Bill > HB472

This bill, known as the Kentucky Buy American Act, mandates that all state and local government contracts for the construction or maintenance of public buildings and public works must include a provision requiring that any iron, steel, or aluminum used as a primary component be manufactured in the United States, unless a waiver is granted. "Manufactured in the United States" means all manufacturing processes for these materials have occurred within the U.S., with exceptions for certain metallurgical processes. Waivers can be granted if using American-made materials is inconsistent with the public interest, if they are not available in sufficient quantities or satisfactory quality, or if their inclusion would increase the contract cost by more than 10%. The bill also establishes penalties, including debarment from future contracts, for intentionally mislabeling or misrepresenting the origin of these materials. It applies to contracts entered into after August 1, 2026, and makes conforming amendments to various existing Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) chapters related to public contracts and purchasing.

Business and Industry

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb472.html