House Bill 15 which allows 15-year-olds in Kentucky to secure their driving permit was signed into law on March 25, 2025 by Governor Andy Beshear.
Up until this point, Kentuckians had to be at least 16 years old to sit for the permit exam.
Now that 15 year olds are allowed to get their permits, there is the potential for freshmen to acquire their permits, and sophomores to obtain their temporary licenses. In certain circumstances, students in even younger grades could obtain these permits.
This means that Boone could have more student drivers in coming years.
Sophomore Madilyn Smith immediately took advantage of the new law, and sat for her permit test on April 15. just 20 days after the bill passed.
Those taking the test must achieve a score of at least 32/40, and the test will automatically stop when 32 questions have been answered successfully. The other fulfillment is being able to pass an eyesight test.
Smith recalls that the test was simple, but that the wait time was extensive at the Burlington DMV. She assumed that this was because of the allowance for younger teens to get their permits.
“We had to wait there for three hours,” Smith said.
Older students have different opinions on this new change in procedure.
Senior Jordan Murphy got his permit and license under the old law and has an indifferent attitude towards the change in procedure.
“I don’t really care as long as they don’t kill me,” Murphy said.
Conversely, Officer White cares a lot about the subject.
With students younger than ever on the roads in Kentucky, White is fearful of how they will handle this responsibility.
“They are giving licenses to kids that are way too immature,” White said.
As students fresh out of middle school have the opportunity to drive, it raises concerns in regards to their ability to do so safely.
White also explained that he doesn’t feel like students are as excited to drive anymore, and it has become less of a teenage milestone.
He thinks that the new law will give administrators another tool to encourage students to keep their grades and attendance up.
Currently, administrative assistant Mary Jane Day sells around 110-120 parking passes each year. It’s almost certain that more parking passes will be in use as soon as next year, but Day assures that there will be enough spots for all.
“The younger kids are going to have to make sure they get here early [during orientation], or else their spots are going to be at the very bottom, but we have a lot,” Day said.
The rules for getting a parking pass are fairly simple. Students must present their driver’s license along with $15.
Students can get parking passes taken away if they have too many tardies. Day expressed the thought that if they can’t get to school on time themselves, the bus can assure them—and the school—that they will be punctual.
At the time of writing, the school has never towed for parking without a pass, but in the future, per Stacey Black, “heavier consequences” might be in order.
While changes are possible when any new law gets passed, Boone is keeping the majority of their rules the same.
