Senate
Signed By Governor
2026 Regular Session

SB155

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AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 39A.020 to define "animal health emergency"; amend KRS 39A.100 to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to declare an animal health emergency; grant the Commissioner of Agriculture emergency powers to order veterinary or veterinary technician services, request that the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet waive regulatory requirements relating to the transportation of animal feed stock or medicine; order the quarantine of any livestock, poultry, domesticated animal, article, or equipment serving as a vector of communicable disease; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to establish roadblocks with the assistance of state and local law enforcement and game wardens employed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to prevent the transportation of animals, articles, or equipment ordered quarantined; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to purchase goods and services needed to stop the spread of the communicable disease without regard to the Model Procurement Code established in KRS Chapter 45A; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to request emergency assistance from any local government or special district, state agency, and the Governor in order to initiate any request for federal assistance.

AgricultureAnimals, Livestock, and PoultryDiseasesFish and WildlifeGovernorLocal GovernmentPeace Officers and Law EnforcementPolice, StatePublic ProtectionSpecial DistrictsState AgenciesTransportationVeterinariansLocal Mandate

Introduced: February 3, 2026

Last action: April 3, 2026

Signed By Governor (Acts Ch. 17)
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Legislative History

Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
Introduced In Senate
Feb 3, 2026 · Senate
To Committee On Committees (S)
Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
To Agriculture (S)
Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Reported Favorably, 1st Reading, To Calendar
Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
2nd Reading, To Rules (clerical)
Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Posted For Passage In The Regular Orders Of The Day For Thursday, February 12 2026 (clerical)
Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
3rd Reading, Passed 38-0 (clerical)
Feb 13, 2026 · House
Received In House

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of Jared Carpenter
Jared Carpenter

Senator · Senate District 34

Primary sponsor
Jared.Carpenter@kylegislature.gov
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Roll calls

February 12, 2026

Senate: 3rd reading, passed 38-0

Yea: 38
Nay: 0
LegiScan roll call
March 24, 2026

House: 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)

Yea: 94
Nay: 0
March 25, 2026

Senate: Passed 37-1

Yea: 37
Nay: 1