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KentuckySB 642025 Regular SessionSenate

AN ACT relating to key infrastructure assets and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Brandon J. Storm (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Effective Dates, EmergencyLocal MandateCorrections Impact

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Infrastructure tampering brings felony charges

Kentucky law expands first-degree criminal mischief, adding legal protection for key infrastructure and felony exposure for prohibited conduct. It covers intentionally or wantonly damaging or possessing an asset, or tampering with its operations. The conduct must make the asset partly or fully unusable, or make its operation harmful or dangerous. The person must lack both the right to act and reasonable grounds to believe they have that right. First-degree criminal mischief also covers property damage causing at least $500 in loss, including damage by tenants to residential rentals. The offense is generally a Class D felony; in an area affected by a declared emergency, it is a Class C felony. Before trial, repairing or replacing the property, making full restitution, or completing court-ordered community service qualifies for misdemeanor treatment. The charge becomes a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense or a Class A misdemeanor for later offenses. Court-ordered community service must total at least 60 hours and reflect the amount of damage. The law took effect immediately upon becoming law.

More infrastructure protected by trespass penalties

Kentucky law expands legal protection for key infrastructure, including cable, phone, broadband, and electrical highway equipment. Covered sites also include power, petroleum, chemical, natural gas, rail, drinking water, detention, military weapons, and wireless communications facilities. Commercial food plants and animal feeding operations are covered, but retail food businesses and home-based food processors are excluded. The law bars unlawful entry or remaining on covered property, drone flights intended to harm, damage, or surveil, and specified recording activities. These include operating drones or recording equipment on or above covered property, or recording or distributing an asset's parts, procedures, or actions. Trespass is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for later offenses. Exceptions cover ownership, tenancy, owner-granted access rights, government drone use, emergency work, and official law enforcement or regulatory duties. They also cover commercial drone use under federal aviation rules, satellites, insurance assessments, court-ordered drone flights, and legitimate utility business. The law took effect immediately upon becoming law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brandon J. Storm

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • D. Yates

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Greg Elkins

    Republican • Senate

  • Gerald A. Neal

    Democrat • Senate

  • Matthew Deneen

    Republican • Senate

  • Scott Madon

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 172 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/13/2025

passed

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2025

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 42)

    3/19/2025

  2. delivered to Governor

    3/13/2025

  3. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

    3/13/2025Senate

  4. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

    3/13/2025Senate

  5. passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/13/2025Senate

  6. Senate concurred in House Committee Substitute (1)

    3/13/2025Senate

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

    3/13/2025House

  8. taken from Rules (S)

    3/13/2025Senate

  9. to Rules (S)

    3/12/2025Senate

  10. received in Senate

    3/12/2025Senate

  11. 3rd reading, passed 97-0 with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/11/2025House

  12. Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title) withdrawn

    3/7/2025House

  13. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 07, 2025

    3/6/2025House

  14. 2nd reading, to Rules

    3/6/2025House

  15. floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (2-title) filed to bill

    3/5/2025House

  16. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

    3/5/2025House

  17. to Judiciary (H)

    2/25/2025House

  18. to Committee on Committees (H)

    2/13/2025House

  19. received in House

    2/13/2025House

  20. 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1-title)

    2/12/2025Senate

  21. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 12, 2025

    2/11/2025Senate

  22. 2nd reading, to Rules

    2/7/2025Senate

  23. floor amendment (1-title) filed

    2/6/2025Senate

  24. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

    2/6/2025Senate

  25. to Judiciary (S)

    2/4/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    3/13/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/8/2025

    PDF

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