Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB397: AN ACT relating to trophy catfish.
Status: In committee, April 15, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 150 to define terms; require that any permit issued to take a lower Ohio River trophy catfish shall expire on May 31, 2027; prohibit the issuance or reissuance of an any lower Ohio River trophy catfish permits after that date; after the effective date of the Act, prohibit the transfer or reissuance of any lower Ohio River trophy catfish permit; prohibit the transportation of live trophy catfish except by boat while in the course of legally fishing; amend KRS 150.990 to make a violation of the prohibition on transporting live trophy catfish a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for each subsequent offense.
What the bill says
An act relating to trophy catfish.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to trophy catfish. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 150 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section: (a) "Lower Ohio River trophy catfish" means, for the area downstream of Cannelton Lock and Dam in the Ohio River and its tributaries open to commercial fishing, a: 1. Blue or flathead catfish that is a minimum of forty (40) inches in length; or 2. Channel catfish that is a minimum of thirty (30) inches in length; and (b) "Trophy catfish" means a: 1. Blue or flathead catfish that is a minimum of thirty-five (35) inches in length; or 2. Channel catfish that is a minimum of twenty-eight (28) inches in length. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary: (a) Any permit issued by the department to take lower Ohio River trophy catfish shall expire on February 28, 2027, and the department shall not issue or reissue any new lower Ohio River trophy catfish permits after that date; and (b) After the effective date of this Act, a permit to take lower Ohio River trophy catfish shall not be transferred or reissued if surrendered. (3) A person engaged in commercial fishing shall not transport live trophy catfish except by …
Sponsors
- DJ Johnson (R, HD-013) · primary sponsor
- Kimberly Banta (R, HD-063)
- Vanessa Grossl (R, HD-088)
- Matthew Lehman (D, HD-067)
Latest actions
- : recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : received in House
- : floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Natural Resources & Energy (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Crimes And Punishments, Hunting And Fishing, Waterways And Dams, Corrections Impact, Fish And Wildlife, Boats And Boating
Common questions
- What is HB397?
- HB397 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to trophy catfish.
- What does HB397 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to trophy catfish.
- What is the status of HB397?
- In committee as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (April 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB397?
- DJ Johnson (R, HD-013), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB397?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb397.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.