[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325931,"mediaKeyId","2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88","parentId",2330443,"title","Committee reviews claims bill items tied to unsigned contracts and missed renewals","audioSeconds",811,"startMs",2362000,"endMs",3173000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88&start=2362&end=3173","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88/thumbnail_2362000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325931/Kentucky/Committee-reviews-claims-bill-items-tied-to-unsigned-contracts-and-missed-renewals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325931-6e67ba95b24de303278a7e80812c394b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998002&Signature=I35GJyUe-e~YD-5cI9uhvTd0YHaoGeEZU8xJtlq8~AWU06g8rFpNlyGe-yBEzDSLvZxPelo6XeDrNX-NwLimj4JyTuOpD00Oegut3gZmxWSP~SCdJqMDZKeqDTS0RZIXYQ~bL8doEvlRmL219P84eC5xX3Own0itEK2Wrq9WUCj-R5naC5Lq4dfTZF80e6y2IHow-Fxny8n9cwigA1ZsZjzMxGrntSZx6EW~kM5WUQJPK2GJC7f1x5hYFExaxLgK56NLl6c0scC-xfNOlIbdE5aWYLZBlBKq6tYKpsPJFG-WKStrSjkuUQ8mgvG3qMueDTvy6zQvJHjFRRNRESO6pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kentucky Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Cabinet and controller’s office officials briefed the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on a series of claims included in House Bill 545 that, according to presenters, resulted from administrative issues such as invoices delayed across fiscal years, contract extensions not executed on time, or services performed while contract terms were being renegotiated.

Holly Johnson, secretary of the Cabinet for Finance and Administration, and Joe McDaniel, executive director of the Office of the Controller, appeared and answered committee questions about specific claims and whether statutory or procedural changes are needed to reduce recurrence.

Officials reviewed a list of individual claims to explain why each appeared in the claims bill packet. Committee material and testimony identified the following examples (amounts and characterizations are as presented to the committee):

- Capital Solutions LLC — approximately $14,700; board approved work but the personal‑service contract was not indexed in the state contract system (EMARS) in time for routine processing.
- Carahsoft Technology Corp. — one invoice under $2,000 and a second invoice around $54,000; presenters said invoice reconciliation across multiple years created delays while the Commonwealth validated receipt of goods and services.
- Johnson County Fiscal Court — approximately $1,415,000; described as an MOU matter validated as an obligation but paperwork was not in standard contract form in time.
- Justice AV (JAV) items — multiple claims where prior contracts had expired and services continued while an extension or new contract was being negotiated.
- Lead for America — approximately $34,000; presenters reported vendor registration issues in the state vendor system and an agency report that an incoming executive director did not properly execute the contract.
- Magellan Rx Management — approximately $222,000; vendor performed rebate services for Medicaid in a one‑month transition period while the state moved to a new vendor.
- Phillips Healthcare — approximately $48,900; characterized as invoice exceeding agency spending authority at the KCTCS system.
- Proactive LTC Consulting — approximately $5,700; agency missed renewal deadline and services continued.
- Sander Resources — approximately $29,000; work continued after the contract reached its dollar limit and modifications were pending.
- University of Kentucky Research Foundation — approximately $443,000; vendor continued performing services under existing contract terms while an extension/modification was still pending final approval.

McDaniel told the committee some claims resulted from board approvals or agency actions where the vendor or contract record was not entered into EMARS or where invoices spanned fiscal years; in other instances vendors continued work during contract transitions to avoid service interruption. He told members he was not aware of a statutory revision needed at this time but asked the committee to communicate any systemic trends to the cabinet.

Chair Johnny Petrie framed the claims discussion as routine for the claims bill process and emphasized the committee’s interest in preventing a pattern of services performed without executed contracts. He told members the agenda item was discussion only and that the committee would likely return for a truncated discussion next week to consider the totality of claims materials.

