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SB 39 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to fish and wildlife and declaring an emergency.

Summary
Amend KRS 150.170 to exempt a bona fide private landowner from any fishing restrictions imposed in KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder relating to creel, possession, size, or method of take; allow a private landowner to extend the same rights and privileges relating to fishing in lakes or ponds located on the landowner's property to any person in written or electronic form; allow the stocking of certain largemouth bass in private lakes and ponds without restriction; exempt a bona fide private landowner from any lake or pond stocking restrictions except with regard to prohibitions on the stocking of invasive fish.
Issues: ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes fishing restrictions and conservation regulations on private land, weakening environmental protections for fish and wildlife.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renamed from a specific fishing act to a broader fish and wildlife act. The most significant change is the expansion of fishing rights, allowing private landowners to extend their license-free fishing privileges to other people who hold a valid fishing license. Additionally, the rules for stocking invasive fish and first-filial largemouth bass were clarified, and exemptions for military personnel and National Guard members were renumbered and slightly modified.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from exclusively regulating fishing on private lakes and ponds to covering all fish and wildlife activities. It also broadened the applicability of fishing exemptions to include non-residents and third parties, provided they possess a valid license.
SCOPE

The title and subject matter were broadened from 'fishing in privately owned lakes and ponds' to 'fish and wildlife,' indicating a wider regulatory scope.

ELIGIBILITY

New provisions allow bona fide owners of private land to grant written or electronic permission to any person with a valid fishing license to fish on their private lakes or ponds without needing a separate license.

Exemptions for resident servicemen on furlough and National Guard members were renumbered and their specific requirements for identification and documentation were slightly adjusted.

The exemption for members of the Kentucky Army or Air National Guard was renumbered and clarified to apply to any military property belonging to the Commonwealth.

REQUIREMENT

Restrictions on stocking invasive fish and stocking first-filial (F1) largemouth bass were clarified and expanded to explicitly include Florida bass, with specific exceptions for lakes located within the 100-year floodplain.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

34–9
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 44
Feb 20, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican38
34 Yea 3 Nay 1
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
34
Key actions
11
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 93)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 38-0
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (4), (2) and (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendments (1), (2) and (4), Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 90-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1), (2) and (4) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
floor amendments (1), (2), (3) and (4) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Committee
to Natural Resources & Energy (H)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 29-8 with Floor Amendment (6)
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (6) filed
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (5) filed
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (4) filed
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendments (1), (2) and (3) filed
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.