- Union officials say HB 276 would strip local governments of authority to regulate backyard chickens and other land uses
- SB 237 and HB 758 would shift payroll tax revenue away from cities like Union by taxing wages where headquarters are located
- SB 52 would impose new permitting rules that Union says are confusing and burdensome for local governments
The City of Union officially opposed several bills progressing through the Kentucky General Assembly that, if enacted, would diminish local control, according to city officials.
On Monday, March 16, the Union City Commission passed a resolution opposing four bills introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly this session: House Bill 276, Senate Bill 237, House Bill 758 and Senate Bill 52.
House Bill 276
House Bill 276, sponsored by Northern Kentucky GOP Rep. Steve Doan of Erlanger, would guarantee that Kentucky residents could keep a small number of chickens on their property.
Specifically, the bill would add a new section to the Kentucky Regulatory Statutes that permits keeping up to six chickens on residential properties and set regulations and restrictions for local authorities. The legislation defines backyard chickens as hens for personal use, not for commercial farming, and excludes roosters.
The bill’s language explicitly prohibits cities and other local governments from banning residents from keeping up to six “backyard chickens” on their property. While local governments would still be able to set certain restrictions, such as requiring coops to be set back, establishing sanitation standards, and banning commercial sales, they could not fully prohibit backyard chickens. Moreover, the bill states that any existing local rules that conflict with this law would be invalid.
“This bill would prohibit the city commission or the planning commission from not allowing those uses,” Union City Administrator Amy Safran said.
In 2025, backyard chicken regulations sparked heated discussions in several local governments, namely Lakeside Park and Boone County.
Union City Attorney Greg Voss said that the city is against the bill, not due to opposition to chicken ownership itself, but because it strips away the city’s regulatory authority. Essentially, Union is concerned that the bill’s passage would limit the authority of the city commission and planning commission to regulate certain land uses within their own boundaries, taking away the city’s authority to make decisions based on local needs.
“That’s what it’s about,” Voss said. “It’s not about chickens or anything else. It’s about taking away our control.”
Senate Bill 237 and House Bill 758
Senate Bill 237, introduced by GOP Sen. Gex Williams of Verona, changes how occupational license taxes, commonly known as payroll taxes, are assigned for certain employees in Kentucky.
House Bill 758, introduced by GOP Rep. Stephanie Dietz of Edgewood, proposes similar policy changes to those in Senate Bill 237. Neither is materially different from the other.
The bills would require that 100% of wages for employees connected to a large corporate headquarters be taxed by the local government where the headquarters is located, even if they work remotely elsewhere.
The same rule also applies to state government employees, whose wages would be taxed based on the location of their assigned office.
The bills provide limited special exemptions for work performed at a satellite office, in addition to creating a process for employees to request refunds for days worked outside the taxing jurisdiction. It also mandates that local governments establish procedures for processing those refund claims.
Union outlined its opposition to the legislation in its resolution, in which the city said it would lose its ability to tax people who work within its boundaries by changing how occupational tax revenue is allocated. Furthermore, Union contended this would shift tax revenue away from the city, reducing its ability to fund services.
Senate Bill 52
Senate Bill 52 would establish new statewide rules for how state agencies handle permit and license applications. If passed, it would require state agencies to clearly define approval criteria, make decisions within 30 days and automatically approve applications if deadlines are not met, unless specific conditions apply.
If an application is not approved within that timeframe, the applicant can request a hearing after a denial, placing the burden on the agency to justify that denial and ensuring a quicker path to judicial review.
The bill was introduced by three Northern Kentucky-based state senators: Williams, Shelley Funke-Frommeyer, and Steve Rawlings, along with Matt Nunn, whose district includes part of Kenton County.
The Union stated that it opposed the legislation on the grounds that it would “create burdensome and confusing regulations” for local governments, specifically regarding permit or license denials.
Other cities in Northern Kentucky, like Dayton, have passed resolutions opposing the legislation.