Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 4 R cosponsors

SB 8 — AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency.

Last action — became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 185)

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 02, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Andy Beshear (Democratic) on April 15, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 278 to establish the membership of the Public Service Commission; provide for the appointment, confirmation, and replacement of commissioners; establish the qualifications of the commissioners; provide for the election of the chair and the delegation of his or her duties; set the terms and term limits for commissioners; set qualifications for intervenors in cases before the commission; provide that in cases in which the Attorney General intervenes, he or she shall be the sole advocate for residential consumers; amend KRS 278.020 to increase the minimum voltage and length of electric transmission lines for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is required for construction; amend KRS 278.040 to provide that the commission is an independent department of state government that is administratively attached to the Auditor of Public Accounts only for the limited functions and purposes that the commission requests; allow the commission, in its sole discretion, to conduct procurements under KRS Chapter 45A, identify and determine the compensation for categories of its professional employees, and engage hearing officers and other entities on a contractual basis; prohibit the commission from being reorganized under KRS Chapter 12; amend KRS 278.060 to prohibit the immediate family members of commissioners from having any official relationship to any utility; allow for a commissioner or an immediate family member to have a pension or a retirement savings account with utility as long as no contributions have been made to it for at least 1 year prior to the commissioner's appointment; amend KRS 278.070 to allow the officer who appointed a commissioner to remove the commissioner for cause; amend KRS 278.100 and 278.120 to allow the commission to appoint and have sole discretion in fixing the compensation of the executive director; require the executive director to be subject to confirmation by the Senate; amend KRS 278.702, 12.020, 43.015, 64.640, 160.617, and 224.10-022 to conform; repeal KRS 278.050, relating to membership of the Public Service Commission; require the Auditor of Public Accounts to make initial appointments to the commission on or before July 1, 2026, and provide for the staggering of the appointments; allow current members of the commission to serve out the remainders of their terms provided that they meet the qualification requirements of the Act; terminate the terms of current commissioners who do not meet the qualification requirements of the Act and provide for their replacement; direct the transfer of all records, files, or documents associated with functions previously performed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet to the Auditor of Public Accounts; EMERGENCY.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

269 added · 364 removed

269 line(s) added, 364 removed.

