A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance on how local governments can more easily access jurisdictional streams and waterways for cleanup after a flood.
Summary
SJR62 is a joint resolution directing Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet, through its Division of Water, to prepare a report for the General Assembly on how local governments can more easily access streams and waterways for post-flood debris cleanup. The report must explain the federal and state permits involved, identify prohibited activities in waterways, describe debris deposition requirements, and address special considerations for hazardous materials removal.
The resolution also asks the Division of Water to include recommendations for potential legislation and administrative changes that would streamline cleanup efforts after natural disasters. Those recommendations may include a one-stop permit portal and dedicated staff to help process and expedite permit requests related to flood recovery. The report is due to the Legislative Research Commission by December 15, 2026, for referral to the appropriate committee or committees.
Impact
The resolution does not directly change existing statutes, but it requires the Division of Water to study current permitting and regulatory requirements and report back with recommendations for legislative or administrative reform. Its practical impact is to place flood-related waterway cleanup access, permitting, and hazardous-material handling under review, with the potential to influence future changes to environmental permitting, disaster response procedures, and local government cleanup authority.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support, with the Senate adopting the resolution 37-0. The bill’s framing is pragmatic and disaster-response oriented, emphasizing flood recovery, public safety, and reducing administrative barriers for local governments. No committee transcript concerns are available, but the unanimous vote indicates little visible opposition at the Senate stage.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are not about the goal of flood cleanup itself, but about how to balance faster access for local governments with environmental protections, permitting requirements, and hazardous-material safeguards. Any future legislation inspired by the report could raise questions about whether a streamlined process might weaken oversight, how much authority should be delegated to the Division of Water, and whether a one-stop portal or dedicated staff would require additional resources or statutory changes.
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