Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 8 R cosponsors

HB 506 — AN ACT relating to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Last action — became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 148)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 28, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Andy Beshear (Democratic) on April 14, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    8 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Amend KRS 15.460 to allow Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources game wardens to receive annual supplements from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund; remove the requirement that a game warden's annual training stipend be paid from the game and fish fund; amend KRS 150.010 to remove the definitions for "administrative regulation," "navigable waters," and "public roadway"; add definitions for "exotic wildlife," "native wildlife," and "roadway" and amend the definition for "livestock"; amend KRS 150.021 to remove the requirement that the department pay a fee equal to 5% of the debt service for the 2-way radio system utilized by the Kentucky State Police; amend KRS 150.025 to allow the department or the commissioner, with the approval of the commission, to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150; amend KRS 150.027 to require the department to file a statement of consideration at the same time as it files an administrative regulation that affects property that is adjacent to department-owned or controlled lakes; amend KRS 150.061 to require the commissioner of the department to establish a salary structure for the department's Division of Law Enforcement that is adequate to meet the department's recruitment and retention goals; amend KRS 150.090 to provide that waters bordering the Commonwealth are included in the jurisdiction of game wardens; amend KRS 150.120 to provide that native and exotic wildlife that are taken, possessed, or transported in violation of the provisions of KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder shall be seized; require that upon seizure, native wildlife or any hybrid thereof shall be declared contraband and disposed of as determined by the commissioner; amend KRS 150.150 to conform and to provide that the $25,000 set aside annually for hunger relief is not required to be taken from the game and fish fund; amend KRS 150.170 to change the reference from "disposal" tag to "carcass tag" for the taking of depredating wildlife; amend KRS 150.172 to allow a person to use a firearm at any time to take a mortally wounded animal instead of an injured animal; amend KRS 150.360 to allow the taking of wildlife at night instead of only coyotes and to conform; amend KRS 150.660 to allow the department to revoke a pay lake operator's license at all of his or her licensed locations for failure to comply with the laws or regulations governing pay lakes; amend KRS 150.690 to change the references from "buffalo" to "American bison"; amend KRS 150.990 double all fines for violations of KRS Chapter 150 and to establish replacement costs for certain wildlife; amend KRS 150.995 to provide that any restitution amount to be paid to the department for the illegal taking of wildlife that would exceed $10,000 shall be panel scored by 2 official scorers; allow the commissioner or a designee to seek an order from the court for payment of restitution costs in any action in which a person is found guilty for a violation of KRS Chapter 150 and for which restitution costs are owed; amend KRS 235.250 to increase the property damage threshold for the mandatory reporting requirement for boating accidents.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

172 added · 231 removed

172 line(s) added, 231 removed.

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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA AN ACT relating to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
CHAPTER 148 1 CHAPTER 148 ( HB 506 ) AN ACT relating to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
In addition to the payments received under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, but only if sufficient funds are available to make all payments required under paragraph (b) of this subsection, each unit of government shall receive an administrative expense reimbursement in an Page 1 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA amount equal to seven and sixty-five one-hundredths percent (7.65%) of the total annual supplement received greater than three thousand one hundred dollars ($3,100) for each qualified police officer that is a local officer as defined in KRS 15.420(2)(a)1.
In addition to the payments received under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, but only if sufficient funds are available to make all payments required under paragraph (b) of this subsection, each unit of government shall receive an administrative expense reimbursement in an amount equal to seven and sixty-five one-hundredths percent (7.65%) of the total annual supplement received greater than three thousand one hundred dollars ($3,100) for each qualified police officer that is a local officer as defined in KRS 15.420(2)(a)1.
A game warden shall receive Page 2 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA an annual training stipend commensurate to the annual supplement paid to the police officer as defined in KRS 15.420.[ The annual training stipend disbursed to a game warden shall be paid from the game and fish fund pursuant to KRS 150.150.] (f) Any peace officer sanctioned by the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet shall be deemed a police officer solely for the purpose of inclusion in the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund.
A game warden shall receive an annual training stipend commensurate to the annual supplement paid to the police officer as defined in KRS 15.420.[ The annual training stipend disbursed to a game warden shall be paid from the game and fish fund pursuant to KRS 150.150.] Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (f) Any peace officer sanctioned by the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet shall be deemed a police officer solely for the purpose of inclusion in the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund.
The sheriff shall reimburse the fund if an audit of the annual settlement conducted Page 3 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA pursuant to KRS 134.192 reflects that the sheriff received all or a portion of the supplement in violation of this section.
The sheriff shall reimburse the fund if an audit of the annual settlement conducted pursuant to KRS 134.192 reflects that the sheriff received all or a portion of the supplement in violation of this section.
Page 4 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA (b) Create a private right of action for any police officer regarding an agency's participation in this section;
(b) Create a private right of action for any police officer regarding an agency's participation in this section;
The commissioner shall serve for a defined employment contract term not to exceed four (4) years and shall be subject to:
The CHAPTER 148 3 commissioner shall serve for a defined employment contract term not to exceed four (4) years and shall be subject to:
(3) Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the commissioner shall take and Page 5 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA subscribe to the constitutional oath of office, and shall, in addition thereto, swear or affirm that he or she holds no other public office, nor any position upon or under any political committee or party.
(3) Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the commissioner shall take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office, and shall, in addition thereto, swear or affirm that he or she holds no other public office, nor any position upon or under any political committee or party.
(6) If federal or other grant funds become available to pay their salaries, the Page 6 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA commissioner may appoint and employ other persons that he or she may deem necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(6) If federal or other grant funds become available to pay their salaries, the commissioner may appoint and employ other persons that he or she may deem necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
and] 2.
and] Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2.
Any surplus remaining in the fund at the close of each calendar year Page 7 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 506/GA shall be turned into the general fund of the department.
Any surplus remaining in the fund at the close of each calendar year shall be turned into the general fund of the department.
(4) The department shall prescribe a method to allow any applicant for a license required under KRS 150.175 to make, at the time of application, a voluntary contribution in the amount of two dollars ($2) for the Becoming an Outdoors- Woman Program or other hunter and angler recruitment and retention program.
(4) The department shall prescribe a method to allow any applicant for a license required under KRS 150.175 to make, at the time of application, a voluntary contribution in the amount of two dollars ($2) for the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program or other hunter and angler recruitment and retention program.
Page 8 of 8 HB050610.100 - 1853 - XXXX 3/12/2026 2:26 PM GA
Became law without Governor's signature April 14, 2026.
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Action History

