Legislative Liaison
Legislative Liaison
Key Water Legislation and $800M Infrastructure Proposal Surface in Final Weeks
Week 9 of the 2026 Legislative Session
With only three and a half weeks left in the session before the veto recess, the focus is significantly narrowing on big-ticket items. Among those items are the two-year state budget, the “revenue bill” that continues to tinker with overall tax policy, a one-time spending bill, Medicaid reform, and a variety of economic and workforce development initiatives. The Senate is finalizing its budget proposal and once completed in the coming days, the House and Senate will collaborate on a final budget package to be revealed in the final days of March. (For quick access to all the various Budget Bills and committee subs, visit here.)
Monday and Wednesday featured the last days to file Senate and House Bills, respectively. Members from both chambers took nothing to chance, filing hundreds of bills in the final few days – many of them “shell” bills that may be populated with language in committee, or may just rest without any action at all. In total, legislators filed 1,293 total bills this session, with the 100-member House accounting for 939, and the 38-member Senate with 354.
Among those last bills filed this week were a few priority bills, as well as the likely vehicle for a one-time spending bill. HB 900, as currently drafted, is a one-page spending bill that allocates $800 million to unidentified water and sewer project pools, economic development investments, and other one-time local infrastructure projects and investments. While the two-year, executive branch budget will remain lean, the fiscal discipline exercised by this legislature as it pursues broader tax reform has led to a healthy excess balance in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund, fueling expectations of another round of capital projects like the General Assembly pursued in 2024. Assuming House and Senate come to agreement, that list of line-items will not be revealed until there is a conference committee report on HB 900 in the waning hours before the veto recess.
SB 8 - Public Service Commission – (Sen. Smith) which makes significant changes to the organization and function of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, was introduced on Monday, heard in committee Wednesday, and passed off the Senate floor Friday along party lines. The bill expands the PSC from 3 members to 5 (with no more than three of the same party), moves it from being attached for administrative purposes to the Energy & Environment Cabinet to the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts, sets forth new qualifications for Commissioners, two of whom would be appointed by the Auditor, and lets the Commissioners determine the Chair. The bill also gives the PSC independent procurement authority and hiring discretion needed to attract and retain necessary expert staff. During the week and on the Senate floor, there were changes to the original bill that would have narrowed down who is able to intervene in proceedings. After significant outcry from advocates for low-income families, changes were made to only prohibit intervenors whose intentions are to disrupt proceedings or advocates on behalf of foreign influences. A Senate floor amendment also made clarifications to what is considered ordinary course of business for utility transmission projects extending it from one-mile, to five, for lines of 138kV or higher.
HB 542 Eminent Domain - (Rep. Dossett) passed both committee and the House floor. The bill aims to enhance protections for property owners in eminent domain cases. It requires condemners to justify taking property with conservation easements or in agricultural districts, mandates fair negotiation practices, and ensures agricultural infrastructure is valued. The bill also clarifies notification procedures and includes an emergency clause for immediate effect.
HB 651 - Public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency (Bray, J), amends KRS 224A.320 to requirements for the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) Program; Passed the House 98-0, received in the Senate, and assigned to A&R.
HB 763 - Workforce Development (McCool, B) – Creates new sections of KRS Chapter 336 to establish the Kentucky FLOW Program (KY Future Leaders of Water). Assigned Veterans and Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee.
Other closely watched Bills: Public Agency Transactions (HB 392) Merger of Water Districts (SB 344) Extension of Municipal Service (HB 693) Water Fluoridation (HB 103), and Waters of the Commonwealth (HB 552) saw little action last week.
Stay Connected
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This issue of e-Liaison contains summary information for bills that we are tracking with details on the most recent activity for each bill. We will continue to highlight timely legislative news that is important to our members in each weekly issue. If you would like to suggest that we add a bill to the e-Liaison for tracking purposes, please contact KRWA.
