminal investigations, public safety), and insurers/financial institutions (fraud investigation, collateral recovery); limits use and sale of captured data; 90-day retention cap except for active criminal/insurance investigations or preservation requests; requires law enforcement agencies to adopt written ALPR policies and to maintain and publicly disclose ALPR location lists updated every 180 days. Votes: House 89-9 (Feb. 18), Senate 34-3 (Mar. 24), House concurrence 70-19 (Mar. 31); signed Apr. 10, 2026.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | April 10, 2026 |
| Citation | 2026 Ky. Acts Ch. 71 (HB 58) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not specified in LRC summary |
| Topics | police and surveillance AI · consumer data privacy · data retention · government use of AI · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Bill text | HB 58 — 2026 Regular Session — Kentucky Legislative Research Commission |
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- Commonwealth Office of Technology Enterprise Policy CIO-126: · In effect
- KY AG v. Character.AI chatbot suit (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
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