Several new state laws affecting counties took effect July 15.
Passed by the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session, the new laws address a wide range of county issues, including procurement, operations and property taxes. Additional measures specifically affect the offices of county clerks and treasurers.
These new laws include:
Procurement threshold
HB 392 (Rep. Michael Meredith)
Increases the small purchase threshold for local governments from $40,000 to $50,000 and sets automatic $10,000 increases every five years beginning in 2030. Requires the Finance and Administration Cabinet to publish the current small purchase maximum.
Procurement of used vehicles and equipment
SB 20 (Sen. Scott Madon)
Streamlines the purchasing process for used vehicles and equipment by allowing counties to purchase without the requirement of a newspaper advertisement for bids. The purchase price must not exceed 75% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the model year of similar vehicles or equipment.
County treasurer appointments
SB 149 (Sen. Greg Elkins)
Simplifies the process for appointing a county treasurer or acting treasurer due to any vacancy and enables fiscal courts to appoint a deputy county treasurer to assist the treasurer when needed.
Regulation of nontraditional vehicle wheels
HB 293 (Rep. Walker Thomas)
Requires certain nontraditional wheels (made of iron, steel or wood) to be equipped with a rubber strip when they contact road surfaces, with an exemption for animal-drawn vehicles with a gross weight of less than 1 ton and used solely to transport people.
Cremation of unclaimed bodies
SB 27 (Sen. Greg Elkins)
Allows unclaimed bodies to be cremated and interred after 30 days if efforts to locate next of kin are unsuccessful. The fiscal court, in consultation with the coroner, determines whether burial or cremation is more appropriate. If the decedent is known to be a member of a religious community that has expressed to the coroner in writing a willingness to cover burial costs, the fiscal court also must consult with that community.
Obstructive vegetation near railroad crossings
HB 311 (Rep. Josh Calloway)
Requires railroad companies to remove obstructive vegetation within their rights-of-way for 250 feet in each direction of every public railroad-highway grade crossing.
If a railroad company fails to do so, the local government responsible for maintaining the road may provide written notice requiring the vegetation to be removed within 30 days.
If the vegetation is not removed within that timeframe, the local government must coordinate with the railroad company to remove it and may recover the removal cost from the railroad company.
Delinquent property taxes
HB 600 (Rep. Mary Beth Imes)
This bill allows county attorneys to use a consolidated legal process to collect delinquent property taxes more efficiently. Under this procedure, county attorneys may enforce tax liens by bringing a single legal action against multiple real estate parcels.
Cash payments
HB 757 (Rep. Jason Petrie)
Requires cash payments made to counties to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents when pennies are unavailable.
County clerk financials
SB 133 (Sen. Matt Nunn)
Eliminates a requirement for separate annual audits of county clerk motor vehicle and motorboat receipts and instead includes those funds as part of the clerk’s regular audit. The Transportation Cabinet remains responsible for covering the cost associated with auditing that portion of the clerk’s accounts.
Requires final settlements for county officials who leave office to be completed within 60 days. If a vacancy occurs before the end of a term, the outgoing official must remit any remaining funds to the fiscal court as excess fees, which would then be transferred to the official’s successor.
Amends the annual reporting deadline for county clerk document storage fee from July 1 to Aug. 1.
Concealed carry license
HB 312 (Rep. Savannah Maddox)
Creates two types of concealed carry licenses: a new provisional license and the existing standard license.
Requires the Kentucky State Police to issue provisional licenses to individuals aged 18 to 20 who meet the same eligibility requirements as standard license applicants.
Requires the Kentucky State Police to notify provisional license holders 90 days prior to expiration and provide an application to transition to a standard license.
Applicants must confirm continued eligibility, apply through the sheriff or electronically, and pay the required fee, after which a background check is conducted.
No additional firearms training is required to transition to a standard license.
For all the latest in legislative news affecting counties, go to https://kaco.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/.
