HB 371 creates a new Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry within the Cabinet for Economic Development. The office would serve as Kentucky’s coordinator for outdoor industry matters, including resource development, industry promotion, and building connections among businesses, communities, and other stakeholders tied to the outdoor recreation economy. It would also advise the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission on policy issues affecting the sector, including business issues unique to outdoor recreation.
The bill assigns the office broader goals beyond economic development. It directs the office to support conservation, stewardship, education, workforce training, and public health and wellness, reflecting an effort to link outdoor recreation with both economic and community benefits. The office would be led by an executive director appointed by the secretary, who would have authority to hire staff, contract for services, expend funds, and manage day-to-day operations.
HB 371 also amends KRS 12.020, Kentucky’s statutory list of major administrative bodies, to add the new Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry under the Cabinet for Economic Development. This is primarily an organizational and administrative change, but it formally places the office within state government structure and gives it statutory recognition alongside other cabinet offices and departments. The bill does not appear to create new regulatory powers over private parties; instead, it establishes a coordinating and promotional office within state government.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included, the available context does not show direct debate or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed positively as an economic development initiative tied to tourism, conservation, and workforce growth. The overall sentiment in the available record is therefore neutral to supportive, with the bill presented as a state-level effort to organize and strengthen the outdoor recreation sector.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of interest, however, could include the cost of creating a new office, the scope of its coordination role, and how its work would overlap with existing tourism, parks, conservation, and economic development functions. Those issues are not raised in the record provided, but they are the most likely subjects of scrutiny if the bill advances.
HB 371 would amend Kentucky’s administrative statutes to create and place a new Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry within the Cabinet for Economic Development, specifically updating KRS 12.020 to list the office among state administrative bodies. The bill would not directly regulate outdoor recreation businesses or consumers, but it would establish a formal state office with authority to coordinate policy, promote the industry, and support related economic and workforce initiatives. It would also authorize the secretary to hire staff, contract for services, and expend funds for the office’s operations.
The available record suggests generally favorable or at least noncontroversial sentiment toward the bill. The measure is presented as an economic development and industry-coordination proposal, with added emphasis on conservation, wellness, and workforce development. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes included, there is no documented opposition or floor debate to indicate broader controversy.
No specific contention is documented in the provided materials. The most plausible areas of concern would be whether a new office is necessary, how much it would cost, and whether its responsibilities might duplicate work already being done by other agencies such as tourism, parks, conservation, or economic development offices. However, those concerns are not stated in the record and should be treated as potential rather than confirmed points of dispute.