Today, March 17, multiple House committees advanced Senate bills affecting city operations, public transparency, and public safety, with each measure receiving favorable reports and moving forward in the legislative process. 

Modernizing Public Notice Requirements 
Senate Bill 141, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens (R–Greensburg), advanced from the House Standing Committee on Local Government. The legislation modernizes Kentucky’s public notice requirements to better reflect how residents access information today while maintaining transparency and the role of newspapers. 

The bill requires timely online publication of legally required advertisements and inclusion on a searchable statewide public notice website hosted by the KY Press Association. It also allows local governments to correct publication errors beyond their control, helping ensure compliance with statutory deadlines. 

Additionally, SB 141 establishes protections to ensure fair and reasonable advertising rates for public agencies and updates outdated formatting requirements and hearing notice timelines to provide greater flexibility. 

Voluntary Training Incentives for City Officers 
Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senator Scott Madon (R–Pineville), also advanced from the House Standing Committee on Local Government. The legislation updates Kentucky’s City Officer Training Incentive Program to provide cities with greater flexibility in how they encourage and reward continuing education for city officials. 

Under current law, incentive amounts are set in statute. SB 20 removes minimum and maximum thresholds, allowing city legislative bodies to determine appropriate incentive levels based on local budgets and workforce needs. 

The bill maintains the program’s voluntary structure while promoting professional development and ensuring accountability, as incentives remain tied to verified training completion. 

Residential Safe Room Rebate Program 
The House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection (VMAPP) advanced Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Senator Stephen Meredith (R–Leitchfield), a KLC-supported initiative focused on strengthening storm preparedness across the Commonwealth. 

As amended, Senate Bill 11 creates the residential safe room rebate fund within the State Treasurer’s office to provide rebates of up to 50%—not to exceed $5,000—for costs incurred by qualified homeowners related to the construction or installation of a residential safe room. 

The initiative was spearheaded by Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps and is designed to expand the use of available federal funding to improve access to safe shelter options during severe weather events. 

A committee substitute in the Senate clarified that no state funds will be appropriated to the program. Instead, the fund will rely solely on federal FEMA dollars, as well as private and public contributions. Any unspent funds will remain in the account and will not lapse at the end of the fiscal year. 

 SB 141, SB 20, and SB 11 now move to the House floor for further consideration.