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KentuckyHB 6512026 Regular SessionHouse

AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Josh Bray (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Boards And CommissionsEffective Dates, EmergencyEngineers And SurveyorsPublic UtilitiesPublic WorksSewer SystemsWater Supply

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stricter rules for funded utilities

Systems that get funds must follow strict management and reporting rules. They must file a corrective action plan, a detailed budget with depreciation, and give single applications for regional projects. Capital projects must include cost and timeline estimates. Recipients must adopt best practices like debt coverage and operating ratio targets, cash reserves, audit and reporting, water loss reduction, and training and emergency planning. If a recipient misuses money, breaks rules, assigns repayment to others, or fails to improve, it must forfeit funds and repay what is owed with interest.

New help for troubled water systems

Kentucky creates a program to aid distressed public water and sewer systems. A system qualifies when it meets at least three distress tests, such as low area incomes, user rates at or above 1% of household income, a debt service coverage ratio under 1.1 in three of five years, or water loss over 30%. The program pays for planning, repairs, training, and financial fixes, but it does not fund service-area expansion. The board scores each complete application within 60 days and sends feedback within 14 days. It files an annual report by December 1 each year starting in 2024. After the General Assembly passes and funds projects, awards go out within 60 days of that law’s effective date. The authority also starts quarterly status reports by October 1, 2025. The board may use outside experts to review and score applications.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Josh Bray

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Jason Petrie

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 229 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 38 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

passed

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 116)

    4/13/2026

  2. delivered to Governor

    4/1/2026

  3. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

    4/1/2026House

  4. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

    4/1/2026House

  5. passed 93-0

    3/31/2026House

  6. House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)

    3/31/2026House

  7. posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)

    3/31/2026Senate

  8. to Rules (H)

    3/31/2026House

  9. received in House

    3/31/2026House

  10. 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/31/2026Senate

  11. posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026

    3/31/2026Senate

  12. reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) as a consent bill

    3/31/2026Senate

  13. returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)

    3/26/2026Senate

  14. 2nd reading

    3/26/2026Senate

  15. taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S)

    3/26/2026Senate

  16. returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)

    3/25/2026Senate

  17. 1st reading

    3/25/2026Senate

  18. taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S)

    3/25/2026Senate

  19. to Appropriations & Revenue (S)

    3/6/2026Senate

  20. to Committee on Committees (S)

    3/4/2026Senate

  21. received in Senate

    3/4/2026Senate

  22. 3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/3/2026House

  23. placed in the Orders of the Day

    3/3/2026House

  24. taken from Rules

    3/3/2026House

  25. reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/3/2026House

Bill Text

  • Current

    3/31/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/17/2026

    PDF

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