Several measures affecting local governments and public safety advanced through House committees today, March 10, moving forward in the legislative process following committee action. 

Strengthening Emergency Response Through Critical Facility Mapping 

House Bill 652, sponsored by Representative Steve Bratcher (R–Elizabethtown), advanced from the House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection with favorable expression and now heads to the House floor. The legislation relates to critical facility mapping to support emergency response coordination and public safety planning across the Commonwealth.  

The measure also includes an appropriation and contains an emergency clause to allow the provisions to take effect immediately upon enactment. 

Read the full bill text here. 

Reestablishing the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force 

House Concurrent Resolution 66, sponsored by Representative Chris Freeland (R-Benton), also advanced from the House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection with favorable expression and now moves to the House floor. The resolution would reestablish the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force to study preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and planning related to natural disasters that impact the Commonwealth. 

The task force is intended to evaluate Kentucky’s current disaster preparedness framework and identify policy recommendations to strengthen resilience and improve coordination across state and local agencies. 

Read the full resolution text here. 

Establishing Residency Requirements for Fire Protection Entities 

House Bill 682, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade (R-Stanford), passed favorably from the House Committee on Local Government and now moves to the House floor. This legislation requires that governing board members for a Chapter 75 or Chapter 273 fire protection district must be residents of the district they serve. The bill also adds that a vacancy exists if an elected trustee no longer resides within the district’s boundaries during their term, and is effective immediately should the bill pass.  

Read the full bill here. 

Geographic Information Advisory Council Representatives 

House Bill 731, sponsored by Representative Kevin Jackson (R-Bowling Green), passed unanimously from the House Committee on Local Government. Under this KLC Initiative, the number of candidates submitted by KLC and KACo for consideration of the Governor to be appointed to the Geographic Information Advisory Council is reduced from six to three. This is consistent with provisions in the statute for candidates submitted by other agencies.  

Read the full bill here. 

House Transportation Hears Bills with Local Impact 

The House Committee on Transportation heard two bills that impact cities. All bills passed and will continue through the legislative process.  

House Bill 311 requires each railroad company to destroy or remove obstructive vegetation at railroad crossings. The bill provides that if the railroad company fails to remove it, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet or the local government in charge of the road or highway must do so, with procedures established for reimbursement. The bill’s primary sponsor, Representative Josh Calloway (R-Irvington), testified alongside Representative Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg) and Ms. Tanya Serna, a private citizen whose son was fatally injured at a railroad crossing outside of Elizabethtown. The group testified that the bill’s intention is to avoid such tragedies in the future.  

Read the full bill here. 

House Bill 660 requires the Kentucky Department of Highways to notify cities where “resurfacing projects” (projects undertaken to resurface, rehabilitate, or otherwise improve the state-maintained highway that would result in a permanent reduction in the number of through traffic lanes) are located at least 60 days prior to the project letting date. Affected cities will be allowed to submit comments on the project, which the Department is required to consider and respond to. Sponsor Representative Steve Doan (R-Erlanger) testified that this addresses situations similar to an issue in Northern Kentucky, wherein a highway was going to be significantly modified without notice from the District to local government jurisdictions.  

Read the full bill text here.