With just one week left before the veto recess, legislators have been working diligently this week to advance bills through their respective chambers.
House and Senate leaders will work to move their priority legislation for final passage by March 14 to ensure the General Assembly has an opportunity to override any potential gubernatorial vetoes upon their return from the recess.
Flooding update
On Monday, the House and Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committees convened jointly to receive an update on the recent flooding disaster.
Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray reported that the flood caused damage to 15 county bridges and left 49 total roads still closed.
State Budget Director John Hicks indicated that the total cost of the disaster is projected to exceed the $50 million cap for disaster and emergency aid funds in FY2026. Hicks requested that the legislature allocate additional funds for the state and appropriate State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) funds to support local governments in their recovery efforts.
Bills moving this week
HB 305, sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming (R-Jefferson), passed out of Senate Health Committee. The bill was amended in committee to allow ambulance services operated through a managed services agreement solely for a hospital to be exempt from certificate of need requirements, however, a floor amendment has been filed to remove this provision.
The bill would also prohibit the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services from requiring an ambulance service to apply for licensure within a specified time period following the issuance of a certificate of need. Proponents cited supply chain issues that have resulted in years-long delays in the delivery of equipment necessary to qualify for licensure.
HB 340, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton (R-Scott), passed the House 81-3 this week. The bill requires criminal justice agencies, including sheriff's offices, to provide background checks for federal agencies conducting a basic suitability or fitness assessment for federal or contractor employees. The bill aims to bring criminal justice agencies into federal compliance and allows them to charge a $25 fee for conducting the background checks. The Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association testified in support of this bill.
HB 537, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate (R-Perry), passed the House unanimously this week. This opioid settlement cleanup bill ensures that any future settlement, judgment or bankruptcy proceeding against any entity or person engaged in the manufacturing or distribution of opioids would be distributed 50 percent to the state opioid abatement trust fund and 50 percent to local governments.
SB 136, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Higdon (R-Marion), passed the Senate this week and includes clean-up language for the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS). The Transportation Cabinet rolled out the new KAVIS system in 2024 to modernize the state’s vehicle registration system, impacting county clerk's offices statewide.
SB 218, sponsored by Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Fayette), passed the Senate unanimously this week and would require the Department of Revenue (DOR) to post to its website the financial information of all local taxing authorities.
It would also require local governments to either publish their Uniform Financial Information Report (UFIR) on their own website or forward the report to the county library. Local governments would also be required to notify DOR by Jan. 1, 2026 of the location where their UFIR can be accessed, as well as publish a notice stating the information can be accessed on the DOR website.
Email your questions or comments to shellie.hampton@kaco.org or kayla.smith@kaco.org.
Important legislative dates:
March 10-14: Final full week of 2025 session
Mar. 15-26: Veto recess
Mar. 27-28: Final two days of 2025 session
Photo by LRC Public Information
