SB 9/ HB 114 TVA Bill

Action Alert

The Kentucky General Assembly is currently considering bills that would be a huge benefit to our county. Senate Bill 9/House Bill 114 (the TVA Counties Economic Development bills) would allocate more dollars to be sent back to 39 counties in southern, western Kentucky and eastern Kentucky, including ours.  In fact, it could mean over $150,000 for our county annually to be used for job-attracting activities like preparing or acquiring land for industrial sites or building or upgrading water, sewer and other infrastructure. The funds could also ensure the region has more opportunities to take advantage of federal grants via local matches. Please email or call your representative & senator in Frankfort and urge them: to “Please join the Kentucky Association of Counties, Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Association for Economic Development and the large number of chambers of commerce, business leaders, economic developers, and elected officials supporting SB9/HB114. It would bring much-needed economic development dollars back to our county.”

Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) endorses Kentucky House Bill 114 and its companion, Senate Bill 9, both of which would return money to the 39 counties in the state that are powered by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  

As a publicly-owned utility created by the federal government, TVA is exempt from taxation but makes payments instead.The bills would adjust the formula to ensure more dollars from the payments stay in the 39-county region for economic development needs. The additional dollars could be used toward job-attracting activities like preparing or acquiring land for industrial sites or building or upgrading water, sewer and other infrastructure. The funds could also ensure the region has more opportunities to take advantage of large federal grants via local matches. 

Rep. Bart Rowland of Tompkinsville and Sen. Stan Humphries of Cadiz are the primary sponsors of the TVA in lieu-of-tax payment bills.  

"KACo fully endorses this important legislation that will be an economic catalyst for our Commonwealth," KACo Executive Director Brian Roy said. "Sen. Humphries and Rep. Rowland recognize that to compete with neighboring states in the region, it's important to make critical investments for job attraction. This legislation would better align us with how other TVA states allocate these dollars, and we are encouraged by the growing number of legislators who are signing on to cosponsor."  

The 39-county region includes Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Bell, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Harlan, Hart, Henderson, Hickman, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Russell, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Union, Warren, Wayne, Webster and Whitley counties.