summary
Introduced
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 65.003, relating to local ethics, to specify the composition of the commission in a consolidated local government and allow the commission to use the county attorney's office for legal council by procurement methods; amend KRS 67C.103 to place controls on council district formation and redistricting and to allow regulations issued by local health boards and local solid waste management boards operating under KRS Chapter 109 or 212 that apply to individuals residing or businesses operating within the jurisdiction of the consolidated local government be subject to being overridden by the consolidated local government council within 45 days of issuance; prohibit the council from not accepting legislation with specified form requirements of KRS 83A.060; allow the consolidated local government council, or either of the 2 major political caucuses, to hire or retain legal counsel; create a new section of KRS Chapter 67C to require an office of internal audit to be created and headed by a chief audit executive who is appointed; amend KRS 67C.115 and 69.210 to conform; amend KRS 67C.111 to allow cities of 3,000, rather than 6,000, to be incorporated in the boundaries of the consolidated local government and set the petition requirement relating to incorporation to 66% rather than 75% and grant 1 year for the petition to be completed; amend KRS 67C.147 to allow the consolidated local government council to sub-classify property into land and improvements for purposes of levying the ad valorem tax within the area formerly comprising the city of the first class; establish controls on the calculation of the compensating tax rate and the 4% tax rate, and the application of the homestead exemption; outline the transition of presently serving ethics commission members; outline transition from the current chief audit executive to the appointed position.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to the governance of consolidated local governments, which are entities formed by merging a city and its county. Key provisions include specifying the composition of the ethics commission, allowing it to use the county attorney's office for legal counsel, and establishing controls on how council districts are formed and redrawn, requiring them to be nearly equal in population and compact. It also allows local health and solid waste boards' regulations to be overridden by the consolidated government's council within 45 days, and mandates the creation of an office of internal audit headed by an appointed chief audit executive. The bill modifies the requirements for incorporating new cities within a consolidated local government, lowering the population threshold to 3,000 and reducing the required petition signature percentage to 66%, while also granting a year to complete the petition. Furthermore, it permits the consolidated local government council to sub-classify property into land and improvements for tax purposes within the former first-class city area, and establishes specific rules for calculating tax rates and applying homestead exemptions. Finally, it outlines the transition for current ethics commission members and the chief audit executive to the new structures.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (7)
Chris Lewis (R)*,
Jared Bauman (R),
Emily Callaway (R),
Ken Fleming (R),
John Hodgson (R),
Jason Nemes (R),
Susan Witten (R),
Last Action
to Local Government (H) (on 02/17/2026)
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/26RS/hb607.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb607/orig_bill.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb607/LM.pdf |
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