Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB607: AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments.
Status: Chaptered, April 14, 2026
Amend KRS 65.003, relating to local ethics, to specify the composition of the commission in a consolidated local government and allow the commission to use the county attorney's office for legal council by procurement methods; amend KRS 67C.103 to place controls on council district formation and redistricting and to allow regulations issued by local health boards and local solid waste management boards operating under KRS Chapter 109 or 212 that apply to individuals residing or businesses operating within the jurisdiction of the consolidated local government be subject to being overridden by the consolidated local government council within 45 days of issuance; prohibit the council from not accepting legislation with specified form requirements of KRS 83A.060; allow the consolidated local government council, or either of the 2 major political caucuses, to hire or retain legal counsel; create a new section of KRS Chapter 67C to require an office of internal audit to be created and headed by a chief audit executive who is appointed; amend KRS 67C.115 and 69.210 to conform; amend KRS 67C.111 to allow cities of 3,000, rather than 6,000, to be incorporated in the boundaries of the consolidated local government and set the petition requirement relating to incorporation to 66% rather than 75% and grant 1 year for the petition to be completed; amend KRS 67C.147 to allow the consolidated local government council to sub-classify property into land and improvements for purposes of levying the ad valorem tax within the area formerly comprising the city of the first class; establish controls on the calculation of the compensating tax rate and the 4% tax rate, and the application of the homestead exemption; outline the transition of presently serving ethics commission members; outline transition from the current chief audit executive to the appointed position.
What the bill says
An act relating to consolidated local governments.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 65.003 is amended to read as follows: (1) (a) The governing body of each city, county, urban-county, consolidated local government, and charter county, shall adopt, by ordinance, a code of ethics which shall apply to all elected officials of the city, county, urban-county, consolidated local government, or charter county, and to appointed officials and employees of the city, county, urban-county, consolidated local government, or charter county government, or agencies created jointly, as specified in the code of ethics. The elected officials of a city, county, or consolidated local government to which a code of ethics shall apply include the mayor, county judge/executive, members of the governing body, county clerk, county attorney, sheriff, jailer, coroner, surveyor, and constable but do not include members of any school board. Agencies created jointly may include planning or administrative commissions or boards. Candidates for the local government elective offices specified in this subsection shall comply with the annual financial disclosure statement filing requirements contained in the code of ethics. (b) The boards, officers, and employees of special purpose governmental entities shall be subject to a code of ethics as provided in KRS 65A.070. As used in this section, special purpose governmental entity has …
Sponsors
- Chris Lewis (R, HD-029) · primary sponsor
- John Hodgson (R, HD-036)
- Jared Bauman (R, HD-028)
- Emily Callaway (R, HD-037)
- Ken Fleming (R, HD-048)
- Jason Nemes (R, HD-033)
- Susan Witten (R, HD-031)
Latest actions
- : delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 165)
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : passed 32-6
- : to Rules (S)
- : received in Senate
- : passed 77-18
- : veto overridden
- : posted for consideration of Governor's veto
- : taken from Rules
Votes
- Senate: OVERRIDE VETO FINAL PASSAGE HB 607 RSN# 4172 (April 14, 2026): 32 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House: Veto Override RCS# 470 (April 14, 2026): 77 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS HB 607 RSN# 4095 (March 31, 2026): 32 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 272 (March 17, 2026): 76 yea, 14 nay, passed
Subjects: Special Districts, Taxation, Local Mandate, Consolidated Local Governments, Redistricting, Audits And Auditors, Local Government, Public Officers And Employees
Common questions
- What is HB607?
- HB607 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to consolidated local governments.
- What does HB607 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to consolidated local governments.
- What is the status of HB607?
- Chaptered as of April 14, 2026. Latest action: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 165) (April 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB607?
- Chris Lewis (R, HD-029), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB607?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb607.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.