Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB844: AN ACT relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities.
Status: In committee, March 25, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 96 to define "municipal interlocal gas utility"; provide that a municipal interlocal gas utility is exempt from the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission and KRS Chapter 278 exempt as provided in KRS 278.495; authorize a municipal interlocal gas utility to determine its own service territory through official acts of its governing authority; allow a municipal interlocal gas utility to have the primary right to provide service in its service territory and to have the right to be the first provider for new customers in the service territory; authorize the municipal interlocal gas utility to acquire an existing natural gas system through eminent domain and specify the valuation method for the acquired plant or system; exempt a municipal interlocal gas utility from the provisions of KRS 96.5375, 96.045, and 96.538; amend KRS 65.240 to allow a public agency to acquire natural gas facilities inside or outside of its jurisdictional boundaries; amend KRS 96.5375 to allow a municipal interlocal gas utility to extend an existing natural gas system or construct a new system inside or outside its constituent cities' boundaries; specify the valuation of natural gas distribution system or plant acquired by eminent domain; define "municipal interlocal gas utility"; amend KRS 278.010 to exempt to municipal interlocal gas utilities from the definition of "utility" for the purpose of establishing the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission; define "municipal interlocal gas utility"; amend KRS 96.045 and 96.538 to conform; RETROACTIVE.
What the bill says
An act relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 96 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) As used in this section, "municipal interlocal gas utility" means an interlocal agency as defined in KRS 65.230 whose membership includes only city governments for the sole purpose of operating a system for the construction, acquisition, distribution, transmission, furnishing, or selling of natural gas. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a municipal interlocal gas utility shall not be subject to the provisions or requirements of KRS Chapter 278, the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder, or the regulatory jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission for any purpose, except as provided in KRS 278.495. (3) A municipal interlocal gas utility may exercise the powers and authority provided in this chapter and Section 2 of this Act, in addition to all other applicable provisions of law. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a municipal interlocal gas utility shall also possess the following powers: (a) The authority to define, enlarge, or reduce its service territory through the official acts of its governing authority; (b) Except as related to a city utility or another municipal interlocal gas utility, the primary right to provide services, at …
Sponsors
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : 2nd reading
- : taken from Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Special Districts, Oil And Natural Gas, Public Utilities, Eminent Domain And Condemnation, Boards And Commissions, Local Mandate, Interlocal Cooperation, Cities
Common questions
- What is HB844?
- HB844 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities.
- What does HB844 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to municipal interlocal gas utilities.
- What is the status of HB844?
- In committee as of March 25, 2026. Latest action: returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (March 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB844?
- Josh Bray (R, HD-071).
- Where is the official record for HB844?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb844.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.