This Senate resolution expresses Kentucky's support for the federal Ohio River Restoration Program Act, which aims to improve water quality, protect wildlife habitats, and boost economic opportunities along the Ohio River. The bill directly affects Kentucky communities by seeking to address pollution, enhance flood resilience, and expand recreational access to the river that forms the state's northern border. Key provisions include funding for water treatment improvements, invasive species control, and infrastructure upgrades to benefit drinking water systems, agriculture, and tourism industries. The resolution directs the Senate Clerk to send this endorsement to Kentucky's congressional delegation to encourage federal action on the Ohio River Basin restoration.
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.
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 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 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."
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.
Direct the Energy and Environment Cabinet's Division of Water to prepare and submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission by December 15, 2026, on recommendations for state and local governments to more easily access public waterways after flooding for debris removal and clean-up.
