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HB 506KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState BillBecame law without the governor's signature

Enacted

Kentucky grants Department of Fish and Wildlife sole commissioner appointment authority and restructures game warden compensation

Original title: AN ACT relating to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Last action · April 14, 2026: became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 148)Sponsors: David Hale and 7 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Kentucky law grants the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources commission sole authority to appoint its commissioner and establishes competitive salary structures for division law enforcement officers. The legislation removes game wardens from the law enforcement foundation program fund supplement while providing an equivalent annual training stipend from the .

Why it matters

Changes governance authority and compensation structures for state wildlife personnel and law enforcement, shifting appointment powers entirely to the commission and setting distinct pay rules for department game wardens.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

sworn employees of the department's Division of Law Enforcement

Their salary structures must be made competitive with other state and local law enforcement personnel to meet recruitment and retention goals.

Directly affected

game wardens

They receive an annual training stipend from the game and fish fund instead of an annual supplement from the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the authority to appoint the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources?

The department commission has the sole authority to appoint a commissioner who possesses knowledge and experience in wildlife protection, conservation, and restoration.

How are game wardens compensated under the new law?

Game wardens receive an annual training stipend commensurate to the annual supplement paid to police officers, paid from the .

What is the minimum amount required to be set aside for hunger relief?

The department must set aside at least $25,000 each fiscal year from the to promote hunger relief through wildlife management and conservation efforts.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Became law without the governor's signature.

Procedural history

14 actions

Apr 14, 2026HouseEnrolled
became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 148)
Apr 13, 2026House
filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State
Apr 1, 2026HouseEnrolled
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
Mar 31, 2026HouseFloor
posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026 3rd reading, passed 38-0 received in House
Mar 26, 2026HouseFloor
2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill
Mar 25, 2026House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar

Show 8 earlier actions

Mar 18, 2026SenateCommittee
to Natural Resources & Energy (S)
Mar 13, 2026SenateIntroduced
received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Mar 12, 2026HouseFloor
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (2) taken from Rules placed in the Orders of the Day 3rd reading, passed 93-0 with Committee Substitute (2)
Mar 4, 2026HouseCommittee
recommitted to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H)
Feb 27, 2026HouseFloor
2nd reading, to Rules
Feb 26, 2026House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H)
Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Government Contact Review Committee, General Assembly, State Treasurer and 4 more

OrganizationGovernment Contact Review Committee“Committee reviewing proposed personal service contracts for the commissioner.”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“Legislative body enacting the measure.”Map →

PersonState Treasurer“Official who receives moneys derived from license sales and deposits them into t”Map →

OrganizationTourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet“Cabinet sanctioning peace officers deemed police officers for foundation program”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Resources“State agency undergoing governance and compensation changes.”Map →

PersonSecretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky“Recipient of the commissioner's annual report of receipts and disbursements.”Map →

OrganizationPersonnel Cabinet“Cabinet whose secretary must take actions to implement sworn employee salary req”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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