# Kentucky HB 542: AN ACT relating to eminent domain and declaring an emergency. Kentucky HB 542, AN ACT relating to eminent domain and declaring an emergency., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Myron Dossett (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 112)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB542-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 542 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to eminent domain and declaring an emergency. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-03 - Last action: 2026-04-13, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 112) - Sponsor: Myron Dossett (Republican) - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: Agriculture, Civil Actions, Civil Procedure, Effective Dates, Emergency, Eminent Domain And Condemnation, Environment And Conservation, Notices, Property, Public Utilities, Real Estate, Local Mandate - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (128 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fair pay counts farm infrastructure: benefit, high. Just compensation uses the difference in fair market value before and after the taking, and also pays fair rental value for temporary easements. When the land is actively farmed, the value of farm infrastructure must be counted. This includes drainage tile, water systems, livestock fencing, and per… - Stronger pre-condemnation rights for owners: benefit, high. Condemnors must act fairly. They cannot use false or intimidating tactics. Any offer must be in writing and sent by certified mail or handed to you with ID and your signature. You can get an independent appraisal within 60 days of the first offer (30 days if you refused delivery and the condemnor c… - More protection for farms and easements: benefit, medium. For land with a conservation easement or in an agricultural district, a “feasible alternative location” means an option on the same property that avoids the easement or district and does not materially raise project costs. In those cases, a condemnor must file a sworn report showing no feasible alt… - Effective now; federal rules still apply: benefit, low. The law takes effect immediately. It does not override federal rules like the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act and 49 C.F.R. part 24. State and local agencies must still follow federal eminent domain and relocation rules. - Court steps for access and possession: mixed, medium. After the court enters an interlocutory judgment and the condemnor pays the commissioners’ award to you or the court clerk, the condemnor can take possession under the petition’s terms. If no exception is filed, the judgment also provides for title transfer to the extent taken. If only part of your… - Limits on conservation easement power: mixed, medium. A conservation easement does not block coal mining or coal transport on nearby land and does not limit eminent domain powers. If your property has outstanding subsurface rights, those owners must give written consent before a conservation easement can be transferred. These rules strengthen subsurfa… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Myron Dossett (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Beverly Chester-Burton (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Mark Hart (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Bivens (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 90 | 0 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-04-13: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 112) - 2026-04-01: delivered to Governor - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-31: received in House (House) - 2026-03-31: 3rd reading, passed 38-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-26: posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill (Senate) - 2026-03-24: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-20: to Agriculture (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-09: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-06: 3rd reading, passed 90-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-05: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 06 2026 (House) - 2026-03-05: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-04: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-02-10: to Judiciary (H) (House) - 2026-02-03: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-02-03: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-06: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb542/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb542/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb542/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb542/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB727-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB542-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).