# Kentucky SB 25: AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency.

Kentucky SB 25, AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Robby Mills (Republican); status became law, last action 2025-03-28 (delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 117)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB25-2025RS
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Kentucky SB 25
- State: Kentucky
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT relating to oversight of government operations and declaring an emergency.
- Status: became law
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-18
- Last action: 2025-03-28, delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 117)
- Sponsor: Robby Mills (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Housing, Building, and Construction, Land Use, Local Government, Planning and Zoning, Bonds, Public, Civil Actions, Local Mandate
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 5 (236 yes, 51 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 59

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More funding for Kentucky highway construction: benefit, medium. The Department of Highways gets $250 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 and $200 million in 2025–2026. The money supports the State Supported Construction Program and selected projects in the 2024–2026 highway construction plan. Selected projects cover industrial development, economic and quality imp…
- Arts and cultural sites receive funding: benefit, low. These arts and cultural grants are for fiscal year 2024–2025. Compose Arts gets $300,000 for Thy Will Be Done Productions statewide. The Department of Parks gets $850,000 to restore the Dye House at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. The Owensboro Museum of Science and History gets $1.1 mi…
- Clearer complaint access for cabinet clients: benefit, low. Covered health and family services websites must prominently post the ombudsman's website, phone number, and email at the top. The cabinet must give the ombudsman read-only access to group complaint inboxes. Agencies covered by these reviews must answer critical findings and recommendations in writ…
- Communities get fire and ambulance funding: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, Nicholas County Fiscal Court gets $1 million to buy and install an industrial fire pumper. Murray gets $1 million to buy a firetruck. Greenup County projects receive $500,000 for ambulance purchases and renovations to emergency management headquarters and its training faci…
- Communities get parks and sports funding: benefit, low. These park and sports grants are for fiscal year 2024–2025. County fiscal courts receive $2.4 million for Knox County's sports complex and $4 million for Jackson County Park development. Bath County Fiscal Court gets $2 million for youth baseball fields; Menifee County Community Park gets $3.5 mill…
- Court funds move into reserve account: benefit, low. The law moves $34.5 million in restricted Court of Justice funds into its reserve account in fiscal year 2024–2025. This shifts existing court money rather than creating a household payment.
- Covington gets violence prevention funding: benefit, low. Covington gets $500,000 in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 for Covington Partners' violence prevention efforts. The money supports community safety work, not direct household payments.
- Families get clearer Ombudsman contact information: benefit, low. The health services cabinet must provide Ombudsman contact information at offices where community-based services employees or contractors work. It must also provide it at facilities housing children in cabinet custody and to cabinet and contracted foster parents. Information must be printed and pub…
- Kentucky communities get park project funding: benefit, low. In each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, Louisville Metro gets $1.25 million for Jefferson Memorial Forest. Campbell County Fiscal Court gets $3.75 million in each of those years for General James Taylor Park. Rockcastle County Fiscal Court gets $2.367 million in 2024–2025 and $2.3 million…
- Kentucky courts get reserve and property funding: benefit, low. The law creates a Court of Justice reserve account, managed by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Money enters and leaves the account only through legislative appropriations, and unused balances carry forward. The law provides $3.2 million from the account in fiscal year 2024–2025 to buy and…
- Land conservancy gets federal matching funds: benefit, low. The Bluegrass Land Conservancy gets $4 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 through the Department for Local Government. The money serves as a match for a federal grant. It supports the conservancy's grant-funded work, not direct household payments.
- Lexington's Nest receives operating support: benefit, low. The Nest in Lexington receives $100,000 for operations in each fiscal year, 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. The law does not specify which services receive support, who qualifies for them, or any direct household payment.
- Local bridge and street projects get funding: benefit, low. Owsley County Fiscal Court gets $1 million for the Sturgeon Creek Bridge project in fiscal year 2024–2025. Berea gets $1 million for the Kenway Street expansion in fiscal year 2025–2026 through the Department for Local Government. The money funds local transportation projects, not direct household…
- Local government and emergency buildings get funding: benefit, low. For fiscal year 2024–2025, the law provides Barbourville $1.5 million to finish City Hall and emergency medical service buildings. Knox County Fiscal Court gets $8.5 million for land and renovations for a new administrative office. Clay County Fiscal Court gets $4 million for multipurpose buildings…
- Local learning and recreation centers get funding: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, Harlan County Fiscal Court gets $3.8 million for its Wellness and Recreation Center. Allen County Fiscal Court gets $250,000 to build a community center with the Core of Scottsville that year. Fort Thomas gets $2.5 million each fiscal year through the Department for Local…
- Mercy Chefs gets Kentucky expansion funding: benefit, low. Mercy Chefs, Inc. gets $500,000 in fiscal year 2024–2025 to expand services in Kentucky. The provision does not identify the services or which households qualify. It does not provide direct household payments.
