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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky reduces city utility franchise sale timeline from eighteen months to six months before expiration
Last action · April 13, 2026: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 108)Sponsors: Ryan Bivens and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Kentucky cities must now provide for the sale of a new utility at least six months before an existing franchise expires, shortened from the previous requirement of eighteen months.
Utility providers and municipal legislative bodies face a shortened timeline for negotiating and bidding on local utility s, altering the planning window for municipal service contracts.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
city legislative bodies
Municipal legislative bodies must adjust their administrative timelines to arrange for utility franchise sales at least six months before expiration instead of eighteen months.
utility franchise purchasers
Bidders and utility operators face a modified bidding schedule and updated notice windows for securing city franchises.
utility patrons
Utility customers are affected by franchise agreements that continue to specify service quality and, in first-class cities, service pricing.
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
How far in advance must cities sell a new utility franchise under the new law?
Are all cities required to set prices for utility services in the franchise terms?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
13 actions- Apr 13, 2026HouseEnrolledsigned by Governor (Acts Ch. 108)
- Apr 1, 2026HouseEnrolledenrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
- Mar 31, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 38-0 received in House
- Mar 26, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026
- Mar 25, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
- Mar 18, 2026SenateCommitteeto Natural Resources & Energy (S)
Show 7 earlier actions
- Feb 12, 2026SenateIntroducedreceived in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
- Feb 11, 2026HouseFloor3rd reading, passed 93-0
- Feb 9, 2026Houseposted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 10 2026
- Feb 6, 2026HouseFloor2nd reading, to Rules
- Feb 5, 2026Housereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- Jan 20, 2026HouseCommitteeto Natural Resources & Energy (H)
- Jan 12, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced 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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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