Animal Health Emergency Declaration and Powers

Kentucky Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

Kentucky Governor signed SB155 into law, creating statutory authority for the Commissioner of Agriculture to declare animal health emergencies. The bill grants emergency powers including authority to order veterinary services, quarantine livestock and equipment, establish roadblocks with law enforcement assistance, and waive procurement requirements to combat communicable disease spread.

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What changed

Kentucky SB155 amends KRS 39A.020 and KRS 39A.100 to establish a formal definition of "animal health emergency" and grant the Commissioner of Agriculture broad emergency powers in consultation with the state veterinarian. New authorities include ordering veterinary services, requesting transportation regulatory waivers for animal feed/medicine, ordering quarantine of livestock, poultry, domesticated animals, and contaminated equipment, establishing roadblocks with state/local law enforcement and game wardens, and purchasing goods/services without standard procurement code requirements.

Agricultural producers, livestock owners, and related businesses should understand that the Commissioner now has authority to mandate quarantine orders affecting their operations and that transportation of animals or equipment in affected areas may be restricted. The bill's emergency declaration language indicates immediate implementation upon signing. While no specific penalties are detailed, non-compliance with quarantine orders or roadblocks would constitute violations of state law with potential enforcement consequences.

What to do next

Review current livestock and poultry biosecurity protocols to ensure readiness for potential quarantine orders
Update emergency contact procedures for state veterinary and Department of Agriculture communications
Familiarize staff with new animal health emergency procedures and potential roadblocks in Kentucky

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kentucky / SB155 Signed by Governor SB155 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-03

AN ACT relating to animal health emergencies and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 39A.020 to define "animal health emergency"; amend KRS 39A.100 to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to declare an animal health emergency; grant the Commissioner of Agriculture emergency powers to order veterinary or veterinary technician services, request that the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet waive regulatory requirements relating to the transportation of animal feed stock or medicine; order the quarantine of any livestock, poultry, domesticated animal, article, or equipment serving as a vector of communicable disease; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to establish roadblocks with the assistance of state and local law enforcement and game wardens employed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to prevent the transportation of animals, articles, or equipment ordered quarantined; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to purchase goods and services needed to stop the spread of the communicable disease without regard to the Model Procurement Code established in KRS Chapter 45A; authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to request emergency assistance from any local government or special district, state agency, and the Governor in order to initiate any request for federal assistance.

Bill Details

State Kentucky

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb155....

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Action History

2026-04-03 S signed by Governor 2026-03-25 S delivered to Governor 2026-03-25 S enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-25 S enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-25 S passed 37-1 2026-03-25 S Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-25 S posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-25 S taken from Rules 2026-03-25 S to Rules (S) 2026-03-25 S received in Senate 2026-03-24 H 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-19 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026 2026-03-19 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-03-18 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) 2026-03-12 H to Agriculture (H) 2026-02-13 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-02-13 H received in House 2026-02-12 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-02-11 S posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, February 12 2026 2026-02-11 S 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-02-10 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-02-06 S to Agriculture (S) 2026-02-03 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-03 S introduced in Senate

Votes

2026-02-12 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3817 Yea: 38 Nay: 0 2026-03-24 House: Veto Override RCS# 307 Yea: 94 Nay: 0 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3984 Yea: 37 Nay: 1

Committee Referrals

2026-02-03 S Committee on Committees 2026-02-06 S Agriculture 2026-02-11 S Rules 2026-02-13 H Committee On Committees 2026-03-12 H Agriculture 2026-03-19 H Rules 2026-03-25 S Rules

Amendments

0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 House Committee Amendment

Bill Text Versions

0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled

Subjects

Agriculture Animals, Livestock, and Poultry Diseases Fish and Wildlife Governor Local Government Peace Officers and Law Enforcement Police, State Public Protection Special Districts State Agencies Transportation Veterinarians Local Mandate Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)