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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Kentucky Riverport 1
Modernization Task Force. 2
WHEREAS, Kentucky’s riverport authorities are established under KRS Chapter 3
65, including KRS 65.510 to 65.650, the purposes of which are to establish, maintain, 4
operate, and expand necessary and proper riverport and river navigation facilities, and to 5
acquire and develop property of the riverport or proposed riverport to attract r iver-6
oriented industry under the oversight of the Transportation Cabinet; and 7
WHEREAS, Kentucky’s inland waterways and riverports are a critical component 8
of the Commonwealth’s multimodal transportation network and provide businesses 9
access to one of the most cost-efficient freight transportation modes available; and 10
WHEREAS, Kentucky’s waterborne transportation system facilitates the movement 11
of tens of millions of tons of freight annually, with over 89 million tons of goods, valued 12
at more than $18 billion, transported via inland waterways in a recent measured year; and 13
WHEREAS, approximately 79 percent of Kentucky’s waterborne trade is 14
conducted with partners outside the Commonwealth, underscoring the importance of 15
riverports to interstate and international commerce; and 16
WHEREAS, Kentucky’s riverports serve as essential economic engines within their 17
respective regions, supporting jobs, industrial recruitment, and supply chain 18
competitiveness; and 19
WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that riverport auth orities operate 20
under existing statutory authority that strictly limits the duties and powers of riverport 21
authorities to promote and develop navigation, river transportation, riverports, and 22
riverport facilities, and to attract industrial or commercial op erations to the property held 23
as industrial parks; and 24
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to study the existing 25
statutory limitations on the purposes, duties, and powers of riverport authorities, and 26
review opportunities to modernize s tatutes to enhance competitiveness, efficiency, and 27
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long-term economic impact of riverport authorities; 1
NOW, THEREFORE, 2
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 3
Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein: 4
Section 1. The General Assembly hereby affirms and recognizes the existing 5
statutory authority of Kentucky riverport authorities under KRS 65.510 to 65.650 is 6
limited to the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of necessary and 7
proper riverport and river navigation facilities, and to the acquisition and development of 8
property of the riverport or proposed riverport to attract directly or indirectly river -9
oriented industry under the oversight of the Transportation Cabinet. 10
Section 2. The Legislative Research Commission shall establish the Kentucky 11
Riverport Modernization Task Force, which shall study and make recommendations 12
regarding: 13
(1) Kentucky's current statutory framework and any administrative regulations 14
governing riverport authorities and their effectiveness in relation to competitor states; 15
(2) The effectiveness of existing authorities in supporting economic development 16
and freight mobility; 17
(3) Modernization efforts other states have made and their effectiveness; 18
(4) Actions and policies that the state should implement to improve the efficiency 19
and competitiveness of Kentucky's riverports following input from existing riverport 20
authorities and other stakeholders; and 21
(5) Opportunities to strengthen public -private partnerships and regional 22
collaboration, as well as the role of riverports in emerging supply chains. 23
Section 3. The task force shall be composed of the following members, with 24
final membership of the task force being subject to the consideration and approval of the 25
Legislative Research Commission: 26
(1) Four members of the House or Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of 27
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the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated by the Speaker of the 1
House of Representatives as a co-chair of the task force; 2
(2) Four members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, one of 3
whom shall be designated by the President of the Senate as a co-chair of the task force; 4
(3) One member of the House of Rep resentatives, appointed by the Minority 5
Floor Leader of the House of Representatives; and 6
(4) One member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of the 7
Senate. 8
Section 4. The task force shall meet up to fou r times during the 2026 Interim of 9
the General Assembly. The task force shall submit findings and recommendations to the 10
Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate committee or committees 11
by December 1, 2026. 12
Section 5. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall deliver a copy of 13
this Resolution to each of Kentucky's active and developing riverport authorities and the 14
secretary of the Transportation Cabinet. 15
Section 6. Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the 16
Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 17
issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 18
designate a study completion date. 19