This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
P. Wheeler
Last action
2026-04-27
Official status
04/27/26: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 201)
Effective date
Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide specific details about fiscal impact, local mandate, or other potential impacts beyond what is explicitly stated in the bill text.
Welding Safety Rules
This act sets safety standards for structural steel welding projects in Kentucky when requested by state government entities.
What This Bill Does
Defines key terms related to welding and inspection, such as 'accredited testing facility' and 'certified welding inspector'.
Requires welders on structural steel welding projects to be tested and certified by an accredited testing facility or a person who has been accredited by the AWS.
Mandates that all structural steel welding must meet specific welding standards set by the American Welding Society (AWS).
Who It Names or Affects
General contractors, project managers, and subcontractors involved in structural steel welding projects under state government contracts.
Terms To Know
Accredited testing facility
A place that tests and certifies welders and welding inspectors and is recognized by the American Welding Society (AWS).
Certified welding inspector
A person certified by AWS to inspect structural steel welding projects independently of a building program.
Limits and Unknowns
The act only applies when requested by the state government entity involved in the contract.
It does not apply to welding done on private property for homeowners or farmers.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Allow a trainee welder to weld without certification while under the direct supervision of a certified welder and with normal inspection and quality control requirements; prohibit designating the trainee welder as the responsible structural welder; allow entry-level, apprentice, and trainee welders to gain supervised on-the-job welding experience toward certification.
Plain English: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT FORM
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Amend printed copy of SB 98/GA
Amendment No.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT FORM
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Amend printed copy of SB 98/GA
Amendment No.
Limit welding certification standards to projects occurring pursuant to state government contracts when those standards are requested by the contracting state government entity.
Plain English: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT FORM
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Amend printed copy of SB 98/GA
Amendment No.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT FORM
2026 REGULAR SESSION
Amend printed copy of SB 98/GA
Amendment No.
2026-04-27Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 201)
2026-04-15Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
taken from Rules placed in the Orders of the Day 3rd reading, passed 89-5 with Floor Amendment (4) received in Senate to Rules (S) Senate concurred in Floor Amendment (4) passed 37-0 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House delivered to Governor
2026-04-14Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
floor amendment (4) filed
2026-04-01Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
floor amendment (3) filed
2026-03-25Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
2nd reading, to Rules floor amendments (1) and (2) filed
2026-03-24Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
2026-03-17Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reassigned to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
2026-03-05Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
2026-02-26Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
received in House to Committee on Committees (H)
2026-02-25Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
3rd reading, passed 33-4
2026-02-23Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 25 2026
2026-02-11Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
2nd reading, to Rules
2026-02-10Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
2026-02-06Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
to Licensing & Occupations (S)
2026-01-15Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Official Summary Text
AN ACT relating to welding safety.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 98/EN
Page 1 of 2
SB009820.100 - 1082 - XXXX 4/15/2026 4:46 PM Engrossed
AN ACT relating to welding safety. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 198B IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: 5
(a) "Accredited testing facility" means a facility that tests and certifies welders 6
and welding inspectors, and which has been accredited by the AWS; 7
(b) "ASME" means the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; 8
(c) "AWS" means the American Welding Society; 9
(d) "Certified welding inspector" means a person who has been certified by the 10
AWS to inspect structural steel welding projects and is independent of a 11
Kentucky building program having jurisdiction; 12
(e) "D1.1" means the current version of the Structural Weldin g Code -Steel, 13
approved American National Standard from the AWS; 14
(f) "D1.5" means the current version of the Bridge Welding Code, approved 15
American National Standard from the AWS jointly with the American 16
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; 17
(g) "Structural steel welding" means structural welds, weld repair, the 18
structural system, and the welding of all primary steel members of a 19
structure per D1.1 and D1.5 established by AWS. Where ASME work is 20
required, it shall be done by ASME certified welders; and 21
(h) "Welding standards" means the specifications, guidelines, tests, and other 22
methods used to develop a system of quality control to ensure that welding is 23
conducted in such a manner that all welds must meet, at a minimum, D1.1 24
and D1.5 standards established by the AWS. 25
(2) To ensure the safety, quality, and integrity of structural steel welding and that all 26
welding standards are met, the following requirements shall be mandated by 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 98/EN
Page 2 of 2
SB009820.100 - 1082 - XXXX 4/15/2026 4:46 PM Engrossed
general contractors, project managers, contractors, and su bcontractors in all 1
projects involving structural steel welding where the design professional 2
responsible for the project includes the D1.1 or D1.5 in the job specifications: 3
(a) Welders performing structural steel welding on a project shall have been 4
tested and certified by: 5
1. An accredited testing facility; or 6
2. An individual who has been accredited by the AWS to test and certify 7
welders and welding inspectors. This individual could be anyone who 8
has been certified by the AWS to inspect structural stee l welding 9
projects; and 10
(b) Structural steel welding performed on a project shall meet welding 11
standards. 12
(3) This section shall only apply to projects: 13
(a) Occurring pursuant to state government contracts; and 14
(b) When requested by the contracting state government entity. 15
(4) This section shall not apply to welding projects performed or requested by a 16
homeowner or farmer on the premises of the homeowner or farmer. 17
Section 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027. 18