- Named community centers get state funding: benefit, low. Goodwill Industries of Kentucky gets $3 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for the West Louisville Opportunity Center. Henderson County Fiscal Court gets $150,000 for Harbor House in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. These provisions do not specify funded services, individual eligibility,…
- Paris gets transfer station relocation funding: benefit, low. Paris gets $1.5 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 to relocate its transfer station. The law funds the local project but does not set a change in household charges.
- Public gets more bond cost details: benefit, low. Revenue bond issuers must now disclose itemized borrowing costs, alongside issuers of covered general obligation bonds and notes. Legislative committees and the public must receive the list before issuance. Changes to amounts or payees must be reported and made public within three days. The list ex…
- Pulaski County gets community village funding: benefit, low. Pulaski County Fiscal Court gets $1.5 million each fiscal year for Connect Community Village. The provision does not specify the covered fiscal years. It also does not set individual eligibility rules or direct household payments.
- Stronger oversight of child welfare records: benefit, low. The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman can receive reports and information from child welfare investigations and assessments. Those records remain confidential. The office can use this information in its required reporting, but must remove details that identify people.
- Stronger tools for Kentucky state audits: benefit, low. State agencies must provide software and access rights needed to retrieve covered records, at no cost to the Auditor. The Auditor must obtain state and national background checks for current and prospective staff who access federal tax information. This includes contract staff and fingerprint check…
- Three counties get utility project funding: benefit, low. The law funds utility projects through three county fiscal courts. In fiscal year 2024–2025, Knott County gets $3.5 million for water and Leslie County gets $3.4 million for a gas line. Clark County gets $3 million for a water project in fiscal year 2025–2026. These grants do not specify which hous…
- Town centers and historic buildings get funding: benefit, low. Pineville gets $1 million each fiscal year for courthouse square construction, renovation, and water expansion; covered years are not specified. Letcher County Fiscal Court gets $945,000 in fiscal year 2024–2025 and $925,000 in fiscal year 2025–2026 for Fleming-Neon Rising. It also gets $3 million…
- Two county libraries receive state support: benefit, low. Russell County Fiscal Court gets $3 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for its Library Community Development Center project. Ballard County Fiscal Court gets $50,000 each fiscal year to support the Ballard-Carlisle County Public Library. The covered years for Ballard County's per-year grant are not s…
- Whitley County gets corrections renovation funding: benefit, low. Whitley County Fiscal Court gets $7.5 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for corrections-related renovations. The money funds local facilities. This provision does not specify changes to individual legal duties, services, or household costs.
- Local fire-code appeals get review deadlines: benefit, low. Local governments enforcing fire codes can create five-member appeals boards with local lawmakers' approval; at least three members must be nonemployees. Appeals must identify the disputed fire-code rules and explain the challenge. Boards must hear appeals within 15 days of receipt, give certified-…
- New legislative oversight of Kentucky Medicaid: benefit, low. The law creates a legislative board to review Kentucky Medicaid's services, costs, and administration and recommend changes. State agencies, Medicaid managed-care plans, the state pharmacy benefit manager, and other Medicaid contractors must provide requested information, including contracts. The b…
- Russell County gets hospital expansion funding: benefit, low. Russell County Fiscal Court gets $10 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 to support a hospital expansion. The grant funds healthcare facilities. It does not specify changes to services, insurance coverage, eligibility, or household medical bills.
- Emergency construction money for struggling schools: benefit, low. The law provides $5 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 to the Emergency and Targeted Investment Fund for school facilities. The School Facilities Construction Commission must prioritize schools with structural failures and no capacity to borrow through bonds.
- More science learning resources for students: benefit, low. The Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky gets $460,000 in each funded fiscal year for science, technology, engineering, and math resources. The law does not set individual eligibility rules or provide direct payments to students.
- Beattyville gets utility meter replacement funding: benefit, low. Beattyville's Radio Read Meter Replacement Project receives $1.2725 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 and $600,000 in 2025–2026. The law does not state how the project changes household utility bills.
- Communities get property and revitalization funding: benefit, low. Taylor County Fiscal Court receives $2.95 million in each fiscal year, 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, for its Community Development Project. In 2024–2025, Booneville receives $1.25 million for land purchases and renovations. Owsley County Fiscal Court receives $1.25 million that year for land purchases,…
- Counties receive regional development project funding: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, 1CC receives $10 million for land purchases, construction, and joint regional economic development projects. Barren County Fiscal Court receives $1 million that year for projects serving multiple counties. Hart County Fiscal Court receives $1.5 million that year for variou…
- Eastern Kentucky tourism projects get funding: benefit, low. The East Kentucky Heritage Foundation gets $6 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 to build cabins at Raven Rock Resort. The money comes through the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. Harlan County Fiscal Court gets $500,000 for Backroads of Appalachia in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026.