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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency.
CHAPTER 185 1 CHAPTER 185 ( SB 8 ) AN ACT relating to public utilities and declaring an emergency.
(c) The chair shall be the chief executive officer of the commission and shall designate one (1) of the commissioners to serve as vice chair to act for the Page 1 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN chair in his or her absence.
(c) The chair shall be the chief executive officer of the commission and shall designate one (1) of the commissioners to serve as vice chair to act for the chair in his or her absence.
(1) (a) The Public Service Commission shall constitute an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 and shall be administratively attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet only for those limited functions and purposes expressly requested by the commission to be performed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1) (a) The Public Service Commission shall constitute an independent department of state government within the meaning of KRS Chapter 12 and shall be administratively attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet only for those limited functions and purposes expressly requested by the commission to be performed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet.
Page 2 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN (c) The commission shall consist of the five (5) commissioners appointed under Section 1 of this Act, an executive director appointed under Section 5 of this Act, and other agents and employees as necessary to carry out the commission's obligations under this chapter.
(c) The commission shall consist of the five (5) commissioners appointed under Section 1 of this Act, an executive director appointed under Section 5 of this Act, and other agents and employees as necessary to carry out the commission's obligations under this chapter.
(b) In his or her sole discretion, the chair may assign all five (5) commissioners Page 3 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN to hear and decide a matter before the commission.
(b) In his or her sole discretion, the chair may assign all five (5) commissioners to hear and decide a matter before the commission.
The commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of rates and Page 4 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN service of utilities, but with that exception nothing in this chapter is intended to limit or restrict the police jurisdiction, contract rights or powers of cities or political subdivisions.
The commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of rates and service of utilities, but with that exception nothing in this chapter is intended to limit or restrict the police jurisdiction, contract rights or powers of cities or political subdivisions.
(9)[(3)] The commission may promulgate[adopt,] in accordance[keeping] with KRS Chapter 13A[,] reasonable administrative regulations to implement the provisions of KRS Chapter 278 and investigate the methods and practices of utilities to require them to conform to the laws of this state, and to all reasonable rules, regulations and orders of the commission not contrary to law.
CHAPTER 185 3 (9)[(3)] The commission may promulgate[adopt,] in accordance[keeping] with KRS Chapter 13A[,] reasonable administrative regulations to implement the provisions of KRS Chapter 278 and investigate the methods and practices of utilities to require them to conform to the laws of this state, and to all reasonable rules, regulations and orders of the commission not contrary to law.
(5) If any commissioner becomes a member of any political party committee, his or her Page 5 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN office as commissioner shall be thereby vacated.[ (6) In making appointments to the commission, the Governor shall consider the various kinds of expertise relevant to utility regulation and the varied interests to be protected by the commission, including those of consumers as well as utility investors, and no more than two (2) members shall be of the same occupation or profession.] Section 4.
(5) If any commissioner becomes a member of any political party committee, his or her office as commissioner shall be thereby vacated.[ (6) In making appointments to the commission, the Governor shall consider the various kinds of expertise relevant to utility regulation and the varied interests to be protected by the commission, including those of consumers as well as utility investors, and no more than two (2) members shall be of the same occupation or profession.] Section 4.
(3) The executive director shall be the chief administrative officer for the commission and shall be responsible for implementing the programs, directing the staff, and Page 6 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN maintaining the official records of commission proceedings, including all approved orders.
(3) The executive director shall be the chief administrative officer for the commission and shall be responsible for implementing the programs, directing the staff, and maintaining the official records of commission proceedings, including all approved orders.
(2)[(3)] The commissioners, the executive director, and employees of the commission are entitled to all expenses, including hotel bills, incurred in traveling on business of the commission.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2)[(3)] The commissioners, the executive director, and employees of the commission are entitled to all expenses, including hotel bills, incurred in traveling on business of the commission.
Page 7 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN a.
a.
Ad hoc public members appointed to the board and their immediate family members shall have no direct financial interest in the facility proposed to be constructed and shall be subject to the executive branch Page 8 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN code of ethics established in KRS Chapter 11A.
Ad hoc public members appointed to the board and their immediate family members shall have no direct financial interest in the facility proposed to be constructed and shall be subject to the executive branch code of ethics established in KRS Chapter 11A.
Section 8.
CHAPTER 185 5 Section 8.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, and excepting officers elected by popular vote, employees of the General Assembly, including employees of the Legislative Research Commission, members of boards and commissions, those officers and employees of Kentucky Educational Television exempt from classified service as provided in KRS 18A.115, presidents and employees of the state universities and the state colleges, officers employed by the Page 9 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN Department of Kentucky State Police under KRS Chapter 16, employees whose compensation is set by the Public Service Commission under subsection (4) of Section 2 of this Act and subsection (1) of Section 6 of this Act, and persons employed by the commissioner of parks on a temporary basis under KRS 148.026, the Personnel Cabinet shall prepare schedules of compensation, payable out of the State Treasury, with a minimum salary rate, and other salary rates as are deemed necessary or advisable, for the office or position of employment of every state officer and employee, including specifically the offices and positions of employment in every constitutional administrative department, statutory administrative department, independent agency, board, commission, or other unit of state government.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, and excepting officers elected by popular vote, employees of the General Assembly, including employees of the Legislative Research Commission, members of boards and commissions, those officers and employees of Kentucky Educational Television exempt from classified service as provided in KRS 18A.115, presidents and employees of the state universities and the state colleges, officers employed by the Department of Kentucky State Police under KRS Chapter 16, employees whose compensation is set by the Public Service Commission under subsection (4) of Section 2 of this Act and subsection (1) of Section 6 of this Act, and persons employed by the commissioner of parks on a temporary basis under KRS 148.026, the Personnel Cabinet shall prepare schedules of compensation, payable out of the State Treasury, with a minimum salary rate, and other salary rates as are deemed necessary or advisable, for the office or position of employment of every state officer and employee, including specifically the offices and positions of employment in every constitutional administrative department, statutory administrative department, independent agency, board, commission, or other unit of state government.
No such schedule shall become Page 10 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN effective until it has been approved by the Governor by executive order.
No such schedule shall become effective until it has been approved by the Governor by executive order.
Notwithstanding KRS 278.040(8)[(2)], or any other provision to the contrary, any utility, Page 11 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN cable service provider, or satellite broadcast and wireless cable service provider required to pay the tax authorized by KRS 160.613 or 160.614 may increase its rates in any school district in which it is required to pay the school tax by the amount of the school tax imposed, up to three percent (3%).
Notwithstanding KRS 278.040(8)[(2)], or any other provision to the contrary, any utility, cable service provider, or satellite broadcast and wireless cable service provider required to pay the tax authorized by KRS 160.613 or 160.614 may increase its rates in any school district in which it is required to pay the school tax by the amount of the school tax imposed, up to three percent (3%).
Section 11.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Section 11.
Whereas it is critical that changes to the organization, membership, and authority of the Public Service Commission be enacted as soon as possible to apply to any membership vacancies or matters before the commission to which the changes may apply, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage Page 12 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 8/EN and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law.
Whereas it is critical that changes to the organization, membership, and authority of the Public Service Commission be enacted as soon as possible to apply to any membership vacancies or matters before the commission to which the changes may apply, an emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law.
Page 13 of 13 SB000820.100 - 1957 - XXXX 4/1/2026 11:43 PM Engrossed
Became law without Governor's signature April 15, 2026.
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How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new qualifications for members of the Public Service Commission and amends the structure of the commission's appointments and operations.

