Library Board Appointment Authority Amendments
Summary
Kentucky Governor signed SB40 into law, amending KRS 173.490 and 173.730 to modify library board vacancy appointment procedures. The bill allows county judges/executive to fill library board vacancies with fiscal court approval without considering board or state librarian recommendations if the county has adopted an alternative appointment process. The bill passed the Senate 34-1 and the House overrode a veto 84-7.
What changed
Kentucky SB40 amends two sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (173.490 and 173.730) governing public library district boards of trustees. The legislation modifies vacancy appointment procedures by removing the requirement for county judges/executive to consider recommendations from the library board or state librarian when filling vacancies, provided the county has adopted an alternative appointment process subject to fiscal court approval.
County governments with existing alternative library board appointment processes should review their procedures to ensure alignment with the amended statute. Library boards and state librarian offices should note the reduced weight given to their recommendations in counties exercising the alternative appointment authority. No specific compliance deadline or penalties are associated with this legislation, which became effective upon signing.
What to do next
- Review KRS 173.490 and 173.730 as amended
- Assess whether county alternative appointment process complies with new requirements
- Update appointment procedures if county exercises alternative authority
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / SB40 Signed by Governor SB40 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-29
AN ACT relating to public library district boards of trustees.
Amend KRS 173.490 and 173.730 to allow a county judge/executive to fill vacancies on a library board, with the approval of the fiscal court, without being required to consider recommendations made the board or the state librarian if the county has adopted an alternative appointment process.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb40.html
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Sponsors
Gary Boswell (Sen - R) Donald Douglas (Sen - R) Greg Elkins (Sen - R) Scott Madon (Sen - R) Robert Mills (Sen - R) Matt Nunn (Sen - R) Steve Rawlings (Sen - R) Aaron Reed (Sen - R) Craig Richardson (Sen - R) Lindsey Tichenor (Sen - R) Steve West (Sen - R) Phillip Wheeler (Sen - R) Mike Wilson (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-03-29 S became law without Governor's Signature 2026-03-27 S filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State 2026-03-20 S delivered to Governor 2026-03-20 S enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-20 S enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-20 S received in Senate 2026-03-19 H 3rd reading, passed 84-7 2026-03-18 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 19 2026 2026-03-17 H reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-03-13 H returned to Local Government (H) 2026-03-13 H 1st reading 2026-03-13 H taken from Local Government (H) 2026-03-05 H to Local Government (H) 2026-01-27 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-27 H received in House 2026-01-23 S 3rd reading, passed with 34-1 Committee Substitute (1) 2026-01-22 S posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026 2026-01-22 S 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-01-21 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-01-12 S to State & Local Government (S) 2026-01-07 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-01-07 S introduced in Senate
Votes
2026-01-23 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3779 Yea: 34 Nay: 1 2026-03-19 House: Veto Override RCS# 292 Yea: 84 Nay: 7
Committee Referrals
2026-01-07 S Committee on Committees 2026-01-12 S State & Local Government 2026-01-22 S Rules 2026-01-27 H Committee On Committees 2026-03-05 H Local Government 2026-03-17 H Rules
Amendments
0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Local Mandate Boards and Commissions Counties County Judges/Executive Libraries Local Government Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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