# Kentucky HB 607: AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments. Kentucky HB 607, AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Chris Lewis (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-04-14 (delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 165)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB607-2026RS - 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 607 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments. - Status: became law - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-09 - Last action: 2026-04-14, delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 165) - Sponsor: Chris Lewis (Republican) - Cosponsors: 6 - Subjects: Local Mandate, Audits And Auditors, Cities, Consolidated Local Governments, Local Government, Public Ethics, Public Officers And Employees, Redistricting, Special Districts, Taxation, Taxation, Property - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (217 yes, 43 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Local council maps face tighter standards: benefit, low. After each 10-year census is published, consolidated local governments must follow standards when needed to redraw council districts. District populations must be within 2.5% of the ideal population. Precincts stay whole unless population requirements or applicable population laws require a split.… - Local councils can hire separate legal counsel: benefit, low. A consolidated local government council, or either of its two major political caucuses, can hire or retain legal counsel. Lawyers can give advice, consult, and prepare or review legislation. Opinions on whether council actions are legal or constitutional are advisory, not binding. The county attorn… - Local councils cannot block properly filed legislation: benefit, low. A consolidated local government council cannot adopt rules that block filing legislation that meets the required legal form. Those requirements are in KRS 83A.060(1), (2), and (3). Filing does not require the council to adopt the legislation. - Local councils oversee separate audit offices: benefit, low. Each consolidated local government must maintain a separate internal audit office with a sufficient budget. It reports directly to the council and can audit or review finances and performance. Its chief must be at least 21, serves four-year terms, and can serve consecutive terms. The council sets a… - City petitions face deadlines and clerk review: cost, low. Petitions to form a city or annex territory must follow KRS 65.012(1). They must be circulated within one year after the first signature. Completed petitions go first to the county clerk. The clerk sends them to the consolidated local government council only after finding the signatures in order. - District taxes must cover more service costs: cost, low. An urban service tax district's extra tax must cover at least 95% of its additional service costs, including capital spending. These are services beyond those provided in the rest of the county. After June 30, 2034, that tax must cover at least 100% of those costs. The law does not set household ta… - Separate property taxes for land and buildings: mixed, low. A consolidated local government council can approve separate property tax rates for land and buildings by ordinance. This applies only in the county area formerly covered by the first-class city. The building rate can be lower than the land rate, but must remain a real tax levy. The compensating ra… - Local councils can override covered board rules: mixed, low. A consolidated local government council can override rules, regulations, or similar actions from boards under KRS Chapter 109 or 212. The council must pass an overriding resolution within 45 days after the board issues the action. The action must concern conduct by residents or businesses within th… - Local ethics boards get new membership rules: mixed, low. A consolidated local government's ethics enforcement group has seven members: three mayoral appointees and four council appointees. Each of the two largest council political caucuses appoints two of the four council members. No party can hold more than three seats; members need at least four years… - Local officials face ethics enforcement rules: mixed, low. Cities, counties, urban-counties, consolidated local governments, and charter counties must adopt ethics codes by ordinance. Codes cover elected officials and appointed officials and employees, including those of jointly created agencies. They require annual financial disclosures from candidates fo… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Chris Lewis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Emily Callaway (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jared Bauman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John Hodgson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jason Nemes (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ken Fleming (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Susan Witten (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-14 | House | passed | pass | 77 | 18 | | | 2026-04-14 | Senate | passed | pass | 32 | 6 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | passed | pass | 32 | 5 | | | 2026-03-17 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 76 | 14 | | ## Actions (42) - 2026-04-14: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 165) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-04-14: received in House (House) - 2026-04-14: passed 32-6 (Senate) - 2026-04-14: veto overridden (Senate) - 2026-04-14: posted for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-14: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-14: passed 77-18 (House) - 2026-04-14: veto overridden (House) - 2026-04-14: posted for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: taken from Rules (House) - 2026-04-14: to Rules (H) (House) - 2026-04-14: received in House (House) - 2026-04-13: Vetoed - 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: passed 32-5 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: floor amendment (2) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-31: floor amendment (1) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-31: 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-27: floor amendments (1) and (2-title) filed (Senate) - 2026-03-27: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-26: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-25: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-25: reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-24: returned to State & Local Government (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-24: 1st reading (Senate) - 2026-03-24: taken from State & Local Government (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-24: to State & Local Government (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-18: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-18: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-17: 3rd reading, passed 76-14 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-16: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026 (House) - 2026-03-11: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-10: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-02-17: to Local Government (H) (House) - 2026-02-09: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-02-09: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb607/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-09: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb607/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/hb607/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb607/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-HB607-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).