Ending: The committee concluded its review of the claims items and asked the cabinet and controller’s office to follow up if further statutory or procedural changes are recommended.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (2-18-25)","oneSentenceSummary","Officials from the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Office of the Controller briefed the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on multiple claims in House Bill 545 that stem from invoices, expired contracts or administrative delays; the item was discussion only and no payments were approved at the hearing.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature KY, Kentucky","taxId",77680,"location","Kentucky","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325935,"Kentucky Exposition Center officials brief committee on phase 2 redevelopment plan",1357,1007000,2364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88&start=1007&end=2364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88/thumbnail_1007000.jpg","/articles/6325935/Kentucky/Kentucky-Exposition-Center-officials-brief-committee-on-phase-2-redevelopment-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325935-ea8dab1f496681c4298a634e963edf0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998002&Signature=PsXPJSYBN~Pdt6i8n0ty9Ea7sC33yd2kZzQwSPSyrbim0dKyQiqTpfHLSP1B1IrwVyaoyxQWoKtXQJLKkfe12To0k5OtFiYWqCDKSYIHl6Cq40YgMXEYjN1LRQsZ1eZ5S6i4E7I8in8eczduZ-BIkzEzN4eC355Q2H0BlH305dJoWd35cgs~5WIIcy9GJAXAwLRpZ0x5FgvxdDZuSUQi2WHBtjzSrHIABOVXES5Ro0FSfVWfQk2qHdumSjt1-vO8m5tKAOcT0WetkvxA9zOjSD-QstGcW8OKpeppM17iShXcXXEZRr0-Lr9bVzgsR75PFoVbQC8KKfdPQKk7BxMNAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials from the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) updated the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee on the planned phase 2 redevelopment of the exposition campus, describing current construction activity on phase 1 and the programmatic and economic case for phase 2.

David Beck, president and CEO of the KEC, and David Wallace, vice chairman of the KEC board, told the committee that phase 1 is under way and that phase 1 work will free space and enable demolition of the West Wing to make room for phase 2. Wallace said phase 1 is roughly 20% complete and that demolition on Newmarket Hall would start within weeks; he added the project team has bid packs ready and that some enabling utility work for phase 2 is already underway.

KEC representatives described phase 1 as a roughly 350,000‑square‑foot building that will add exhibition and sporting capacity. The presentation to the committee included economic projections the presenters summarized as approximately $683,000,000 in annual economic impact at stabilization, about $32,000,000 per year in state sales tax and an estimated 850,000–900,000 room nights attributable to the expo center once phase 2 is stabilized. Beck said the center routinely attracts out‑of‑state visitors and that the improvements are intended to keep and grow that business.

Members asked about timing, parking and financing. KEC officials said the planned opening date for phase 1 is in late 2026 (presenters cited a December 2026 opening with construction completion earlier in the fall) and that parts of phase 2 enabling work — notably utility relocations and switchgear procurement with long lead times — should begin while phase 1 is finishing to avoid higher costs later. Presenters said delaying coordinated work could add roughly $10,000,000 in labor costs and that combined phase 1 and phase 2 spending could be on the order of the hundreds of millions (presenters referenced roughly $400,000,000 as an order‑of‑magnitude figure across phases).

On parking, presenters said construction will temporarily use about 10 acres and that the property nominally contains about 22,000 parking spaces with roughly 15,000 estimated as currently usable; they said the project includes additional paving, off‑site shuttles and improved wayfinding (including use of cameras/AI) to improve utilization. The presenters told the committee that they are not relying on federal funding for the project.

Representative Gentry framed the proposal as an investment to increase revenue from non‑resident visitors and said the project supports statewide tourism and hospitality receipts. Representative Lockett raised parking and access concerns after attending the farm machinery show; presenters acknowledged visible parking strain during large events and described options being pursued.

The committee took no funding action during the hearing. Chair Johnny Petrie told members the legislature has not green‑lit money for phase 2 and that any legislative action would be the subject of a future resolution or a truncated discussion at a subsequent meeting. He asked members to consult the presenters and A&R staff if they have follow‑up questions.

