summary
Introduced
01/08/2025
01/08/2025
In Committee
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/28/2025
03/28/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 262 to establish a Healthy Soils Program and a 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.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a comprehensive Healthy Soils Program in Kentucky to promote sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation. The bill creates a new Healthy Soils Program fund within the Department for Natural Resources, which will provide technical assistance, financial incentives, and grants to farmers (both urban and rural) to implement soil health practices. The program prioritizes financial assistance for veteran, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers, and aims to help farmers conduct soil health assessments and develop soil health plans. Key provisions include creating a low-cost loan program for adopting soil health practices, establishing a dedicated fund that can receive various types of funding, and requiring the Department for Natural Resources to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the program. The bill also amends several existing statutes to broaden the scope of soil and water conservation efforts, including adding definitions for terms like "healthy soil practices" and "soil health," expanding the Agriculture Water Quality Authority to include an organic agriculture organization and a new committee on healthy soil practices, and modifying the purpose of soil and water conservation districts to include restoration and biological diversity. The overall goal is to improve soil health, watershed health, and agricultural sustainability in Kentucky.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
to Agriculture (H) (on 02/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/hb111.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/hb111/orig_bill.pdf |
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