Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB651: AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.
Status: Signed into law, April 13, 2026
Amend KRS 224A.320 to require that eligible funding recipients for the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) Program meet 3 or more of the specified eligibility criteria instead of 1; exclude projects that expand the utility service of funding applicants from the definition of "eligible project"; require that a funding application include a detailed budget for all proposed project expenses; allow the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board to evaluate and score funding applications for proposed projects in phases; require that approved eligible funding recipients adopt best management practices that would address the performance deficiencies that made the applicant eligible for funding; remove the funding evaluation criteria categories of current accounts payable turnover ratio and current days' sales in accounts receivable ratio; remove the requirement from the evaluation criteria that the applicant's receipt of a notice of violation of drinking water or other water quality standards occur in the past year; add to the funding eligibility criteria that the funding applicant can demonstrate that the amount of stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration entering the funding applicant's system seriously impairs its effectiveness; add to the funding evaluation criteria that the funding applicant previously received funding through the program for a prior phase of the proposed project; add to the funding evaluation criteria that the funding applicant can demonstrate that the estimated costs are comparable to actual costs incurred for similar projects; add to the funding evaluation criteria that a licensed professional engineer signed an attestation of the application's veracity; require that in the evaluation of the funding applications, the board separately score and individually rank all eligible projects, with additional consideration given to projects that provide or restore safe water or wastewater util
What the bill says
An act relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 224A.320 is amended to read as follows: (1) As used in KRS 224A.320 to 224A.325: (a) "Board" means the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority board established in KRS 224A.030; (b) "Eligible funding recipient" means a public water or wastewater system that meets three (3)[one (1)] or more of the criteria listed in subsection (7)(d)1. to 8.[9.] of this section; (c) "Eligible project": 1. Means a project that would require capital or non-capital expenses including but not limited to expenses relating to: a.[1.] Developing technical, operational, and maintenance resources and expertise; b.[2.] Improving utility infrastructure planning, repair, maintenance, renovation, and management of plants and assets; c.[3.] Obtaining technical expertise in areas of rate-setting, cost-ofservice, and proper utility accounting standards for the utility type; d.[4.] Performing and correcting deficiencies from drinking water, wastewater, and financial audits; e.[5.] Providing financing for financial inadequacies, including debt service coverage through relief or refinance of the drinking water or wastewater system's debt; f.[6.] Providing payment assistance for other financial inadequacies including but not limited to excessive maintenance costs, fines and penalties from past violations, or consultants; and HB065140.100 - 149 - XXXX 3/31/2026 7:38 PM Senate Committee Substitute UNOFFICIAL COPY …
Sponsors
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071) · primary sponsor
- Jason Petrie (R, HD-016)
Latest actions
- : signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 116)
- : delivered to Governor
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : passed 93-0
- : House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
- : posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Rules (H)
- : received in House
- : 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
Votes
- Senate: Floor Vote (SCS 1) RSN# 4059 (March 31, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Final Passage RCS# 399 (March 31, 2026): 93 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 182 (March 3, 2026): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Sewer Systems, Effective Dates, Emergency, Public Utilities, Public Works, Water Supply, Engineers And Surveyors, Boards And Commissions
Common questions
- What is HB651?
- HB651 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.
- What does HB651 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to public water and wastewater systems and declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of HB651?
- Signed into law as of April 13, 2026. Latest action: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 116) (April 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB651?
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB651?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb651.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.