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HB436 • 2026

AN ACT relating to state parks.

AN ACT relating to state parks.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
T. Smith
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
04/07/26: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 41)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to state parks.

AN ACT relating to state parks.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT relating to state parks.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 41)

  2. 2026-03-26 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    received in House enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor

  3. 2026-03-25 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    3rd reading, passed 38-0

  4. 2026-03-24 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 25 2026

  5. 2026-03-20 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill

  6. 2026-03-19 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar

  7. 2026-03-16 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)

  8. 2026-02-13 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

  9. 2026-02-12 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    3rd reading, passed 94-0

  10. 2026-02-11 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 12 2026

  11. 2026-02-10 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

  12. 2026-01-28 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)

  13. 2026-01-20 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to state parks.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 436/GA
Page 1 of 2
HB043610.100 - 1830 - XXXX 2/12/2026 2:43 PM GA
AN ACT relating to state parks. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 148.021 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) The Department of Parks shall exercise all administrative functions of the state 4
relating to the operation of state parks, shrines, monuments, and museums except 5
those allocated to the historical society. 6
(2) The department may request acquisition, subject to the provisions of KRS Chapters 7
42, 45, 45A, 56, and the provisions made in this chapter, of lands by purchase, 8
lease, or otherwise, on which to operate state parks. 9
(3) The department may improve said parks by constructing and equipping 10
improvements or facilities in said parks. 11
(4) The department may operate said parks, fix fees and charges for the use of said 12
parks and the improvements and facilities constructed therein, and provide fo r the 13
collection of said fees and charges and the proper accounting therefor, except that: 14
(a) The department shall not impose boat launching fees at any boat ramp over 15
which it has authority and control;[ and] 16
(b) The department shall not allow, grant permission to, or permit any individual, 17
sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited li ability company, or 18
other form of business arrangement to which the department has granted a 19
rental or leasehold interest or has engaged to manage or operate facilities that 20
include a public boat launching ramp, to charge a boat launching fee at any 21
boat ramp; and 22
(c) 1. The department shall not impose on graduates of the PGA HOPE 23
program any green fees or associated golf rates except fees for golf 24
cart rental. 25
2. To claim the fee and rate exemption provided by this paragraph, a 26
PGA HOPE graduate shall pre sent his or her valid PGA HOPE 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 436/GA
Page 2 of 2
HB043610.100 - 1830 - XXXX 2/12/2026 2:43 PM GA
graduate card at the time of purchase, and the exemption shall extend 1
to the PGA graduate and one (1) guest. 2
3. As used in this paragraph, "PGA HOPE program" means the Helping 3
Our Patriots Everywhere program established by th e Professional 4
Golfers' Association of America's Reach Foundation, which 5
introduces and teaches golf to veterans and active -duty military to 6
enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. 7
(5) The Department of Parks is authorized to ente r into any agreement with the Breaks 8
Interstate Park Commission for the operation of any facilities in the Breaks 9
Interstate Park. 10
(6) The Department of Parks is authorized to accept, for deposit in a trust and agency 11
fund account in accordance with KRS 45 .253, on behalf of the state any grant or 12
contribution, federal or otherwise, to assist in meeting the cost of carrying out the 13
functions assigned to the Department of Parks. 14
(7) Notwithstanding any provision in KRS Chapter 41, 45, 45A, or 47 to the contra ry, 15
there may be established separate cash funds and depositories at each state park 16
from which immediate payment of refunds may be made to a patron or guest of 17
such state park of any unearned money advanced or paid by such guest or patron. 18
The department may accept from a guest or patron an amount which includes the 19
fee for the service rendered plus a gratuity for the waitress or other designated 20
person and remit the gratuity directly from the depository or cash fund to the 21
designated recipient thereof. Su ch funds or depositories shall be governed by 22
regulations established by the Department of Parks and approved by the Finance 23
and Administration Cabinet. 24
(8) The commissioner may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with 25
provisions of KRS Chapter 13A in order to carry out the provisions of this section. 26