  • KRS 278.040

    The commission shall consist of the five (5) commissioners appointed under KRS 378.038, an executive director appointed under KRS 278.100, and other agents and employees as necessary to carry out the commission's obligations under this chapter. → The commission shall consist of the five (5) commissioners appointed under Section 1 of this Act, an executive director appointed under Section 5 of this Act, and other agents and employees as necessary to carry out the commission's obligations under this chapter.

    Changes the source of appointment for the commissioners of the Public Service Commission.

  • KRS 278.060

    In making appointments to the commission, the Governor shall consider the various kinds of expertise relevant to utility regulation and the varied interests to be protected by the commission, including those of consumers as well as utility investors, and no more than two (2) members shall be of the same occupation or profession.

    Removes the requirement for the Governor to consider expertise and varied interests when making appointments to the commission.

  • KRS 278.060

    No more than three (3) members of the commission shall be of the same political party, and members of the commission shall not serve on any other regulatory bodies during their terms on the commission.

    Establishes political party restrictions for members of the commission.

  • KRS 278.040

    The Public Service Commission shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Governor as follows: Two (2) shall be licensed attorneys who have actively practiced law in the Commonwealth for at least seven (7) years; and Three (3) shall have education or training, and five (5) years of actual experience, in one (1) or more of the following fields: [list of fields].

    Creates new qualifications for members of the Public Service Commission, specifying the need for licensed attorneys and experience in various relevant fields.

  • KRS 278.100

    The executive director shall be selected on the basis of experience and training demonstrating capacity to deal with the problems of management and governmental regulation and knowledge relatable to utility regulation.

    Removes the explicit requirement for selection criteria of the executive director.

  • KRS 278.100

    Appointments and reappointments to the commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided in KRS 11.160.

    Establishes that appointments and reappointments to the Public Service Commission require Senate confirmation.

Action History

  1. became law without Governor's Signature (Acts Ch. 185)

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

  3. delivered to Governor

  4. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

  5. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

  6. passed 32-5

  7. Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5)

  8. posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5)

  9. taken from Rules

  10. to Rules (S)

  11. received in Senate

  12. 3rd reading, passed 76-11 with Committee Substitute (2) and Floor Amendment (5)

  13. floor amendments (4) and (5) filed to Committee Substitute (2)

  14. floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute (2)

  15. placed in the Orders of the Day

  16. taken from Rules

  17. reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (2) and committee amendment (1)

  18. recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

  19. floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute

  20. 2nd reading, to Rules

  21. floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute

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

  23. to Natural Resources & Energy (H)

  24. to Committee on Committees (H)

  25. received in House

  26. passed 30-5-1 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)

  27. floor amendment (5) withdrawn

  28. floor amendment (4) withdrawn

  29. floor amendment (3) withdrawn

  30. floor amendment (2) withdrawn

  31. 3rd reading

  32. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 06 2026

  33. Floor Amendments (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) filed to the Committee Substitute

  34. 2nd reading, to Rules

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

  36. to Natural Resources & Energy (S)

  37. to Committee on Committees (S)

  38. introduced in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 134 not signed on · 17 voted No

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (134)

