Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has told state lawmakers that his office is assembling a team to fight Biden-era federal environmental regulations.
The successor to Attorney General Daniel Cameron told the state House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Tuesday that he welcomes additional resources to combat what Coleman labeled a “shotgun of regulations” that target the coal industry and private lands.
Coleman referenced the contentious WOTUS (waters of the United States) rule – a US Environmental Protection Agency rule challenged by 26 state attorneys general that amends the definition of waters of the United States. States opposing the final rule, amended in September, say it expands the definition of navigable waters to non-navigable sources that extend to private land. Kentucky is not one of the 26 states behind the challenge.
A renewed complaint filed in federal court by states against the rule last year claims “ranchers, farmers, miners, homebuilders and other landowners across the country will struggle to undertake even the simplest of activities on their own property without fear of drawing the ire of the federal government,” if the rule stands.
In his comments to the House budget committee Tuesday, Coleman indicated that Kentucky will join other states in efforts to “keep the federal government off your farm,” adding that his office welcomes additional resources for that effort.
The attorney general also referenced an increase in crime statewide as a budget issue. Coleman said some cities and towns outside of major urban areas like Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and Lexington have reported a 60-70% crime increase. A major crime bill dubbed the Safer Kentucky Act was expected to be filed Tuesday for consideration by the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly to address rising violent crime and overdose deaths in the state.
Coleman is one of four statewide constitutional officers elected in November by Kentucky voters outside of the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. All non-gubernatorial officers – including Secretary of State Michael Adams, State Auditor Allison Ball, and Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell – appeared before the House budget committee today to discuss immediate budget issues.
Secretary of State Michael Adams
Adams asked state lawmakers Tuesday to once again allow his office to keep all funds generated by the office through business filing fees. The Secretary of State’s office does not receive any state funding beyond those fees but has given money to the general fund (approximately $2 million, according to the office) in previous budgets with the exception of the current budget cycle.
Prior uses of surplus Kentucky Secretary of State funds held back from the state general fund include beefing up the Secretary of State website and other IT improvements, said Adams.
State Auditor Allison Ball
The Office of the State Auditor is now led by Ball, the former Kentucky state treasurer for eight years. Ball told the committee Tuesday she was a state financial watchdog “on the front end” as treasurer. As auditor Ball said she’ll be guarding state funds on the “back end.”
“It’s right in my wheelhouse,” she said.
Ball requested “transitional” funding totaling around $1.8 million to cover the addition of the Office of State Ombudsman, which is moving under the umbrella of the state auditor’s office this summer. She also requested $1.5 million to audit Jefferson County Public Schools with a focus on expenditures and safety.
Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell
For the department of agriculture, Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell asked lawmakers to beef up funding for emergency preparedness for events that impact the farm economy. His office requested approximately $1.5 million to cover four new positions for the division of emergency preparedness and response at the department.
That division was established by the 2023 General Assembly under Senate Bill 46.
Shell, a Lancaster Republican, is a former state House Majority Leader. He served in the House from 2013-2018.
State lawmakers in Frankfort are currently meeting in 60-day budget session to negotiate and pass a new two-year budget for Kentucky government agencies and needs. The session began Jan. 2 and will end no later than April 15.