Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB683: AN ACT relating to recreation and tourism development.
Status: In committee, March 18, 2026
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 148 to define terms; establish the Burnside Island Development Authority to develop, finance, maintain, and improve lodging and restaurant facilities on General Burnside Island State Park and surrounding area; require the authority to be governed by a board; establish board membership, terms, powers, and duties; establish duties and purposes of the authority; require the board and authority to be subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Act and Kentucky Open Records Act; require the board to acquire authorization from the General Assembly prior to the sale, trade, or disposal of real property valued greater than $400,000 that is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the Department of Parks; require that bond debt service be payable solely from the revenue of the bonds; require the Department of Parks to operate and maintain General Burnside Island State Park until an agreement between the authority and a private partner takes effect; amend KRS 132.195 to exempt the acquisition or lease of General Burnside Island State Park from taxation requirements; set forth the staggering of initial board terms.
What the bill says
An act relating to recreation and tourism development.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to recreation and tourism development. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 148 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: As used in Sections 1 to 6 of this Act: (1) "Authority" or "BIDA" means the Burnside Island Development Authority established in Section 2 of this Act; (2) "BIDA region" means Pulaski County and all of the adjacent counties; (3) "Board" means the board of directors of BIDA; (4) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department for Local Government; (5) "Day" means any calendar day; (6) "Department" means the Department of Parks; and (7) "General Burnside Island State Park" means an approximately four hundred thirty (430) acre island surrounded by the Big South Fork Cumberland River that is located in the Lake Cumberland basin in Pulaski County and situated within the city limits of the City of Burnside, and any other successor park. SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 148 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) The Burnside Island Development Authority is hereby established as an independent, de jure municipal corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth and shall exercise all powers that a corporation may lawfully exercise under the laws of the Commonwealth. The authority shall be a public body corporate …
Sponsors
- Ken Upchurch (R, HD-052) · primary sponsor
- Shane Baker (R, HD-085)
- Josh Branscum (R, HD-083)
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071)
- David Meade (R, HD-080)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 94-0
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 262 (March 17, 2026): 94 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Governor, Land Use, General Assembly, Amusements And Recreations, Economic Development, Boards And Commissions, Local Mandate
Common questions
- What is HB683?
- HB683 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to recreation and tourism development.
- What does HB683 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to recreation and tourism development.
- What is the status of HB683?
- In committee as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB683?
- Ken Upchurch (R, HD-052), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB683?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb683.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.