Spring into Action
We want to acknowledge the first day of Spring- we hope you take some time to be out in nature after you act on these bills!
The Governor has seven days left to veto bills, and then the General Assembly will return for their final two days of work at Noon on March 29th to override any vetoes.
Bill Spotlight for Special Action:
HB272 (KCC Strong Oppose) was sent to the Governor on 3/16.
We have listed this bill in previous alerts, but are asking for special additional collective action this week. The bill allows water districts and water associations to impose a 10% late fee with no public service commission oversight (even though these districts are regulated by the PSC and they determined that late fees have no real impact).
The bill also prohibits the Governor from suspending these late fees and utility cutoffs for any utilities, including water, wastewater, gas and electric) owned by a city during a declared emergency.
Unfortunately the bill is being supported by the Kentucky League of Cities, which was instrumental in bringing about a final push in moving this bill to the Governor’s desk. Kentucky Conservation Committee, Kentucky Resources Council, and Appalachian Citizens Law Center recommend the following collective actions:
ACTION 1: If you have not already done so from our previous alerts, we ask you to Contact the Governor's Office at this link and ask for him to veto this bill.
ACTION 2: Contact your local City Council and Mayor for cities that own or operate utilities and ask them to pledge to ask for a veto. If your city is a member of the Kentucky League of Cities, ask that your city demand that KLC reverse their position and support a veto.
ACTION 3: Then contact your legislators who supported the bill and as them to reverse their position and uphold the Governor’s veto.
Then contact your legislators HERE or leave a message weekdays at 1-800-372-7181.
Bill Highlight- Not Yet Passed:
HB465 (KCC Oppose) (Koenig) Water Utilities: Allows utilities (and Kentucky American Water in particular) to change how they value water systems they are seeking to acquire, allowing the utility to require ratepayers to foot the bill for those increased purchase costs. Amendments improved the bill, however we continue to oppose. The bill is currently in the Senate. Contact your Senator to oppose.
Bills to Recommend for "Veto"…
Still on the Governor's Desk.
Contact the Governor's Office at this link.
HB207 (KCC Strong Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/15. Energy Use/Local Control: Limits local governments from taking any legislative or executive action that impairs a consumer's ability to use certain fossil fuels. Discourages the transition to clean energy when cities wish to adopt codes that encourage low-carbon options.
SB255 (KCC Strong Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/15. Energy Use: Asks for Kentucky to "become a national leader in emerging industries which use substantial amounts of energy" by including cryptocurrency facilities with a minimum capital investment of one million dollars in Kentucky's energy-related business incentives program.
HB230 (KCC Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/16. Energy Subsidies: Provides sales and use tax exemption from equipment and energy used for commercial mining of cryptocurrency using blockchain technology (see SB255 above). Our allies at Ky. Center for Economic Policy also oppose this significant tax giveaway.
HB272 (KCC Strong Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/16. Water Late Fees: See detailed actions above. UPDATE: THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED AS OF 3/23. The bill will head back to the legislature where they may override.
HB312 (KCC Strong Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/15. Open records: Proposes significant changes to the state's public records law, creating certain state residency standards for open records requests. Allows lawmakers to have a final say over whether to release records relating to themselves. UPDATE: THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED AS OF 3/23. The bill will head back to the legislature where they may override.
HB386 (KCC Strong Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/11. Water Quality: Requires that mixing zones for bioaccumulative chemicals of concern established on or before September 8, 2004, remain in effect until explicitly extinguished by the Energy and Environment Cabinet. This bill would interfere with the Cabinet's authority to exercise its best professional judgment on a permit-by-permit basis to prevent pollutants from accumulating rather than dispersing in Kentucky waterbodies and is special legislation benefiting a single company.
HB394 (KCC Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/16. Fish & Wildlife: Gives the Fish and Wildlife Commission the sole authority to appoint and determine compensation for a commissioner, not the Governor, and requires any proposed personal services contract with a commissioner to be submitted for review to the Government Contract Review Committee. UPDATE: THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED AS OF 3/22. The bill will head back to the legislature where they may override.
SB93 (KCC Oppose) On Governor’s Desk 3/11. Agriculture: Authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture, rather than the Governor, to appoint members of the State Board of Agriculture. UPDATE: THE GOVERNOR HAS VETOED AS OF 3/22. The bill will head back to the legislature where they may override.
We recommend the
Governor to support and sign:
SB172 (KCC Support) On Governor’s Desk 3/16. Underground Utilities: For those persons or entities exempt from having to contact 811 prior to excavating, proposes to include those exempted persons or entities in the process of ceasing operations when damage occurs to an underground facility and notification of appropriate authorities. Contact the Governor's Office at this link.
Now Signed by the Governor!
Thank you for your calls and emails!
HB209 (KCC Support) Fish & Wildlife/Donation of Game Meat: Signed by the Governor 3/18.
HB328 (KCC Support) Billboard regulations: Signed by the Governor 3/18.
HB393 (KCC Support) Water District Commissioner salary, and Commissioner Training: Signed by the Governor 3/18.