Week 3 Recap: General Assembly 2026
Snowed in? Join us for the KCC Legislative Summit this Sunday from the comfort of your home
We’re STILL ON for this Sunday— But Online! We were disappointed to have to transition our “hybrid” Legislative Conference (scheduled for this Sunday afternoon) into a full “virtual” format due to the anticipated weather event this weekend—we know how important it is for the environmental community to have the opportunity to network and “cross pollinate” over important statewide issues. HOWEVER, all of our speakers are at the ready to go “full ZOOM” and join you for an afternoon where you can learn the latest about key environmental issues from the safety of your home. If you have not registered yet, there’s still time, but don’t wait! Register Here for our (now virtual) Legislative Summit- Sunday from 1-5!
New and Updated Bill highlights:
This week completed “day 13” of the 60-day General Assembly. Lawmakers were largely focused on other issues this week such as gun violence and education, and there were only a few new bills this week that were core on environmental issues. We did upgrade our position on nuclear from a week ago, as we wanted to spend a little more time on that bill, but we now have House Bill 57 updated as “Strong Oppose” for various reasons, particularly with concerns over the expense of the program to the public in addition to the obvious safety and environmental waste issues. More on our issue website. We were disappointed to see Senator West’s bill restricting solar and transmission on land that was acquired by eminent domain, Senate Bill 107 (Oppose) among the offerings this week. And we had serious concerns about Rep. Calloway’s House Bill 423 (Oppose) which would provide immunity to competitive vehicle and motorsport race tracks and any associated grounds or buildings for any nuisance or takings claims. We believe people should have the right to protect their property against interference from other properties.
Bills on the move:
We were glad to see that Rep. Nima Kulkarni’s PFAS bill (HB196 Strong Support) has now been assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy committee this week and hope that will lead to some movement. House NR&E has not yet met this session (usually scheduled for Thursdays at 8AM), but we anticipate a full agenda when its next scheduled meeting comes up.
What are PFAS chemicals? Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. They have properties that resist heat, grease, and water. Learn more at the Kentucky Division of water’s PFAS information page.
In June of 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to regulate six PFAS in drinking water. The new rule set enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels.
In 2019, the legislature did ban the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam for training purposes. And in 2024, lawmakers approved a resolution directing the Energy and Environment Cabinet to provide guidance about PFAS handling to entities discharging into wastewater treatment plants.
ACTIONS TO TAKE: Call the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181 (Monday-Friday 7AM-6PM) and send a message to your House member to co-sponsor this legislation. Then leave a message for “all members of the House Natural Resources & Energy committee” that you are in support of House Bill 196 and would like to have it heard in committee. You can also email your legislators if the phone lines are closed.
We were also glad to see that that Rep. Witten’s utility disconnection bill House Bill 377 (Strong Support) has been assigned to committee this week. While we would have preferred to see this bill debated in the Health Services committee, it has been assigned to House Natural Resources & Energy. This is a much needed piece of legislation due to the threats of extreme weather and recent government shutdowns as issues related to climate change continue to increase. Please call your representative and ask them to co-sponsor this bill.
Meanwhile, House Bill 311 (Oppose) on obstructive vegetation at intersections between highways and railroad crossings was assigned to the House Transportation Committee on 1/20 this week. While we understand the intent of this bill which requires each railroad company to destroy or remove obstructive vegetation at intersections with public roads or highways and allows the Transportation Cabinet or local government to remove obstructive vegetation if the railroad company fails to do so, we have opposed this bill because the 600 ft. requirement seems large and we would like to see coordination with state pollinator programs, as these areas can be important habitat. Please contact members of the House Transportation committee and help us convey these concerns.
Battery Recycling now in the House: Senate Bill 49 (Support) “An Act relating to battery stewardship” passed out of the Senate on a vote of 37-0. The bill, among its provisions, prohibits the disposal of covered batteries in solid waste disposal or recycling containers. A “covered battery” is typically any battery that is not designed for easy removal, such as a cell phone. These kinds of batteries can pose fire risks in waste streams. KCC plans on working with state partners to help with an education campaign on this hazard.
Your Voice is Valuable - Use it!
We were not surprised at the figures being shared in an article today from Tom Loftus from the Kentucky Lantern on the huge dollars that some career lobbyists receive for their work in Kentucky. Nearly 900 groups reported paying more than $26.5 million in compensation to lobbyists in 2025.
Any citizen is free to contact his or her state senator or representative with a request or a concern. But the Kentucky Conservation Committee is registered to lobby as a 501c4 nonprofit which allows us to provide lobbying capacity through your (non-tax deductible) donations. We only work on behalf of one “special interest”— the citizens of Kentucky. We partner with environmental and conservation organizations who need our support to amplify their voice in Frankfort on environmental issues of concern. We appreciate your support to balance the scales.
ACTIONS TO TAKE: Now, while you’re snowed in, it is a great time to fill up lawmaker’s mailboxes! We urge you to go through the updated list of bills for this week and take action on the issues you care about! You can email your legislators when the phone lines are closed!
Partner Spotlight
This week we spent time with our partners with the Kentucky Woodland Owners Association (KWOA). KWOA members have interests in woodland ownership and management. They educate woodland owners and the public on resources for forest landowners including timber management, recreation, and fish and wildlife management. We thank them for their annual support for the Kentucky Conservation Committee.