- Kentucky airports get equipment and project grants: benefit, low. The law provides $10.6 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for $200,000 grants to each general aviation airport. Recipients must have an automated dependent surveillance broadcast tracking system installed or use grant money to buy and install one. A separate $600,000 goes through the Department of Av…
- Kentucky arts and museums get funding: benefit, low. The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts gets $6 million for renovations in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. For 2024–2025, Louisville Metro gets $1.5 million for the Grand Lyric Theater. The Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet provides $4 million that year to support moving the Avia…
- Kentucky development sites get project funding: benefit, low. For fiscal year 2024–2025, Covington gets $10 million through the Department for Local Government for Central Riverfront site infrastructure. Mercer County Fiscal Court gets $11.5 million for the Wilkinson Farm Mega Site. Kenton County Fiscal Court gets $6 million for SparkHaus and $5 million to pr…
- Kentucky Horse Park gets upgrade funding: benefit, low. Kentucky Horse Park gets $18 million for upgrades in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Uses include its restaurant, competition barns and stalls, entertainment pavilions, campground sites and bathhouse. The funding also covers a maintenance pool and the International Museum of the Horse.
- Kentucky museums receive facility and program grants: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame receives $150,000 for facility upgrades. The International Bluegrass Music Museum receives $500,000 through the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet for its Bluegrass Capital Initiative. The National Quilt Museum receives $400,000 through that…
- Kentucky riverports get construction funding: benefit, low. Public riverports get $7.5 million in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, with unspent 2024–2025 funds carrying forward. Within that yearly amount, West Kentucky Regional Riverport Authority gets $250,000 for predevelopment archaeological work. Each existing public riverport gets $750,000…
- Local tourism and recreation projects get funding: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, Laurel County Fiscal Court receives $1 million for regional fairgrounds. Williamsburg receives $1.5 million for its recreational vehicle campground and water park. Knox County Fiscal Court receives $1.5 million for recreational vehicle park upgrades. Corbin receives $3.5 m…
- Local transportation projects receive state funding: benefit, low. Warren County Fiscal Court receives $301,400 in each fiscal year, 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, to beautify the Interstate 65 corridor. Paducah receives $3.5 million in 2024–2025 to finish a federally funded Build Grant project. The law does not specify direct household payments or savings from these pr…
- Rural grant and development efforts get funding: benefit, low. Partners for Rural Impact gets $500,000 in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 to help secure federal grants. Taylor County Fiscal Court gets $150,000 in 2024–2025 and $350,000 in 2025–2026 for rural economic development. Those initiatives operate with Campbellsville University. The law do…
- Tourism communities get grants and planning funds: benefit, low. In fiscal year 2024–2025, the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet provides $200,000 to the Muhlenberg County Tourism Commission. The cabinet also provides $720,000 for Trail Town grants, capped at $30,000 per grant. Through the Parks budget unit, Dream Big Burnside Authority receives $100,000 to stu…
- Washington County gets gas upgrade funding: benefit, low. Washington County Fiscal Court gets $1.2655 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for natural gas infrastructure upgrades. The law does not set a change in household gas rates.
- More money for rural utility poles: benefit, low. The Rural Infrastructure Improvement Fund gets $19.9881 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for utility pole replacements. This includes $4 million for pole owners to hire temporary workers. Another $2 million goes to the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives to administer the work. The Office…
- Research institutions get equipment and funding: benefit, low. Covington Life Science Center receives $1.25 million in each fiscal year, 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, for equipment and facilities. The University of Kentucky receives $1 million in 2024–2025 for immune dysregulation research. These appropriations do not create household payments or health coverage ri…
- More financing options for housing development: benefit, low. Multifamily housing projects that add at least 48 homes to Kentucky’s housing supply can qualify for bond financing. The law sets no financing amount and does not require those homes to be affordable. Separately, Booneville gets $500,000 in fiscal year 2024–2025 for a home development initiative. T…
- Continued funding for university LifeWorks program: benefit, low. The law continues a one-time allocation of $2.2 million in each funded fiscal year for the LifeWorks at WKU Program. The money supports operations, renovations, and property purchases. Money unspent at the end of fiscal year 2024–2025 carries forward to 2025–2026.
