[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6636727,"mediaKeyId","2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f","parentId",2605349,"title","Committee advances amended open-records bill after lengthy debate over \"could\" vs. \"would\" standard","audioSeconds",577,"startMs",580000,"endMs",2050,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f&start=580&end=2","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f/thumbnail_580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6636727/Kentucky/Committee-advances-amended-open-records-bill-after-lengthy-debate-over-could-vs-would-standard","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636727-f4a59e97658ab3d7f03333dd85a8319d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773709294&Signature=J6alCHOCzgm~U8LsY3T8lbEDuugjMzWILbusXX9mRsluQsN60DCx8oldlxoUUQJbRggAzTb4zV7kl9k7kS-TQZBO0UTEWYtvvDhkvPuE1F5UrjOeB2PePAtP9TpMQz5yK61MSJdVNSbmfTPcQKjwlP7LJ41DXVnZUQKnsCpCPOmZF6oYVYDUDqWWDq6y04hRn5KfgUlm8H-yh5cpicaI84xxI9pBSFEc~AXr6GlIeuUd~Vw8h15WoynKtn4nhwScN7fXmtZh~wUFeaytMyGOftL0FKos3dn9WBDFKMhsJ5UGyv~LZVqlz3yiC4i44qxY0QGGkX4szknK9buHAeUWzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kentucky Legislature","date","2025-03-13T17:56:16.33Z","article","Representative Chris Fugate, sponsor of House Bill 520, told the committee the bill—and the committee substitute—addresses when records related to open police investigations may be withheld from public records requests to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses and confidential informants. \"This open records request… would keep the open record from being or parts of our investigation from being received from different people or agencies while the investigation is ongoing. It protects the investigation,\" Fugate said.

Several senators pressed the sponsor and other witnesses about the committee substitute's change of language from \"would\" to \"could.\" Senator Tishner asked whether the bill amounts to a change to the Open Records Act; Representative Fugate said it deals with records of ongoing investigations. Senator Chambers Armstrong raised a procedural concern: \"Am I reading this correctly that under this if an agency just says, I believe this would pose a risk of harm that alone is sufficient to be able to withhold and there's no role for a court to question that determination?\" Chambers Armstrong said he had previously litigated open-records issues and recalled courts historically reviewing agency claims.

JD Cheney, representing the Kentucky League of Cities, said the substitute retains language that prevents custodians from using exemptions as a means to delay or impede public-rights under the Open Records Act. \"This maintains the language in that last sub-paragraph that the exemptions… shall not be used by the custodian of records to delay or impede the exercise of rights granted under the Open Records Act,\" Cheney said.

Sandra McDaniels (identified in the hearing) and other committee members noted that records generally become open after enforcement action is completed or a decision to take no action. Questions focused on how long records could be withheld, the standard an agency must meet to withhold records, and whether the change to \"could\" would increase the number of in-camera or appellate reviews.

During roll call members explained votes on both policy and transparency grounds. Senator Elkins and several members said they supported the bill to protect active investigations; others, including Senator Rawlings and Senator Tishner, said the change to \"could\" was too broad and voted no. Senator Hawkins later changed his vote to yes to move the bill along. After changes and explanations the committee passed House Bill 520 as amended by the committee substitute, 6-4, and reported it favorably to the floor.

The committee record shows the bill seeks to withhold certain investigative records until enforcement action is complete or a decision is made to take no action; exact timelines and some statutory cross-references were discussed but not resolved in committee. The hearing featured extended debate about the appropriate legal standard and the role of courts or the attorney general in adjudicating disputes over withheld records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Standing Committee on State & Local Government (3-13-25) - Upon Recess","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Chris Fugate told the committee House Bill 520 aims to limit public release of records in active law-enforcement investigations until enforcement action is complete, to protect witnesses and ongoing investigations.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature KY, Kentucky","taxId",77680,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636730,"Committee backs bill allowing $25 fee for federal suitability checks",259,358000,617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f&start=358&end=617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f/thumbnail_358000.jpg","/articles/6636730/Kentucky/Committee-backs-bill-allowing-25-fee-for-federal-suitability-checks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636730-1beed6a5eb4f09bdc2b7c0c5c7e79ebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773709294&Signature=Hni~~psYuuaDcfLZxdU9yWHU1ux0lUzO~g9BiUJLCA7~FDxTBEPUa~~inB0Kk6PXCIQHhA1inEZvI9~n80LM51gqBX1f2nIGUwMJgnrqJEYuR3KiIKAyM42ibGzI66U-OIYxaYbPO2aXJkcz2kSPmVl366dspVmU~I3qAMZPVFMy~BcdjygQmGNHxex3lqt1f5q9l~rLIrBW2QdIAwnDNvChl86qeAwWTtAu13FdLgizN7N57se08pNjgm6jAH-bGSPAul0e-j3opQ60H-OF7FXmPtvXMMTAvNRWPCctNvZJjgTlXfUsuHWyxrG5FrbalytCF7r9BQXqZ0UVPFuv7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Tony Hampton, sponsor of House Bill 340, told the committee the measure creates a new section of Kentucky law to define terms and require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal-history records for basic federal suitability or fitness screenings.

