Members of the Task Force on Local Government Annexation have been announced. On Thursday, the Legislative Research Commission released the names of ten legislators appointed to the task force.
Task Force Members
Sen. Robby Mills, Co-Chair (R - Henderson, Hopkins, Union, Webster counties)
Rep. Jonathan Dixon, Co-Chair (R - Henderson County)
Sen. Michael J. Nemes (R - Bullitt, Jefferson counties)
Sen. Robert Stivers (R - Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, Whitley counties)
Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R - Elliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, Pike counties)
Sen. David Yates (D - Jefferson County)
Rep. Randy Bridges (R - Livingston, McCracken counties)
Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton (D - Jefferson County)
Rep. Michael Meredith (R - Edmonson, Warren counties)
Rep. Michael Sarge Pollock (R - Marion, Taylor counties)
The task force was created in accordance with SB 141, which passed during the 2023 regular legislative session. The measure also implemented a temporary pause on annexation.
Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne appointed members of the task force, which includes eight republicans and two democrats.
Members of the annexation task force are charged with reviewing present statutory methods of city annexation as well as studying the beneficial and deleterious effects of city annexation on issues such as taxation, economic development, provision and sustainability of water, gas, electric, sewer, and other utility services, police protection, fire protection, and emergency services from the perspective of local governments and their residents.
The task force will meet at least monthly during the interim and must submit any findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate committee or committees by Nov. 1, 2023. A meeting schedule has not been finalized.
KACo looks forward to working with legislators, county officials and city leaders to find solutions for this critical issue.
