Spencer County adopts ordinance allowing street-legal special purpose vehicles, with mixed votes and amendment

Spencer County Fiscal Court adopted an ordinance on June 16, 2025 to allow street-legal special purpose vehicles (SPVs) on county roads to the extent permitted by 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 89. The draft ordinance outlines options to designate eligible highways, exceptions (interstates, parkways and USDA-prohibited roads) and operational limits, and sets an effective date no earlier than June 27, 2025.

The proceedings recorded multiple motions and votes. An initial motion to approve the ordinance passed with several "aye" votes and at least two "nay" votes recorded during the debate. A subsequent motion to table the ordinance failed. Judge Travis later moved — and the court approved — an amendment to pass the ordinance "with the guidelines originally set forth by the State." The final roll calls show mixed opposition recorded at different points, including dissent from Esq. Stump and Esq. Pharris on an earlier motion and a lone "nay" by Esq. Pharris on the amendment.

The ordinance text adopted by the court incorporates the Act's definitions by reference and provides options for the Fiscal Court to designate which county highways will be SPV-eligible. It also contains operational prohibitions (for example, restricting travel greater than 20 miles on roads with centerline pavement markings) and reiterates the Act's exceptions for controlled-access roads.

Court record: multiple members participated in the debate; the final motion to pass the ordinance was recorded in the minutes after an amendment to align the local ordinance with state guidance.

Practical effect: if the county posts designations consistent with the ordinance and the Transportation Cabinet finalizes its regulations, owners of qualifying SPVs may be able to operate on permitted county roads. The ordinance includes a delayed effective date tied to the state law's schedule.