  1. became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 148)

  2. filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State

  3. delivered to Governor

  4. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

  5. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

  6. received in House

  7. 3rd reading, passed 38-0

  8. posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026

  9. 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill

  10. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar

  11. to Natural Resources & Energy (S)

  12. to Committee on Committees (S)

  13. received in Senate

  14. 3rd reading, passed 93-0 with Committee Substitute (2)

  15. placed in the Orders of the Day

  16. taken from Rules

  17. reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (2)

  18. recommitted to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H)

  19. 2nd reading, to Rules

  20. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

  21. to Tourism & Outdoor Recreation (H)

  22. to Committee on Committees (H)

  23. introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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8 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 130 not signed on

Sponsors (8)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (130)

130 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 130 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

CONSENT PASSAGE OF HB 506

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 33000
Total 38000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Yea
Gary Clemons Democrat Yea
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Yea
Karen Berg Democrat Yea
Keturah J. Herron Democrat Yea
Aaron Reed Republican Yea
Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican Yea
Brandon J. Storm Republican Yea
Christian McDaniel Republican Yea
Craig Richardson Republican Yea
Danny Carroll Republican Yea
David P. Givens Republican Yea
Donald Douglas Republican Yea
Gary Boswell Republican Yea
Greg Elkins Republican Yea
Jared Carpenter Republican Yea
Jason Howell Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jimmy Higdon Republican Yea
Julie Raque Adams Republican Yea
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Yea
Matt Nunn Republican Yea
Matthew Deneen Republican Yea
Max Wise Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Phillip Wheeler Republican Yea
Rick Girdler Republican Yea
Robby Mills Republican Yea
Robert Stivers Republican Yea
Robin L. Webb Republican Yea
Scott Madon Republican Yea
Shelley Funke Frommeyer Republican Yea
Stephen West Republican Yea
Steve Rawlings Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Pass

