Support the federal Ohio River Restoration Program Act to advance clean water, economic development, community stability, and expanded recreation opportunities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
This Senate resolution formally recognizes regulated trapping as an essential and humane part of wildlife management and conservation in Kentucky. It highlights how trapping helps control predator populations, protect endangered species, and manage overabundant wildlife while contributing economic value and reducing taxpayer costs. The resolution also encourages public education about trapping's role in sustainable resource use and directs officials to notify relevant state and federal agencies of its adoption.
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.
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.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 262 to establish the Healthy Soils Program and the Healthy Soils Program fund in the Department for Natural Resources, Division of Conservation; require the department to provide technical advice and assistance and to assist with soil health assessments and soil health plans; require the commissioner to approve applications for grants and other types of financial assistance under the Healthy Soils Program; authorize the department to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the Healthy Soils Program and the Healthy Soils Program fund; amend KRS 146.100 to require the director of the Division of Conservation to have experience in healthy soil practices; amend KRS 224.71-110 to require the Agriculture Water Quality Authority to promote soil restoration and include an organic agriculture organization among appointments to the authority and add healthy soil practices as a committee; amend KRS 262.010 to define "healthy soil practices," "soil health," "soil health assessment," and "watershed health"; amend KRS 262.020 to add restoration, biological diversity, watershed health, and healthy soil practices to the purpose of soil and water conservation districts; amend KRS 262.748 and 262.778 to conform.