\"This legislation will change and create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 to define terms and require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records information for requesting agencies when they're conducting a basic suitability or fitness assessment for potential federal or contractor employees,\" Hampton said, citing federal law and the need for local compliance with 5 U.S.C. § 9101.

Hampton said the bill allows local and state agencies to charge a $25 fee for providing criminal-records information and that reimbursement for juvenile records will be paid by the federal government. \"This fee does not come from the Kentucky Treasury,\" he said.

Pat Morgan, representing the Kentucky Sheriffs Association, and Sean Butler, executive director of the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, were present in support. The committee held no extended debate and voted to pass House Bill 340 by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays. The committee recommended the bill for passage to the full Senate.

Details such as the process for fee collection and whether the fee applies to all request types were not specified in committee testimony.","The committee approved House Bill 340 to require Kentucky criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records for federal or contractor background checks and to allow a $25 fee for that service; committee passed the bill 9-0 and sponsors said reimbursement will come from the federal government.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6636734,"Committee approves training and standing changes for local planning panels",289,70000,359000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f&start=70&end=359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2605349-44bdfe0b3806ddd75061ead1bc8c327f/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6636734/Kentucky/Committee-approves-training-and-standing-changes-for-local-planning-panels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636734-011d825555cad5e34aee5cea534b9896/orig.mp4?Expires=1773709294&Signature=HongCRKYX8R4naOXj08mzQ9vVLtn2pIbxlYkbk6dKXW-LfScEJbSRrDNBIIAszbnq5O6cQmYzRwF3Z57Z3I3nB9Ddm1YU1TiRSlhIt5Cosy9Z2E~t0BK6-DOmp1cTra~7JpEKTu6FjThKAMvwK3LNcvGPFPKeCVgxnCuOFR4U-PIg-nwe0QqRO8zsisrfZhOk9055uXu8CsT4Xu5sH9DDUfatB91E1~Eewcawmyu2PhACnhWnPMNiyWHdP6LFZNQ0gg9fgtzBsjdT5R1Hpw-Epx1u3uyhzrUO5IsjUPOedTpM8IJCFuPLca8s1EHmZ70HKDfSjWZRJNCkLHeBy7GHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative D.J. Johnson, sponsor of House Bill 321, told the Senate State and Local Government Committee the bill makes three changes affecting local planning commissions and boards of adjustment. \"House bill 3 21 as amended does 3 things,\" Johnson said, explaining the measure lengthens time for appointed members to complete initial orientation and continuing education and adds training about housing impacts.

The bill requires that \"individuals receive at least 1 hour of training focused on housing at both the initial orientation and for each period of continuing education,\" Johnson said. Gracie Kelly, director of government affairs for the Kentucky League of Cities, was listed as a supporter; Johnson also said the Kentucky Realtors Association supported the measure.

Senator Mills, who explained the committee substitute, said the sub addresses delays in development tied to litigation. \"The committee sub says, any person or entity claiming to be injured or aggrieved by any final action of a board of adjustment and that owns real property within the same zone where the property that is the subject of the final action is located shall appeal that action to the circuit court,\" Mills said, describing a narrower class of parties who can sue over board decisions.

Committee members voted to adopt the committee substitute and then passed House Bill 321 in committee by a vote of 8 to 0. The committee did not amend the bill further and recommended it do pass to the full Senate.

The bill would change local training requirements and the scope of who can challenge board of adjustment actions in circuit court; details such as implementation timeline for the training and any costs to local governments were not specified during the committee discussion.","The Senate State and Local Government Committee adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 321 that lengthens training timelines for appointed planning officials, mandates at least one hour of housing-focused training, and limits litigation standing in zoning appeals to property owners in the same zone; the measure passed the committee 8-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances amended open-records bill after lengthy debate over "could" vs. "would" standard

Committee backs bill allowing $25 fee for federal suitability checks

Committee approves training and standing changes for local planning panels