# Kentucky SB 8: AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency. Kentucky SB 8, AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Brandon Smith (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-04-15 (became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 185)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB8-2026RS - 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 8 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency. - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-02 - Last action: 2026-04-15, became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 185) - Sponsor: Brandon Smith (Republican) - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: Administrative Regulations And Proceedings, Attorney General, Auditor Of Public Accounts, Boards And Commissions, Confirmation Of Appointments, Effective Dates, Emergency, Public Officers And Employees, Public Utilities, State Agencies, State Employees - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (138 yes, 21 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New rules for Kentucky utility regulators: benefit, medium. The Public Service Commission has five members picked by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Two must be licensed attorneys with 7 years of practice, and three must have training and 5 years’ experience in fields like economics, engineering, or utility management. Members must be Kentucky vot… - Utility commission gains staffing and purchasing control: benefit, medium. The commission is independent and only uses the Energy and Environment Cabinet for tasks it requests. It runs its own purchasing under state procurement rules and does not need approval from the Finance Cabinet to proceed. The executive director is chosen by the commission (with Senate confirmation… - Local voice and rules for power plant siting: benefit, low. A nine-member state board now oversees siting for merchant electric plants and transmission. The five utility commissioners and two cabinet secretaries serve, plus two local ad hoc members from the affected county or counties. Ad hoc members and their immediate family cannot have a direct financial… - Up to 3% school tax on utilities and cable: cost, medium. In school districts that charge a school tax, your utility, cable, or satellite provider can raise your rate by that tax, up to 3%. The bill must show this amount and label it "Rate increase for school tax." The increase applies only in districts where the provider pays the school tax under state l… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon Smith (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robby Mills (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robin L. Webb (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephen West (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-01 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 76 | 11 | | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | passed | pass | 32 | 5 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | passed | pass | 30 | 5 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-15: became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 185) - 2026-04-13: filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State - 2026-04-02: delivered to Governor - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-01: passed 32-5 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5) (Senate) - 2026-04-01: posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5) (House) - 2026-04-01: taken from Rules (Senate) - 2026-04-01: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-01: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-01: 3rd reading, passed 76-11 with Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5) (House) - 2026-03-31: floor amendments (4) and (5) filed to Committee Substitute (2) (House) - 2026-03-27: floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute (2) (House) - 2026-03-27: placed in the Orders of the Day (House) - 2026-03-27: taken from Rules (House) - 2026-03-27: reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (2) and committee amendment (1) (House) - 2026-03-24: recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (House) - 2026-03-20: floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute (House) - 2026-03-20: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-19: floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (House) - 2026-03-19: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-17: to Natural Resources & Energy (H) (House) - 2026-03-10: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-03-10: received in House (House) - 2026-03-06: passed 30-5-1 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-06: floor amendment (5) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-06: floor amendment (4) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-06: floor amendment (3) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-06: floor amendment (2) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-06: 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-05: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 06 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Floor Amendments (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) filed to the Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-05: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-04: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: to Natural Resources & Energy (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-01: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb8/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-03-02: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb8/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 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb8/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb8/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 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) - [HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB727-2026RS) - [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-SB8-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).