Kentucky House Bill 542
Session 2026RS
AN ACT relating to eminent domain and declaring an emergency.
Active
Passed Senate on Apr 1, 2026
Sponsors
First Action
Feb 3, 2026
Latest Action
Apr 1, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
542
State
Kentucky
Session
2026RS
Motion Text
CONSENT PASSAGE OF HB 542
House Roll Call Votes
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Summary
Amend KRS 382.850 to require a condemnor in an eminent domain action involving property subject to a conservation easement to provide a written report to the court justifying the condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; allow the court to dismiss the condemnation action if the lack of alternative locations is not demonstrated; amend KRS 262.850 to require a condemnor in an eminent domain action involving property located in an agricultural district to provide a written report to the court justifying the condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; allow the court to dismiss the condemnation action if the lack of alternative locations is not demonstrated; amend KRS 416.550 prohibit a condemnor from engaging in false, intimidating, or misleading negotiation tactics; allow a property owner of potentially condemned property to obtain an independent appraisal within 60 days of an initial offer for purchase; reduce the indepdent appraisal period to 30 days if the property owner refuses the initial offer for purchase; prohibit the filing of a condemnation action within the independent appraisal period; establish a penalty of dismissal of the condemnation action, payment of attorney's fees, and a bar on future condemnation actions for violations; amend KRS 416.560 to specify requirements for contents of notice of entry to owners of property; establish penalty for failure to give notice; require condemnor to give notice of a material change to the project; require condemnor to use only current data for surveys; provide a copy of a survey to the property owner within 15 days of completion; allow the property owner to petition a local legislative body for a public meeting regarding the proposed taking; amend KRS 416.610 to require the condemnor to take measures to ensure access to property during on-site work on a project where only a portion of the property has been condemned; amend KRS 416.660 to include preexisting improvements on property and the value of agricultural improvements in the determination of fair market value of condemned property; amend KRS 416.570, 416.600, 416.630, 416.640, and 416.650 to conform; EMERGENCY.
Proposed House Committee Substitute 1
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04/01/2026
House
delivered to Governor
04/01/2026
Senate
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
04/01/2026
House
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
03/31/2026
House
received in House
03/31/2026
House
3rd reading, passed 38-0
03/26/2026
House
posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026
03/25/2026
House
2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill
03/24/2026
House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
03/20/2026
Senate
to Agriculture (S)
03/09/2026
Senate
to Committee on Committees (S)
03/09/2026
Senate
received in Senate
03/06/2026
House
3rd reading, passed 90-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
03/05/2026
House
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 06 2026
03/05/2026
House
2nd reading, to Rules
03/04/2026
House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
02/10/2026
House
to Judiciary (H)
02/03/2026
House
to Committee on Committees (H)
02/03/2026
House
introduced in House
Sources
KY Legislature
Record Created
Feb 3, 2026 10:47:03 PM
Record Updated
Apr 2, 2026 1:13:31 PM