134 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 134 →

"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

Pass

Passed 76 Yea · 11 Nay · 13 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 71008
Democrat 41105
Unaffiliated 1001
Total 7611014
% of votes cast 75%11%0%14%
How each member voted (101)
Member Party Vote
Lewis C — Yea
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY SENATE — Not Voting
Adam Moore Democrat Yea
Adrielle Camuel Democrat Nay
Al Gentry Democrat Nay
Anne Gay Donworth Democrat Nay
Ashley Tackett Laferty Democrat Not Voting
Beverly Chester-Burton Democrat Not Voting
Chad Aull Democrat Nay
Daniel Grossberg Democrat Nay
Erika Hancock Democrat Nay
George Brown Jr. Democrat Yea
Joshua Watkins Democrat Nay
Lindsey Burke Democrat Not Voting
Lisa Willner Democrat Nay
Mary Lou Marzian Democrat Not Voting
Matthew Lehman Democrat Not Voting
Nima Kulkarni Democrat Yea
Pamela Stevenson Democrat Nay
Rachel Roarx Democrat Nay
Sarah Stalker Democrat Nay
Tina Bojanowski Democrat Yea
Aaron Thompson Republican Not Voting
Adam Bowling Republican Yea
Amy Neighbors Republican Yea
Bill Wesley Republican Yea
Bobby McCool Republican Yea
Candy Massaroni Republican Yea
Chris Freeland Republican Yea
Chris Fugate Republican Yea
DJ Johnson Republican Yea
Daniel Elliott Republican Not Voting
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 Yea
J.T. Payne Republican Yea
James Tipton Republican Yea
Jared Bauman Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Patrick Flannery Republican Yea
Peyton Griffee Republican Yea
Randy Bridges Republican Yea
Rebecca Raymer Republican Yea
Richard White Republican Not Voting
Robert Duvall Republican Yea
Ryan Bivens Republican Yea
Ryan Dotson Republican Yea
Samara Heavrin Republican Yea
Savannah Maddox Republican Yea
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 Yea
Steven Rudy Republican Yea
Susan Witten Republican Yea
Suzanne Miles Republican Yea
T.J. Roberts Republican Yea
Thomas Huff Republican Yea
Timmy Truett Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Tony Hampton Republican Not Voting
Vanessa Grossl Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea
William Lawrence Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 8 w/ HCS 2, HFA 5

Passed 32 Yea · 5 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 32100
Democrat 0401
Total 32501
% of votes cast 84%13%0%3%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Nay
Gary Clemons Democrat Nay
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Nay
Karen Berg Democrat Not Voting
Keturah J. Herron Democrat Nay
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 Nay

Official roll call →

PASS SB 8 w/ SCS 1, SFA 1

Passed 30 Yea · 5 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 29104
Democrat 1400
Total 30504
% of votes cast 77%13%0%10%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Nay
Gary Clemons Democrat Nay
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Nay
Karen Berg Democrat Nay
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 Not Voting
Julie Raque Adams Republican Yea
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Not Voting
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Not Voting
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 Not Voting
Stephen West Republican Yea
Steve Rawlings Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety energy
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 SB 8 do?
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 278 to establish the membership of the Public Service Commission; provide for the appointment, confirmation, and replacement of commissioners; establish the qualifications of the commissioners; provide for the election of the chair and the delegation of his or her duties; set the terms and term limits for commissioners; set qualifications for intervenors in cases before the commission; provide that in cases in which the Attorney General intervenes, he or she shall be the sole advocate for residential consumers; amend KRS 278.020 to increase the minimum voltage and length of electric transmission lines for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity is required for construction; amend KRS 278.040 to provide that the commission is an independent department of state government that is administratively attached to the Auditor of Public Accounts only for the limited functions and purposes that the commission requests; allow the commission, in its sole discretion, to conduct procurements under KRS Chapter 45A, identify and determine the compensation for categories of its professional employees, and engage hearing officers and other entities on a contractual basis; prohibit the commission from being reorganized under KRS Chapter 12; amend KRS 278.060 to prohibit the immediate family members of commissioners from having any official relationship to any utility; allow for a commissioner or an immediate family member to have a pension or a retirement savings account with utility as long as no contributions have been made to it for at least 1 year prior to the commissioner's appointment; amend KRS 278.070 to allow the officer who appointed a commissioner to remove the commissioner for cause; amend KRS 278.100 and 278.120 to allow the commission to appoint and have sole discretion in fixing the compensation of the executive director; require the executive director to be subject to confirmation by the Senate; amend KRS 278.702, 12.020, 43.015, 64.640, 160.617, and 224.10-022 to conform; repeal KRS 278.050, relating to membership of the Public Service Commission; require the Auditor of Public Accounts to make initial appointments to the commission on or before July 1, 2026, and provide for the staggering of the appointments; allow current members of the commission to serve out the remainders of their terms provided that they meet the qualification requirements of the Act; terminate the terms of current commissioners who do not meet the qualification requirements of the Act and provide for their replacement; direct the transfer of all records, files, or documents associated with functions previously performed by the Energy and Environment Cabinet to the Auditor of Public Accounts; EMERGENCY.
Who sponsors SB 8?
SB 8 is sponsored by Stephen West (Republican), Robin L. Webb (Republican), Robby Mills (Republican), and Brandon Smith (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 8?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 02, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 8?
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