Passed 93 Yea · 0 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 19001
Republican 73006
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 93007
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Lewis C — Yea
Adam Moore Democrat Yea
Adrielle Camuel Democrat Yea
Al Gentry Democrat Yea
Anne Gay Donworth Democrat Yea
Ashley Tackett Laferty Democrat Yea
Beverly Chester-Burton Democrat Yea
Chad Aull Democrat Yea
Daniel Grossberg Democrat Yea
Erika Hancock Democrat Yea
George Brown Jr. Democrat Yea
Joshua Watkins Democrat Not Voting
Lindsey Burke Democrat Yea
Lisa Willner Democrat Yea
Mary Lou Marzian Democrat Yea
Matthew Lehman Democrat Yea
Nima Kulkarni Democrat Yea
Pamela Stevenson Democrat Yea
Rachel Roarx Democrat Yea
Sarah Stalker Democrat Yea
Tina Bojanowski Democrat Yea
Aaron Thompson Republican Yea
Adam Bowling Republican Yea
Amy Neighbors Republican Yea
Bill Wesley Republican Yea
Bobby McCool Republican Yea
Candy Massaroni Republican Not Voting
Chris Freeland Republican Yea
Chris Fugate Republican Yea
DJ Johnson Republican Yea
Daniel Elliott Republican Yea
Daniel Fister Republican Yea
David Hale Republican Yea
David Meade Republican Yea
David W. Osborne Republican Yea
Deanna Gordon Republican Yea
Derek Lewis Republican Yea
Emily Callaway Republican Yea
Felicia Rabourn Republican Not Voting
J.T. Payne Republican Yea
James Tipton Republican Yea
Jared Bauman Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jason Petrie Republican Yea
Jennifer Decker Republican Yea
Jim Gooch Jr. Republican Yea
John Blanton Republican Yea
John Hodgson Republican Yea
Josh Branscum Republican Yea
Josh Bray Republican Yea
Josh Calloway Republican Yea
Ken Fleming Republican Yea
Ken Upchurch Republican Yea
Kevin Jackson Republican Yea
Kim Banta Republican Yea
Kim Holloway Republican Not Voting
Kim King Republican Yea
Kimberly Poore Moser Republican Yea
Marianne Proctor Republican Yea
Mark Hart Republican Yea
Mary Beth Imes Republican Yea
Matt Lockett Republican Yea
Matthew Koch Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Michael Sarge Pollock Republican Yea
Mike Clines Republican Yea
Mitch Whitaker Republican Yea
Myron Dossett Republican Yea
Nancy Tate Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Patrick Flannery Republican Yea
Peyton Griffee Republican Yea
Randy Bridges Republican Yea
Rebecca Raymer Republican Yea
Richard White Republican Yea
Robert Duvall Republican Yea
Ryan Bivens Republican Yea
Ryan Dotson Republican Yea
Samara Heavrin Republican Yea
Savannah Maddox Republican Not Voting
Scott Lewis Republican Yea
Scott Sharp Republican Yea
Shane Baker Republican Yea
Shawn McPherson Republican Yea
Stephanie Dietz Republican Yea
Steve Bratcher Republican Yea
Steve Riley Republican Yea
Steven Doan Republican Not Voting
Steven Rudy Republican Yea
Susan Witten Republican Yea
Suzanne Miles Republican Yea
T.J. Roberts Republican Not Voting
Thomas Huff Republican Yea
Timmy Truett Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Tony Hampton Republican Yea
Vanessa Grossl Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea
William Lawrence Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety environment labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 506 do?
Amend KRS 15.460 to allow Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources game wardens to receive annual supplements from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund; remove the requirement that a game warden's annual training stipend be paid from the game and fish fund; amend KRS 150.010 to remove the definitions for "administrative regulation," "navigable waters," and "public roadway"; add definitions for "exotic wildlife," "native wildlife," and "roadway" and amend the definition for "livestock"; amend KRS 150.021 to remove the requirement that the department pay a fee equal to 5% of the debt service for the 2-way radio system utilized by the Kentucky State Police; amend KRS 150.025 to allow the department or the commissioner, with the approval of the commission, to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150; amend KRS 150.027 to require the department to file a statement of consideration at the same time as it files an administrative regulation that affects property that is adjacent to department-owned or controlled lakes; amend KRS 150.061 to require the commissioner of the department to establish a salary structure for the department's Division of Law Enforcement that is adequate to meet the department's recruitment and retention goals; amend KRS 150.090 to provide that waters bordering the Commonwealth are included in the jurisdiction of game wardens; amend KRS 150.120 to provide that native and exotic wildlife that are taken, possessed, or transported in violation of the provisions of KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder shall be seized; require that upon seizure, native wildlife or any hybrid thereof shall be declared contraband and disposed of as determined by the commissioner; amend KRS 150.150 to conform and to provide that the $25,000 set aside annually for hunger relief is not required to be taken from the game and fish fund; amend KRS 150.170 to change the reference from "disposal" tag to "carcass tag" for the taking of depredating wildlife; amend KRS 150.172 to allow a person to use a firearm at any time to take a mortally wounded animal instead of an injured animal; amend KRS 150.360 to allow the taking of wildlife at night instead of only coyotes and to conform; amend KRS 150.660 to allow the department to revoke a pay lake operator's license at all of his or her licensed locations for failure to comply with the laws or regulations governing pay lakes; amend KRS 150.690 to change the references from "buffalo" to "American bison"; amend KRS 150.990 double all fines for violations of KRS Chapter 150 and to establish replacement costs for certain wildlife; amend KRS 150.995 to provide that any restitution amount to be paid to the department for the illegal taking of wildlife that would exceed $10,000 shall be panel scored by 2 official scorers; allow the commissioner or a designee to seek an order from the court for payment of restitution costs in any action in which a person is found guilty for a violation of KRS Chapter 150 and for which restitution costs are owed; amend KRS 235.250 to increase the property damage threshold for the mandatory reporting requirement for boating accidents.
Who sponsors HB 506?
HB 506 is sponsored by Bill Wesley (Republican), William Lawrence (Republican), Kevin Jackson (Republican), Mark Hart (Republican), Chris Fugate (Republican), Daniel Fister (Republican), John Blanton (Republican), and David Hale (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 506?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 28, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 506?
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