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HB8 |
SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (OSBORNE D) AN ACT proposing to amend the Constitution of Kentucky relating to sessions of the General Assembly. |
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Current Status: |
3/3/2026 - Introduced |
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HB35 |
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY (BANTA K) AN ACT relating to scholarship eligibility for proprietary schools. |
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Current Status: |
1/13/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Primary and Secondary Education (H) |
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HB41 |
PUBLIC NOTICES (LEHMAN M) AN ACT relating to public notices. |
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Current Status: |
1/14/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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HB49 |
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING (CALLAWAY E) AN ACT relating to professional engineering and land surveying scholarships. |
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Current Status: |
2/11/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB60 |
GEOENGINERING (HODGSON J) AN ACT relating to geoengineering. |
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Current Status: |
2/9/2026 - (H) recommitted to committee House Judiciary (H) |
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HB83 |
OPEN MEETINGS (ROBERTS T) AN ACT relating to open meetings. |
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Current Status: |
1/14/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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HB85 |
SANITATION DISTRICTS (ROBERTS T) AN ACT relating to sanitation districts. |
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Current Status: |
1/14/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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HB103 |
WATER FLUORIDATION PROGRAMS (HART M) AN ACT relating to water fluoridation programs. |
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Current Status: |
2/6/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB108 |
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT (RAYMER R) AN ACT relating to solid waste management. |
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Current Status: |
3/6/2026 - (H) THIRD READING, passed 79-8 |
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HB196 |
PFAS SUBSTANCES (KULKARNI N) AN ACT relating to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. |
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Current Status: |
1/14/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Natural Resources & Energy (H) |
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HB238 |
APPRENTICESHIP TAX CREDIT (KULKARNI N) AN ACT relating to an apprenticeship tax credit. |
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Current Status: |
1/15/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H) |
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HB292 |
SPECIAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES (THOMAS W) AN ACT relating to special purpose governmental entities. |
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Current Status: |
1/20/2026 - (H) WITHDRAWN |
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HB313 |
CITY FRANCHISES (BIVENS R) AN ACT relating to city franchises. |
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Current Status: |
2/12/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB344 |
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MOORE A) AN ACT relating to local government. |
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Current Status: |
1/21/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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HB377 |
UTILITY DISCONNECTION PROTECTIONS (WITTEN S) AN ACT relating to utility disconnection protections. |
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Current Status: |
1/22/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Natural Resources & Energy (H) |
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HB392 |
PUBLIC AGENCY TRANSACTIONS (MEREDITH M) AN ACT relating to local public agency transactions. |
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Current Status: |
2/19/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB432 |
LOCAL PURCHASING (NEIGHBORS A) AN ACT relating to local purchasing. |
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Current Status: |
2/12/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB472 |
PUBLIC CONTRACTS (FLANNERY P) AN ACT relating to public contracts. |
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Current Status: |
1/30/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H) |
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HB494 |
ADMINSTRATIVE REGULATIONS (ROBERTS T) AN ACT relating to administrative regulations. |
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Current Status: |
2/3/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) |
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HB498 |
ADULT WORKFORCE DIPLOMA PILOT PROGRAM (DUVALL R) AN ACT establishing the Adult Workforce Diploma Pilot Program. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute |
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HB500 |
EXECUTIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS (PETRIE J) AN ACT relating to appropriations measures providing funding and establishing conditions for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, cabinets, departments, boards, commissions, institutions, subdivisions, agencies, and other state-supported activities. |
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Current Status: |
3/2/2026 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S) |
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HB536 |
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS (BRAY J) AN ACT relating to housing development districts. |
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Current Status: |
2/9/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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HB542 |
EMINENT DOMAIN (DOSSETT M) AN ACT relating to eminent domain and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/6/2026 - (H) THIRD READING, passed 90-0 with Committee Substitute (1) |
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HB544 |
DATA CENTERS (MOORE A) AN ACT relating to data centers. |
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Current Status: |
2/10/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Small Business & Information Technology (H) |
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HB551 |
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REALTING TO THE ENVIROMENT (STALKER S) AN ACT proposing to amend Section 1 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the environment. |
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Current Status: |
2/10/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H) |
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HB552 |
ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION (STALKER S) AN ACT relating to environmental protection. |
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Current Status: |
2/10/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Natural Resources & Energy (H) |
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HB593 |
DATA CENTERS (BRAY J) AN ACT relating to data centers. |
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Current Status: |
3/5/2026 - received in Senate |
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HB614 |
REVENUE (PETRIE J) AN ACT relating to revenue. |
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Current Status: |
2/18/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H) |
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HB651 |
PUBLIC WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS (BRAY J) AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/6/2026 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Appropriations & Revenue (S) |
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HB693 |
EXTENSION OF MUNICIPAL UTILITY SERVICE (DOSSETT M) AN ACT relating to the extension of municipal utility service. |
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Current Status: |
3/2/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Natural Resources & Energy (H) |
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HB757 |
REVENUE MEASURES (PETRIE J) AN ACT relating to revenue measures and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/10/2026 - House Appropriations & Revenue (H), (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) |
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HB763 |
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (MCCOOL B) AN ACT relating to workforce development, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/5/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H) |
