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HB 651KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState BillSigned into law

Enacted

Kentucky Updates Eligibility and Application Rules for Distressed Water and Wastewater Systems

Original title: AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.

Last action · April 13, 2026: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 116)Sponsors: Josh Bray and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

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What This Bill Does

Kentucky revises the eligibility criteria, application process, and reporting mandates for the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems Program, taking effect immediately upon the Governor's approval on April 13, 2026.

Why it matters

Local water and wastewater utilities facing financial distress or environmental violations must meet updated scoring criteria and compliance standards to qualify for state infrastructure funding grants and loans.

Background

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky enacts state laws, including measures addressing public infrastructure and municipal utilities. context

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

Public water and wastewater systems

Systems must meet updated eligibility criteria, submit corrective action plans, and adopt mandatory best management practices to receive program funds.

Directly affected

Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board

The board is tasked with administering the program, holding monthly meetings, scoring applications, enforcing compliance, and submitting regular reports.

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

What types of projects are eligible for funding under the Kentucky WWATERS Program?

Eligible projects include capital or non-capital expenses for improving utility infrastructure planning, repair, and maintenance, obtaining technical expertise in rate-setting and accounting, correcting audit deficiencies, refinancing debt, and extending service to unserved or underserved areas.

What happens if a funding recipient misuses awarded funds or fails to comply with program rules?

The recipient must forfeit all moneys received, and all outstanding funding amounts including accrued interest become immediately due and payable to the authority.

When does this Act take effect?

An emergency was declared, causing the Act to take effect immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor on April 13, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

12 actions

Apr 13, 2026HouseEnrolled
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 116)
Apr 1, 2026HouseEnrolled
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
Mar 31, 2026HouseFloor
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) as a consent bill posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) received in House to Rules (H) posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) passed 93-0
Mar 26, 2026SenateFloor
taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S) 2nd reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
Mar 25, 2026SenateCommittee
taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S) 1st reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
Mar 6, 2026SenateCommittee
to Appropriations & Revenue (S)

Show 6 earlier actions

Mar 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Mar 3, 2026HouseFloor
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) taken from Rules placed in the Orders of the Day 3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
Mar 2, 2026HouseFloor
taken from Appropriations & Revenue (H) 2nd reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
Feb 27, 2026HouseCommittee
taken from Natural Resources & Energy (H) 1st reading returned to Natural Resources & Energy (H) reassigned to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
to Natural Resources & Energy (H)
Feb 17, 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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Stricter Oversight and Compliance for Troubled Utilities

The legislation tightens conditions for state water assistance by requiring mandatory adoption of best management practices, rigorous corrective action plans, and strict forfeiture rules for non-compliance.

Kentucky Infrastructure Authority Legislative Research Commission

Connected Entities

Legislative Research Commission, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act and 2 more

OrganizationLegislative Research Commission“Receives quarterly and annual reports on program funding.”Map →

otherSafe Drinking Water Act“Federal statute referenced in system violation criteria.”Map →

otherClean Water Act“Federal statute referenced in system violation criteria.”Map →

OrganizationKentucky Infrastructure Authority“Administers the Kentucky WWATERS Program and board direction.”Map →

OrganizationInterim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue“Receives program status reports and annual funding evaluations.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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