House Bill 303: Transportation Cabinet Budget
Introduced: Representative Pamela Stevenson (D-043)
Summary: Relates to the Governor recommended Transportation Cabinet budget; details part one operating budget; details part two capital projects budget; details part three funds transfer; details part four Transportation Cabinet budget summary.
Design-Build Impact: The bill’s main design-build impact is that it authorizes 2024-2026 Biennial Highway Construction Plan project, the Ohio River Crossing, to utilize design-build procurement methods.
Last Action: January 16, 2026: The bill is within the HOUSE Committee on APPROPRIATIONS and REVENUE
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
House Bill 472: Public Contracts
Introduced: Representative Patrick Flannery (R-096)
Summary: Creates new sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) to require that state and local contracts contain a provision that any iron, steel, or aluminum used in all state and local projects be manufactured in the United States unless a waiver is granted.
Design-Build Impact: The bill reaffirms that capital construction projects may be completed on a design-build basis. This further strengthens Kentucky’s already strong design-build, and progressive design-build permissions.
Last Action: January 30, 2026: The bill is within the HOUSE Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and WORKFORCE INVESTMENT.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 501: Operating Budget
Introduced: Representative Jason Petrie (R-016)
Summary: Relates to appropriations providing financing and conditions for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the Transportation Cabinet of the Commonwealth of State.
Design-Build Impact: The bill allocates money for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the 2026-2028 fiscal biennium. This includes $416 million in FY 2027 and $503 million in FY 2028 for the Biennial Highway Construction Program. The program is managed by the Cabinet, which has blanket design-build procurement authority for its projects, meaning a portion of the money allocated in this bill would likely go towards design-build projects within the state that the cabinet would take on within the upcoming biennial.
Last Action: April 13, 2026: The bill was initially assigned to the HOUSE Committee on COMMITTEES and subsequently the HOUSE Committee on APPROPRIATIONS and REVENUE before its three readings and adoption of Amendment No. 1 on the HOUSE Floor. The bill then passed from the HOUSE into the SENATE. The bill was assigned to the SENATE Committee on COMMITTEES and then subsequently the SENATE Committee on TRANSPORTATION where the bill was reported favorably with substitute and the bill went back to the HOUSE for concurrence before being enrolled and sent to the Governor on April 1. The bill had a line item vetoed by the Governor. The bill was signed into law by the Governor and Chaptered as Act No. 167 and will be effective as of July 15, 2026.
Status: Signed into Law
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Medium