AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency.
Summary
Amend KRS 39A.020 to define "animal health emergency"; amend KRS 39A.100 to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to declare an animal health emergency; grant the Commissioner of Agriculture emergency powers to order veterinary or veterinary technician services, request that the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet waive regulatory requirements relating to the transportation of animal feed stock or medicine; order the quarantine of any livestock, poultry, domesticated animal, article, or equipment serving as a vector of communicable disease; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to establish roadblocks with the assistance of state and local law enforcement and game wardens employed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to prevent the transportation of animals, articles, or equipment ordered quarantined; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to purchase goods and services needed to stop the spread of the communicable disease without regard to the Model Procurement Code established in KRS Chapter 45A; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to request emergency assistance from any local government or special district, state agency, and the Governor in order to initiate any request for federal assistance.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 3, 2026
Signed Apr 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Current/Final
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated to declare an emergency and renumbered to reflect its final engrossed status. The definition of 'Executive action' was significantly restructured to remove specific references to COVID-19 and consolidate the definition into a single, clearer section, while also clarifying that such actions do not create a legal duty of care. Additionally, a new definition for 'Local emergency management agency' was added to the list of defined terms.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by explicitly declaring an emergency, and its applicability was refined by updating the definition of 'Executive action' to be less tied to specific past events like COVID-19 and more focused on general emergency orders.
SCOPE
Added language to declare an emergency, making the bill's provisions immediately active.
DEFINITION
Restructured the definition of 'Executive action' to remove specific COVID-19 references and clarify that these actions do not create a duty of care.
Added a new definition for 'Local emergency management agency' to clarify which entities are covered under the bill.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026
How they voted
44–0
Passed
Total votes 44
Feb 12, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican38
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Apr 3, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 17)
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 37-1
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
to Agriculture (H)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
to Agriculture (S)
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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