Three different legislative committees passed three KLC initiatives Wednesday. KLC Executive Director/CEO J.D. Chaney and Director of Public Affairs Bryanna L. Carroll testified on two of the bills.
Chaney spoke to the Senate State and Local Government Committee on House Bill 312. Representative Bart Rowland (R-Tompkinsville) sponsored the bill that updates Kentucky’s Open Records Act. Chaney 
explained that a committee substitute introduced on Wednesday resulted from conversations with senators and the Kentucky Press Association. The bill ensures public agencies address records requests from Kentucky residents and businesses by limiting the ability to file an open records request to the following:
- An individual residing in the commonwealth;
- Any employed individual working at a location in Kentucky;
- A domestic business entity with a location in the state;
- Any individual or business that owns real property in Kentucky;
- A foreign business entity registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State;
- Any individual or business entity that acts as an agent for a Kentucky business; or
- Any news-gathering organization.
House Bill 312 makes it easier for people to submit open records requests by allowing emailed submissions, and it instructs the attorney general to develop a standardized request form that people can use. The bill also gives public agencies more time to respond to requests by increasing the current three-day constraint to five days.
The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously passed House Bill 199. Carroll testified with Representative Brandon Reed (R-Hodgenville) on how the KLC initiative will help local governments deal with encroachment permit problems.
House Bill 199 could receive final passage this week, while House Bill 312 would have to go back to the House for concurrence if passed by the Senate.
The House Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 4 Wednesday afternoon. The KLC initiative, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester), limits the execution of no-knock warrants. You can read more on Senate Bill 4 here.
