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SB 52 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to ensuring fair permitting and licensing practices.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 61 to prohibit public agencies from denying permits or licenses for reasons not specified by law; implement a 30-day time frame for ruling on applications for a permit or license if no time frame is otherwise specified by law; establish procedures for applications for a permit or license which are not ruled upon during the applicable time frame or are denied; for appeal process.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from a House bill (BR 1157) to a Senate bill (SB 52) and its preamble was replaced with a standard legislative enactment clause, removing specific justifications about bureaucratic delays. The core policy language regarding permit timelines and definitions was largely preserved but updated to refer to 'state agencies' instead of 'public agencies' and shortened the deadline for scheduling a judicial review from 60 days to 30 days.
Scope change
The scope of applicability was broadened by changing the term 'public agency' to 'state agency' throughout the text, ensuring the rules apply to a wider range of government entities. The effective date was set to January 1, 2027.
TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from House Bill 1157 to Senate Bill 52, and the header page information was updated to reflect the new Senate version.

SCOPE

The original 'Whereas' clauses detailing specific grievances about bureaucrats and property owners were removed and replaced with a standard legislative introduction.

REQUIREMENT

The term 'public agency' was consistently changed to 'state agency' to broaden the scope of entities subject to the new permitting rules.

A specific section was added stating that the Act will take effect on January 1, 2027.

TIMELINE

The deadline for an applicant to request a judicial review of a denied permit was reduced from sixty (60) days to thirty (30) days.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2026

How they voted

35–6
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 44
Feb 23, 2026
D Democratic6
5 Nay 1
83% Nay
R Republican38
35 Yea 1 Nay 2
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
4
Committee
8
Amendments
2
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (3) filed
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
to State Government (H)
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 30 - 5 with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
floor amendments (1), (2), (3) and (4) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 9, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.