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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky HB 761 revises riverport authority powers, ethics rules, and emergency provisions
Last action · March 13, 2026: taken from Local Government (H) 1st reading returned to Local Government (H)Sponsors: Matt Lehman and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky HB 761 updates statutory guidelines for developmental riverport authorities, restricting policy delegation to third parties, establishing Transportation Cabinet oversight and long-range planning, and imposing strict ethics and conflict-of-interest prohibitions on members and employees.
The measure directly impacts how local riverport authorities operate, contract, and govern themselves, placing new ethics restrictions on board members and expanding state-level planning through the Transportation Cabinet.
- Developmental riverport authorities in Kentucky operate under statutory guidelines outlined in KRS Chapter 65 to promote river transportation, commerce, and economic development. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Riverport authority members and employees
Must adhere to newly codified ethics prohibitions, conflict-of-interest rules, and restrictions on outside employment and post-service financial interests.
Transportation Cabinet
Assumes responsibility for providing development oversight and managing a study to develop a long-range capital improvements plan for state riverports.
Commercial vendors and licensees
Subject to updated contracting limitations, fee structures, and published rates established by riverport authorities.
Key Facts
- Riverport authorities are explicitly prohibited from delegating their core powers or ceding policy-making authority to third-party vendors.
- The Transportation Cabinet is tasked with managing a study to develop a long-range capital improvements plan for state riverports, covering ground transportation access, economic impact models, and long-term funding mechanisms.
- Any party aggrieved by rates, charges, or fees set by a riverport authority may appeal to the Circuit Court within ninety days of final publication and notice.
- Riverport authority members and employees are barred from having any financial interest in authority transactions or vendor profits, and this restriction extends for five years following termination of their position.
Show all 6 facts
- Joint riverport authorities established by a combination of more than two counties must adopt a code of ethics at least as stringent as each establishing county and deliver it to the Department for Local Government.
- The Act declares an emergency, taking effect immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon otherwise becoming law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can riverport authorities delegate their powers to private vendors?
What new ethics restrictions apply to riverport authority members and employees?
How long do aggrieved parties have to appeal riverport authority rates or fees?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Mar 13, 2026HouseCommitteetaken from Local Government (H) 1st reading returned to Local Government (H)
- Mar 5, 2026HouseCommitteeto Local Government (H)
- Feb 26, 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Stricter Ethics and Non-Delegation Mandates
The bill codifies a rigid five-year post-service conflict-of-interest ban and explicitly bars riverport authorities from delegating policymaking powers to vendors.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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