Ending: The KEC presentation closed as a discussion item; members were asked to review materials and the committee moved to the next agenda item.
","Officials from the Kentucky Exposition Center presented the phase 2 redevelopment plan to the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, detailing projected economic impacts, programmatic needs and timeline; discussion was for information only and no funding was approved.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325940,"Committee advances bill to clarify sales-tax exemption and refunds for currency and bullion purchases",829,174000,1003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88&start=174&end=1003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330443-468eddabc5180f5b036a5555d92a4f88/thumbnail_174000.jpg","/articles/6325940/Kentucky/Committee-advances-bill-to-clarify-sales-tax-exemption-and-refunds-for-currency-and-bullion-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325940-59c70f1d3ece9107de997120ef9eefc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770998002&Signature=X391P-bjqAG2JZ~7eRXpj2-2oAAWm31iZcSQu8zT~3d48zo~L116wSgnzTpHyiaAuR1PYBgCZ1Yr9GFMKFvAkA-uHwXaFp~0wkXUb9NPhg~ziuOoV4zo9ERQ09EgfamTuCfAY3-Dl5nrXxGQMgR2YflpWTC9SVMgyF57qkXn-nA99hhiFVhbeEkjaaItX5Xs4RXq~~nq0~hDRKkHjuN-L15mjdSsaquwteCvUeG85naMqZswl3lN0qcar7kXtcaZ2Yxl~TUi~pOOLuL6nW1fsxWYqP2dwXN7bkpqjq9gVwFWk~DqXqdXoZDHX1qhEm3fUdWbfYWlByyXVawOjx-Gow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue advanced House Bill 2, as amended by PHS 2, on a roll call that the chair later reported as 19 yes, 1 no and 2 passes. The bill clarifies an existing sales-tax exemption for the purchase of currency and bullion, authorizes refunds for taxes paid since Aug. 1, 2024, and states explicitly that the $1,000-per-day penalty provision will apply only prospectively upon adoption of the bill.

Sponsor Representative TJ Roberts told the committee the measure “is about vindicating a tax exemption we already ratified last year” and said most changes are technical clarifications; the only substantive change is defining which provisions take effect retroactively. He told members the bill “makes clear that the $1,000 penalty per day is not retroactive” while the refund authority would apply to taxes collected since Aug. 1, 2024.

The bill responds to a disputed line‑item veto in last year’s revenue package and to an attorney‑general opinion that the veto did not stand. Roberts and other presenters said KRS 49.22 gives the Tax Board of Appeals exclusive jurisdiction over many tax disputes and that the bill is intended to provide an avenue for taxpayers to recover taxes they were charged while the exemption’s status was contested.

Committee members asked about the fiscal effect and legal exposure. Representative Bojanowski said he had submitted an open‑records request for total bullion and currency sales figures; Roberts replied the budget adopted last session accounted for the exemption and the refund “would not have an impact on our current budget.” Roberts also confirmed a fiscal note accompanies the bill packet.

Several members raised concerns about potential liability. Representative Gentry said the matter had a “sniff of a political stunt” and asked whether courts should resolve the constitutional question. Roberts replied the constitution reserves revenue decisions to the legislature, and that the bill clarifies remedies and liability paths. Representative Vojanowski, who asked to explain his no vote during the roll call, said, “I can’t sit here and support taking away taxes for gold bars when parents are paying taxes for diapers,” and recorded his opposition.

On procedure, the committee first approved a committee substitute (PHS 2) and then the amended bill. The committee’s roll call included multiple recorded \"yes\" votes; the chair reported the committee action will be reported with a favorable recommendation to the full House.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2 (as amended by PHS 2) — Committee outcome: approved; recorded tally: 19 yes, 1 no, 2 passes. The committee reported the bill with a favorable recommendation.

Next steps: The committee chair told members the bill will be reported to the floor and that members should review the fiscal material and legal analyses if they have follow‑up questions.

Ending: The committee concluded the HB2 discussion and moved on to other agenda items.
","The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved House Bill 2, as amended by PHS 2, to reaffirm a sales-tax exemption for currency and bullion, authorize retroactive refunds back to Aug. 1, 2024, and specify that the $1,000-per-day penalty is not retroactive.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews claims bill items tied to unsigned contracts and missed renewals

Kentucky Exposition Center officials brief committee on phase 2 redevelopment plan

Committee advances bill to clarify sales-tax exemption and refunds for currency and bullion purchases