Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB918: AN ACT relating to fish and wildlife law enforcement.
Status: In committee, March 11, 2026
Amend KRS 15.519 to make game wardens employed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources subject to the same requirements for entering or accessing private open land as other law enforcement officers; amend KRS 150.090 to conform; amend KRS 235.310 to make boating enforcement officers employed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources subject to the same requirements for entering or accessing private open land as other law enforcement officers.
What the bill says
An act relating to fish and wildlife law enforcement.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to fish and wildlife law enforcement. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 15.519 is amended to read as follows: (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Officer" means any local, state, or federal officer who is employed or contracted by a governmental agency in Kentucky and 2. Peace officer as defined in KRS 446.010;[ and] 3. Police officer as defined in KRS 15.420; and 4. Game warden as defined in KRS 150.010; (b) "Private open land" means land, including open fields, but excluding any homes or buildings and the curtilage around them, that is owned, leased, used, or lawfully occupied by a person or a nongovernmental entity; and (c) "Search warrant" means a warrant that is supported by individualized probable cause and issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. (2) An officer shall not enter or access private open land for any covert surveillance or installation of surveillance devices without a search warrant unless the (b) Upon probable cause, is responding to an exigent circumstance, including a life-threatening emergency or another immediate threat to public safety that was either reported to or personally observed by the officer; (c) Is dispatching crippled, distressed, dangerous, or invasive wildlife that the officer has personally observed; or …
Sponsors
- Savannah Maddox (R, HD-061) · primary sponsor
- T.J. Roberts (R, HD-066)
- Josh Calloway (R, HD-010)
Latest actions
- : to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: State Agencies, Property, Hunting And Fishing, Peace Officers And Law Enforcement, Fish And Wildlife, Boats And Boating
Common questions
- What is HB918?
- HB918 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to fish and wildlife law enforcement.
- What does HB918 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to fish and wildlife law enforcement.
- What is the status of HB918?
- In committee as of March 11, 2026. Latest action: to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H) (March 11, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB918?
- Savannah Maddox (R, HD-061), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB918?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb918.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.