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HB844 |
INTERLOCAL GAS UTILITIES (BRAY J) AN ACT relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities. |
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Current Status: |
3/5/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Appropriations & Revenue (H) |
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HB876 |
SMART METERS (MASSARONI C) AN ACT relating to smart meters. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - Introduced |
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HB878 |
ABOLISHMENT OF EMINENT DOMAIN (ROBERTS T) AN ACT relating to the abolishment of eminent domain. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - Introduced |
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HB888 |
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS (BRAY J) AN ACT relating to collective bargaining agreements and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - Introduced |
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HB892 |
STATE PROCUREMENT (WHITE R) AN ACT relating to state procurement. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - Introduced |
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HB897 |
INVESTOR-OWNED WATER UTILITIES (BOWLING A) AN ACT relating to investor-owned water utilities. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - Introduced |
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HB900 |
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (PETRIE J) AN ACT relating to government agencies, making an appropriation therefore, and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/10/2026 - House Appropriations & Revenue (H), (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) |
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HR84 |
EAST KENTUCKY DISASTER RELIEF CENTER (TACKETT LAFERTY A) A RESOLUTION encouraging the development and construction of the East Kentucky Disaster Relief Center at Bear Mountain near Pikeville, Kentucky. |
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Current Status: |
2/25/2026 - Introduced |
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SB8 |
PUBLIC UTILITIES (SMITH B) AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
3/6/2026 - floor amendment (5) withdrawn |
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SB9 |
HOUSING DISTRICTS (MILLS R) AN ACT relating to housing districts. |
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Current Status: |
3/2/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Local Government (H) |
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SB22 |
DUAL CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PRGRAM (HIGDON J) AN ACT relating to the dual credit scholarship program. |
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Current Status: |
3/5/2026 - (H) Referred to Committee House Postsecondary Education (H) |
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SB25 |
GEOENGINEERING (RAWLINGS S) AN ACT relating to geoengineering. |
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Current Status: |
1/6/2026 - Introduced |
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State Bill Page: |
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SB55 |
WATER FLOURIDATION PROGRAMS (ELKINS G) AN ACT relating to water fluoridation programs. |
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Current Status: |
1/9/2026 - Introduced |
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SB119 |
EMINENT DOMAIN (HIGDON J) AN ACT relating to eminent domain. |
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Current Status: |
1/27/2026 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate Transportation (S) |
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SB133 |
FISCAL REPORTING OF LOCAL ENTITIES (NUNN M) AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. |
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Current Status: |
3/6/2026 - (S) Posted for Passage in Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 10 2026 |
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SB172 |
UTILITY FUEL ADJUSTMENT (WHEELER P) AN ACT relating to utility fuel adjustment and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
2/19/2026 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB178 |
ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS (ELKINS G) AN ACT relating to environmental administrative regulations. |
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Current Status: |
3/4/2026 - (S) recommitted to committee Senate Natural Resources & Energy (S) |
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SB192 |
MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL REPORTING (MAYS BLEDSOE A) AN ACT relating to municipal financial reporting. |
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Current Status: |
3/3/2026 - received in House |
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SB249 |
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (WHEELER P) AN ACT relating to workforce development and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
2/25/2026 - Introduced |
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SB255 |
RURAL REVITALIZATION (MEREDITH S) AN ACT relating to rural revitalization. |
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Current Status: |
2/26/2026 - Introduced |
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SB267 |
ENERGY (HOWELL J) AN ACT relating to energy. |
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Current Status: |
2/26/2026 - Introduced |
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SB277 |
NATURAL RESOURCES (SMITH B) AN ACT relating to natural resources. |
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Current Status: |
2/26/2026 - Introduced |
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SB284 |
NATURAL RESOURCES (SMITH B) AN ACT relating to natural resources. |
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Current Status: |
2/27/2026 - Introduced |
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SB285 |
THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (SMITH B) AN ACT relating to the Public Service Commission. |
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Current Status: |
2/27/2026 - Introduced |
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SB344 |
MERGER OF WATER DISTRICTS (WILLIAMS G) AN ACT relating to the merger of water districts. |
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Current Status: |
3/2/2026 - Introduced |
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SJR62 |
DIVISION OF WATER (MADON S) A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance on how local governments can more easily access jurisdictional streams and waterways for cleanup after a flood. |
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Current Status: |
3/5/2026 - (S) SECOND READING, to Rules |
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SJR75 |
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (MADON S) A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Public Service Commission to explore measures that would address affordability and the provision of essential utility services and declaring an emergency. |
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Current Status: |
2/25/2026 - (S) Referred to Committee Senate State & Local Government (S) |
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State Bill Page: |
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Keeping up with the Legislature has never been easier! The state has updated its Legislative website. From this site, you can view all bills and resolutions, contact legislators, by email and check on legislative committee schedules and calendars. You can reach a legislator in person by calling 502-564-8100 (not toll-free).
The toll-free meeting schedule information line is 1-800-633-9650. The toll-free message line is 1-800-372-7181, to leave a message for a legislator or an entire committee. The TTY message line is 1-800-896-0305. En Espanol, el nombre es 1-866-840-6574. The toll-free bill status number is 1-866-840-2835.
Every issue of e-Liaison will contain summary information for each bill that we track with a section that details the most recent activity with the bill. We will continue to highlight timely legislative news that is important to our members in each issue. If you would like to suggest that we add a bill to the e-Liaison for tracking, please contact KRWA. By clicking on the link, you will be taken to the bill summary on the LRC’s website.
The Kentucky legislature convenes in regular session on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years. It convenes in special sessions at the call of the governor.
The Kentucky Constitution mandates that a regular session be completed no later than April 15 in even-numbered years and March 30 in odd-numbered years.
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