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Bill > HB651
KY HB651
KY HB651AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.
summary
Introduced
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
In Committee
03/06/2026
03/06/2026
Crossed Over
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 224A.320 to require that eligible funding recipients for the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) Program meet 3 or more of the specified eligibility criteria instead of 1; exclude projects that expand the utility service of funding applicants from the definition of "eligible project"; require that a funding application include a detailed budget for all proposed project expenses; allow the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board to evaluate and score funding applications for proposed projects in phases; require that approved eligible funding recipients adopt best management practices that would address the performance deficiencies that made the applicant eligible for funding; remove the funding evaluation criteria categories of current accounts payable turnover ratio and current days' sales in accounts receivable ratio; remove the requirement from the evaluation criteria that the applicant's receipt of a notice of violation of drinking water or other water quality standards occur in the past year; add to the funding eligibility criteria that the funding applicant can demonstrate that the amount of stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration entering the funding applicant's system seriously impairs its effectiveness; add to the funding evaluation criteria that the funding applicant previously received funding through the program for a prior phase of the proposed project; add to the funding evaluation criteria that the funding applicant can demonstrate that the estimated costs are comparable to actual costs incurred for similar projects; add to the funding evaluation criteria that a licensed professional engineer signed an attestation of the application's veracity; require that in the evaluation of the funding applications, the board separately score and individually rank all eligible projects, with additional consideration given to projects that provide or restore safe water or wastewater utility service; EMERGENCY.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) Program by requiring eligible recipients to meet at least three of the specified criteria, up from one, and explicitly excludes projects that expand a utility's service area from being considered "eligible projects." It also mandates that funding applications include a detailed budget for all proposed expenses, allows the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board to evaluate applications in phases, and requires approved recipients to adopt best management practices to address their performance deficiencies. The bill removes certain financial evaluation criteria, such as accounts payable turnover and days' sales in accounts receivable ratios, and the requirement for recent drinking water or water quality violations, while adding new evaluation criteria that include demonstrating significant stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration, comparable project costs, and a licensed engineer's attestation of the application's accuracy. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the board separately score and rank all eligible projects, giving extra consideration to those that provide or restore safe water or wastewater services, and declares an emergency to allow these changes to take effect immediately.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
to Appropriations & Revenue (S) (on 03/06/2026)
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/hb651.html |
| Fiscal Note to House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb651/HCS1FN.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb651/bill.pdf |
| House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB651/HCS1.pdf |
| Vote History for HB651 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb651/vote_history.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb651/orig_bill.pdf |
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