Kentucky Senate passes welding-safety bill after sponsor cites past school collapse

Frankfort — The Kentucky Senate on Feb. 25 approved Senate Bill 98, a measure requiring that on projects where American Welding Society standards apply, welds be inspected by someone certified to those standards. The bill was taken up for third reading and passed on a roll-call vote of 33 yeas to 4 nays.

Senator from Pike, presenting the bill, described SB98 as "a very simple little bill" aimed at public safety. He told the chamber that the standards apply to heavy load-bearing structural work such as buildings and bridges and recounted an incident in Marshall County in which a school structure collapsed; he said subsequent inspection showed welds were not properly inspected and warned that a similar failure with students present "might have been deaths." The senator argued certified inspections reduce liability for both the commonwealth and builders.

Supporters noted the bill had previously passed the House unanimously on multiple occasions. No members sought extended debate; the presiding officer called the question and the clerk conducted a roll-call vote. After votes were recorded, the presiding officer announced, "There being 33 yays, 4 nays. Senate Bill 98 is passed." The motion to take the bill from its place and read it for passage was made by Senator from Taylor.

The bill's sponsor said the measure allows an entity's own American Welding Society–certified employee to perform inspections rather than requiring an outside inspector. Proponents framed the change as a technical measure to ensure welds conform to designs and to prevent structural failures.

Procedure and next steps: With passage by the Senate, SB98 will move forward according to the Legislature's established process. The clerk's report and the recorded vote are part of the official legislative record.