SENATOR BRANDON SMITH CELEBRATES SENATE’S DOUBLING OF FLOOD RELIEF PACKAGE IN CLOSING DAYS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 31, 2025)—The following is a statement from Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, regarding final passage of House Bill (HB) 544:
"This is more than just a policy win—it’s a lifeline. Floodwaters don’t wait on red tape, and now, neither does our response. I was proud to help push forward a solution, immediately opening the door to more relief for eastern Kentucky. Our communities have been tested repeatedly, but this bill reflects our resolve to rebuild stronger and faster, and with greater accountability to the people we serve.
“I’m going to remain an advocate for our people, and you can bet I’ll be keeping a close watch to make sure this funding reaches the communities that need it so desperately. I thank my colleagues for getting this final package over the finish line.”
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HB 544, now law, significantly expands and consolidates disaster relief funding mechanisms by creating the State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE 4860) fund—named after the federal disaster declaration code for recent flooding in Kentucky. The bill doubles the overall funding cap from $50 million annually to $100 million over two years, giving the Governor immediate access to $100 million to deploy emergency relief.
Existing balances in the Eastern Kentucky SAFE and Western Kentucky SAFE funds—about $45 million—may now be transferred into the new SAFE 4860 fund. The legislation also outlines specific eligible uses, introduces accountability measures such as reporting from the state budget director and the Department of Education, and allows some funds to be structured as repayable, depending on their use.
The bill was signed into law Monday and took effect immediately.
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Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, represents the 30th Senate District, which includes Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell and Wolfe Counties. Smith serves as chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Transportation; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and Banking and Insurance. Additionally, Smith serves on the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection. During the 2024 interim, he was a member of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Sen. Smith, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate130.jpg.
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