KY Legislative Newsletter

 

Lobby Day Wrap Up - February 7, 2025

2025 KY Sierra Club Advocacy Day Was a Success!
 

We just wrapped up an incredible Lobby Day, where advocates from across Kentucky met with our legislators to take action on key legislation that protects clean air, expands outdoor recreation, and ensures lead-free rental properties. Now, we need you to help keep the momentum going!

Here are the key bills we discussed:

✅ HB 32: Outdoor Recreation would establish the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry within the Cabinet for Economic Development to support Kentucky’s growing outdoor economy. While a centralized office could help streamline efforts, ensuring proper funding and staffing is critical, as is addressing conservation and resource management needs.

❌HB 137: Air Quality would limit the types of evidence that can be used to enforce air quality laws, allowing only the most current EPA-approved methods. This restriction could weaken enforcement, making it harder to identify violations and putting Kentucky at risk of losing its authority to enforce the Clean Air Act. Weaker air quality protections could also lead to higher healthcare costs and economic harm.

❌ HB 173: Lead would block local governments, like Louisville, from requiring rental property registries for lead contamination reporting. Lead exposure is a serious health risk, especially for children, with lifelong consequences. Louisville’s ordinance helps protect public health, and local governments should have the authority to take action without state interference.

Your voice matters! Click below to send a message to your legislators urging them to take action on these critical bills.

 
Take Action Now!

Our Priority Issues for the Upcoming Legislative Session - January 6, 2025
The Legislative Team for the Sierra Club, Kentucky Chapter is preparing for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session. As we approach the start of this year's legislative session, we want to take a moment to share our key priorities and let you know how important your ongoing engagement is. Let’s work together during the 2025 legislative session to turn responsible environmental legislation into law.

The Kentucky Chapter is committed to advancing environmental justice, focusing on legislation that addresses the needs of underserved communities and promotes policies that protect our environment while improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians. We believe that these issues are interconnected, and the solutions we advocate for will ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone in our state.

Our Kentucky Chapter’s Priority Issues:

  • Outdoor Recreation: Expanding tourism and recreational spaces in Eastern Kentucky, supporting multi-use public lands, and increasing urban green spaces & outdoor access for veterans.

  • Resilient Communities: Promoting responsible, transit oriented, resilient development, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, and energy conservation.

  • Clean Energy: Supporting sustainable energy programs, community solar systems, and the modernization of the electric grid.

  • Clean Water: Addressing pollution in Kentucky’s waterways and improving water purification systems.

  • Land Conservation: Protecting biodiversity, reforesting, and expanding nature preserves and wetland areas.

Stay Engaged – We Need You! Throughout this session, we will be reaching out with important updates and action alerts. Your voice is crucial, and we hope you’ll stay involved as we advocate for these priorities. Whether it’s making calls, sending emails, or attending events, every action counts.

This is an excellent opportunity to preserve Kentucky, protect Kentucky, and enjoy Kentucky for the equitable benefit of all citizens in our Commonwealth.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working alongside you in the coming year!