- Kentucky funds manufacturing and talent efforts: benefit, low. The eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute receives $1 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for operations. Shaping Our Appalachian Region receives $1.5 million that year to attract remote talent. These grants fund organizations and do not establish direct household payments or individual eligibili…
- More funding for local workforce training: benefit, low. Green County Fiscal Court gets $2 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 for employment stabilization and workforce development. A regional training center through the Lake Cumberland Area Development District gets $8 million that year and $500,000 in 2025–2026. Western Kentucky Community and Technical C…
- Western Kentucky University athletic bonds reauthorized: benefit, low. The law adds a $50 million reauthorization of agency bonds for Western Kentucky University's athletic facilities. The financing supports construction, renovations, and improvements. The project listing separately shows $10 million in agency bonds. These figures describe bond financing, not direct h…
- Reviewed entities pay discretionary Ombudsman costs: cost, low. Entities subject to discretionary Ombudsman investigations, reviews, evaluations, information analysis, or related work must pay the office's expenses. Charges use the Auditor's rate for audit work. The office must track its time and expenses. The law sets no total charge and imposes no direct hous…
- State audit powers and disclosure rules expand: mixed, low. Authorized agents, the deputy auditor, and the ombudsman can use the Auditor's powers for work authorized by law. This includes access to relevant records and property. Officers, employees, and contractors face obstruction penalties for preventing, attempting to prevent, or obstructing audits, exam…
- Health cabinet complaints get stronger oversight: mixed, low. The Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman can investigate health and family services cabinet actions or inaction without waiting for final decisions. Investigations can follow complaints or start on the office's own initiative, and cover cabinet units, employees, and contractors. Covered parties can…
- Edmonson infrastructure grant requires local funding: mixed, low. Edmonson County Fiscal Court receives a $2 million emergency infrastructure grant in fiscal year 2024–2025 through the Department for Local Government. The grant requires at least $1 million in local matching funds. It does not establish a direct household payment.
- Frankfort convention grant requires matching funds: mixed, low. Frankfort receives $11.25 million in fiscal year 2024–2025 to build the Frankfort Convention Center. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match. The appropriation supports construction, not direct household payments.
- Rail projects get grants with limits: mixed, low. Two rail pilot programs each get $7.5 million in each of fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. One supports Class II and III railroad lines, corridors, equipment, and capital work; the other funds industrial rail access and safety improvements. Both require non-state funds covering at least 50% of…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Robby Mills (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Donald Douglas (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-27 | Senate | passed | pass | 31 | 6 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | passed | pass | 72 | 19 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 69 | 19 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | Senate | passed | pass | 30 | 7 |   |
| 2025-02-28 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 34 | 0 |   |

## Actions (47)

- 2025-03-28: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 117)
- 2025-03-28: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: received in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: passed 72-19 (House)
- 2025-03-27: line vetoes partially overridden (House)
- 2025-03-27: posted for consideration of Governor's veto
- 2025-03-27: taken from Rules (House)
- 2025-03-27: to Rules (H) (House)
- 2025-03-27: received in House (House)
- 2025-03-27: passed 31-6 (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: line vetoes partially overridden (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto
- 2025-03-27: to Rules (S) (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: received in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: line items vetoed
- 2025-03-14: delivered to Governor
- 2025-03-14: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: passed 30-7 (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Senate concurred in House amendment Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1) and (3), and Committee Amendment (1-title) (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendments (1) and (3), Committee Substitute (1), and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House)
- 2025-03-14: to Rules (S) (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: received in Senate (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: 3rd reading, passed 69-19 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1) and (3), and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House)
- 2025-03-14: floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute (House)
- 2025-03-13: floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute (House)
- 2025-03-13: placed in the Orders of the Day (House)
- 2025-03-13: taken from Rules (House)
- 2025-03-13: reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House)
- 2025-03-11: recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (House)
- 2025-03-11: reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules (House)
- 2025-03-04: to Local Government (H) (House)
- 2025-03-04: returned to Committee on Committees (H) (House)
- 2025-03-04: 1st reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: taken from Committee on Committees (H) (House)
- 2025-03-04: to Committee on Committees (H) (House)
- 2025-03-04: received in House (House)
- 2025-02-28: 3rd reading, passed 34-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 28, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: returned to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S) (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: 1st reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-26: taken from Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S) (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: introduced in Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Current, 2025-03-27: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb25/bill.pdf)
- Introduced, 2025-02-17: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb25/orig_bill.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 501: AN ACT relating to pharmaceutical drugs. (became law)
- HB 664: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle and declaring an emergency. (signed)
- HB 606: AN ACT relating to economic development. (signed)
- HB 421: AN ACT relating to colorectal cancer screenings. (signed)
- HB 555: AN ACT relating to local government financial practices. (signed)
- HB 493: AN ACT relating to the towing and storage of motor vehicles. (signed)

## Sources
- [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb25/bill.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/25RS/sb25/orig_bill.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 501: AN ACT relating to pharmaceutical drugs.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB501-2025RS)
- [HB 664: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB664-2025RS)
- [HB 606: AN ACT relating to economic development.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB606-2025RS)
- [HB 421: AN ACT relating to colorectal cancer screenings.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB421-2025RS)
- [HB 555: AN ACT relating to local government financial practices.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB555-2025RS)
- [HB 493: AN ACT relating to the towing and storage of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB493-2025RS)
- [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-SB25-2025RS (as of 2026-10-17).