# Kentucky SB 291: AN ACT relating to recyclers and declaring an emergency. Kentucky SB 291, AN ACT relating to recyclers and declaring an emergency., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J. Storm (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-04-14 (delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 182)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB291-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 291 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to recyclers and declaring an emergency. - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-04-14, delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 182) - Sponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Administrative Regulations And Proceedings, Commerce, Effective Dates, Emergency, Environment And Conservation, Licensing, Motor Vehicles, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, State Agencies, Transportation, Waste Management, Corrections Impact, Local Mandate - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 5 (271 yes, 10 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Nonprofit vehicle dealers get limited exemptions: benefit, low. Nonprofit motor vehicle dealers are exempt from the requirements in Section 17(8) and Section 28. These are limited exemptions, not an exemption from dealer licensing. - Metal buyers must keep records longer: cost, medium. Covered buyers must keep transaction records for two years and purchased property, or an image, for three business days. They must provide required records to law enforcement and allow inspections during business hours. An officer can seize property reasonably believed stolen. If the officer gives… - Recycler license fees and possible bonds: cost, medium. The Motor Vehicle Commission sets annual license fees for automobile, vehicle, machinery, and material recyclers. Each annual fee cannot exceed $500. The Commission can require a $1,000 to $5,000 bond when it has reasonable cause to doubt an operator's financial responsibility or compliance. The op… - Recycler violations bring fines and license loss: cost, medium. The Motor Vehicle Commission can inspect recyclers, order fixes, and seek court orders requiring compliance. It can deny, change, suspend, or revoke licenses for covered violations and keeps a centralized enforcement record. Suspended or revoked licenses must be surrendered immediately, and discipl… - Recyclers need licenses and background checks: cost, medium. Kentucky secondary metals recyclers need a Motor Vehicle Commission license for each location, renewed yearly and displayed. Applicants must be at least 18, apply under oath, and complete a name-based background check. Listed theft-related felony convictions or pleas, felony drug offenses, and inte… - Scrap sellers face age and hour limits: cost, low. Covered buyers cannot purchase regulated metals from sellers under 18 or sellers who refuse required identification and information. Covered retail sales must occur from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. These limits cover specified catalytic converters, returnable metal beverage containers, railroad rails, n… - Recyclers must post warnings and stay reachable: cost, low. Secondary metals recyclers must continuously display a prominent notice using letters two inches high. It must list usual business hours and warn about identification, possible written ownership proof, and criminal penalties for false information. Recyclers must have email, fax, or similar equipmen… - Local metal buying rules need state safeguards: cost, low. Local governments adopting metal-purchase ordinances must include the law's specified minimum provisions. These are KRS 15.232, KRS 16.066, KRS 433.892 to 433.896, Sections 1 to 12 of this Act, and KRS 512.090. Local governments can add further rules beyond that minimum. - Missing metal reports carry criminal risks: cost, low. Failing or refusing to enter a required metals transaction report in LeadsOnline is a Class B misdemeanor. A secondary metals recycler's intentional failure to report or keep required register information also counts as prima facie evidence of knowing property was stolen. That means the failure can… - Metal theft convictions can block scrap sales: mixed, medium. Law enforcement must provide recyclers a searchable list of people convicted of metal-related theft, updated monthly. The list also goes to the Commission for inclusion in LeadsOnline. Before submitting a name, the Commission must give reasonable notice and a chance to be heard. After a final order… - Metal buyers must report seller details: mixed, medium. Covered metal buyers must report each covered transaction in LeadsOnline within two days, subject to the law's exceptions. Registers must include government identification, seller contact details, and transaction dates and times; an identification copy already filed can be referenced. Required reco… - Roadside recyclers face screening with zoning relief: mixed, medium. A recycler less than 1,000 feet from a road right-of-way needs a Commission license. The Commission can license it when artificial screening, natural screening, or the land practically hides it from motorists. An establishment that cannot practically be screened must be removed. A recycler operatin… - Recyclers get time to switch licenses: mixed, low. The law allows eligible recyclers to keep operating for up to 90 days after its effective date while switching licenses. Secondary metals recyclers must hold an existing state registration certificate; other covered recyclers must hold a Department of Highways permit. They must return the old certi… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew Deneen (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-14 | Senate | passed | pass | 32 | 6 | | | 2026-04-14 | House | passed | pass | 83 | 3 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | passed | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-03-27 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 88 | 0 | | | 2026-03-11 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 31 | 1 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-14: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 182) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-04-14: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-14: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-14: passed 83-3 (House) - 2026-04-14: veto overridden (House) - 2026-04-14: posted for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: taken from Rules (H) (House) - 2026-04-14: to Rules (H) (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 passage for consideration of Governor's veto - 2026-04-14: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-14: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Vetoed - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-31: passed 37-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-31: posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-27: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-27: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-27: 3rd reading, passed 88-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-25: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026 (House) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-24: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-17: to Transportation (H) (House) - 2026-03-12: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-03-12: received in House (House) - 2026-03-11: 3rd reading, passed 31-1 (Senate) - 2026-03-09: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 11 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-05: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-04: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-02: to Transportation (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-27: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-27: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb291/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb291/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) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb291/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb291/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) - [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) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [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-SB291-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).