This resolution expresses the Kentucky Senate's support for the Ohio River Restoration Program Act, a federal bill aimed at improving water quality and ecological health in the Ohio River Basin. The legislation would establish a restoration program to address pollution, enhance flood resilience, protect wildlife habitats, and expand recreational opportunities along the river. Kentucky is directly affected because the Ohio River forms its northern border, serves as a primary drinking water source for hundreds of thousands of residents, and supports significant economic activity including agriculture, industry, and tourism. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send the document to Kentucky's congressional delegation to encourage federal passage of the bill.
Amend KRS 150.022 to disqualify a person who has been convicted of a violation of any state or federal hunting or fishing regulation from serving on the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission (commission); establish additional qualifications to serve on the commission; require that each appointee file an affidavit with the Secretary of State setting forth how the appointee meets the qualifications and requirements to serve on the commission; require that legislation confirming the appointment of a member of the commission be referred, reviewed, and reported by the standing committee of jurisdiction; require annual executive branch ethics training for each member of the commission; add definition for "sportswoman"; amend KRS 150.061 to provide additional qualifications for the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; require that the commissioner be confirmed by the Senate; require for the commission to conduct national searches to fill vacancies for commissioner after the effective date of the Act; EMERGENCY.
Support the availability of termed and perpetual conservation easements as an important tool designed to promote conservation practices on private lands.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 139 to annually transfer 80% of the sales and use taxes, interest, and penalties collected during the preceding fiscal year from sporting goods retailers from the general fund to the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation fund.
SB 277 corrects technical language in Kentucky law (KRS 350.240) regarding regulations for reclaiming land disturbed by clay mining. It clarifies that the Energy and Environment Cabinet can create administrative regulations for clay mining reclamation - specifically encouraging water impoundments - while aligning with the Interstate Mining Compact's standards. The bill directly affects the Cabinet (which develops regulations) and clay mining operations (which must follow the regulations). This is a technical correction to existing law, not a new policy change.
Establish the Circular Economy and Advanced Recovery Advisory Working Group attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet until December 30, 2026, to study circular energy economy applications for the Commonwealth; direct the Governor to make appointments no later than 30 days after the effective date of the Resolution; authorize a minimum of 4 meetings of the working group; require the working group to submit a report, including findings and recommendations, to the Legislative Research Commission by December 30, 2026.
Amend KRS 224.1-010 to change the definition of "water" or "waters of the Commonwealth" to include any and all rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, springs, wells, marshes, and all other bodies of surface or underground water; delete the definition of "wellhead protection area."
SB 297 amends Kentucky law to establish procedures for coordinating with neighboring states on underground carbon dioxide storage. It requires Kentucky's cabinet secretary to negotiate agreements with border states covering three key areas: treating accidental CO₂ migration across state lines as non-trespass, creating compensation mechanisms for incidents, and enabling cross-state reservoir development when geologically beneficial. The bill mandates annual reports to the Governor and specific legislative committees on these discussions. This legislation directly affects Kentucky's natural resources cabinet, bordering states, and entities involved in carbon storage projects. (Note: This is a procedural bill focused on inter-state coordination, not a new policy.)
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish a nonrefundable income tax credit for alternative jet fuel producers; require the Department of Revenue, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the Energy and Environment Cabinet, to promulgate administrative regulations; require the department to report on the credit to the Legislative Research Commission; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report on the credit.
Amend KRS 382.850 to require a condemnor in an eminent domain action involving property subject to a conservation easement to provide a written report to the court justifying the condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; allow the court to dismiss the condemnation action if the lack of alternative locations is not demonstrated; amend KRS 262.850 to require a condemnor in an eminent domain action involving property located in an agricultural district to provide a written report to the court justifying the condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; allow the court to dismiss the condemnation action if the lack of alternative locations is not demonstrated; amend KRS 416.550 prohibit a condemnor from engaging in false, intimidating, or misleading negotiation tactics; allow a property owner of potentially condemned property to obtain an independent appraisal within 60 days of an initial offer for purchase; reduce the independent appraisal period to 30 days if the property owner refuses the initial offer for purchase; prohibit the filing of a condemnation action within the independent appraisal period; establish a penalty of dismissal of the condemnation action, payment of attorney's fees, and a bar on future condemnation actions for violations; amend KRS 416.560 to specify requirements for contents of notice of entry to owners of property; establish penalty for failure to give notice; require condemnor to give notice of a material change to the project; require condemnor to use only current data for surveys; provide a copy of a survey to the property owner within 15 days of completion; allow the property owner to petition a local legislative body for a public meeting regarding the proposed taking; amend KRS 416.610 to require the condemnor to take measures to ensure access to property during on-site work on a project where only a portion of the property has been condemned; amend KRS 416.660 to include preexisting improvements on property and the value of agricultural improvements in the determination of fair market value of condemned property; amend KRS 416.570, 416.600, 416.630, 416.640, and 416.650 to conform; EMERGENCY.
