Week 6 Legislative Update: Sen. Steve Rawlings
Sen. Steve Rawlings (District 11)
As we wrap up week six of the 2026 Legislative Session, the work in Frankfort continues at a strong pace. Committees are meeting daily, legislation is advancing to the floor, and debates are centered on protecting the freedoms and opportunities of Kentucky citizens.
More than 100 pieces of legislation have now passed at least one chamber — a clear indication that the General Assembly is actively working to defend liberty, safeguard constitutional rights, and ensure government remains accountable to the people it serves.
While important work remains ahead, this milestone reflects steady progress on policies aimed at expanding economic freedom, reducing burdensome regulations, protecting taxpayers, strengthening parental rights, and reinforcing transparency and limited government. Our focus remains clear: empowering individuals, not expanding bureaucracy.
This week, the Senate approved the following measures.
Senate Bill 2 SB 2 is intended to ensure fairness and balance in educator compensation by preventing school administrator pay raises from outpacing those of classroom teachers. The bill prohibits administrators from receiving a percentage pay increase greater than the average percentage increase provided to teachers within the same district, while still allowing for waivers under existing law. SB 2 also updates conforming language and removes outdated statutory provisions.
Senate Bill 4 seeks to create a new statewide leadership training program for new school principals. Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, principals in their first five years on the job would participate in a structured, cohort-based practicum that provides mentoring, professional training, and peer support. The program is designed to better prepare principals for instructional leadership, school safety, accountability, and managing staff and student needs—without adding new financial burdens for school districts. Most participation costs would be covered by the state, and training hours could count toward existing professional requirements.
Senate Bill 71 strengthens fiscal oversight and governance by expanding required training for local school board members. The bill establishes a structured in-service training framework that includes finance, ethics and open meetings and open records education, with requirements tailored to a board member’s length of service. It also adds training related to superintendent evaluation and requires boards to formally review budget roles and responsibilities with district leadership. SB 71 makes reforms to ensure school board members have a consistent understanding of financial responsibilities and public resource management. It aims to improve financial decision-making and accountability in public education.
Senate Bill 136 updates Kentucky’s unemployment insurance fraud procedures by requiring the Education and Labor Cabinet to refer suspected fraud cases directly to the U.S. Department of Labor and local prosecutors. It removes the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the U.S. Department of Justice from the referral process, streamlining investigations and clarifying lines of accountability. The bill also requires referrals to be made within 30 days of detecting suspected fraud and ensures no employment termination occurs without a legal finding of guilt under state evidentiary standards.
Senate Bill 183 Strengthens corporate accountability in Kentucky by requiring proxy advisory firms—companies that influence shareholder votes—to prioritize financial reasoning over political or ideological agendas. The bill builds on the 2025 bill of the same number by expanding the law’s standards to cover all publicly traded companies doing business in Kentucky, not just those incorporated here. If a proxy firm bases its recommendations on environmental, social or other non-financial factors, it must clearly disclose that information to shareholders, the company and the attorney general, explaining how those interests shaped its advice. SB 183 treats violations as deceptive business practices under Kentucky law and empowers companies, shareholders and state officials to take legal action. It also bars proxy firms from giving materially different advice to different clients without disclosure. By holding major players like ISS and Glass Lewis accountable, SB 183 ensures proxy recommendations align with sound financial judgment and protect long-term investor value.
Senate Bill 118 Updates Kentucky law to establish clear consumer protections and regulatory standards for credit personal property insurance sold with closed-end loans, including coverage for financed collateral. The bill limits the amount and term of coverage, requires insurers to reflect a genuine risk of loss, and prohibits bundling or pricing practices that increase borrowers’ costs. It strengthens transparency by requiring timely disclosure of coverage and costs and ensures refunds of unearned premiums when policies are canceled early. SB 118 requires insurers to file policy forms and rates with the Department of Insurance while clarifying that vehicle financial protection products are regulated separately.
Senate Bill 153 Strengthens accountability for contractors and protects homeowners from fraudulent and abusive practices, particularly following natural disasters. The bill targets deceptive marketing, damage inducement, improper financial relationships and unenforceable contract terms tied to insurance-funded repairs. It requires clear notice before assignment of insurance benefits and prevents contractors from collecting illegal or misleading fees. During declared emergencies, SB 153 authorizes the Attorney General to require contractor registration, limit aggressive in-person solicitation and require proof of registration at job sites while coordinating with local governments. The bill also strengthens enforcement by requiring prosecutors to refer suspected fraudulent insurance activity to the Department of Insurance for review. Recent enforcement actions, including court-ordered bans against contractors engaged in fraudulent conduct, underscore the need for stronger accountability tools to protect Kentucky families after disasters.
Senate Bill 155 establishes a clear framework for responding quickly and effectively to animal health emergencies that threaten livestock, poultry or other domesticated animals across Kentucky. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to declare an animal health emergency and take targeted action when disease outbreaks, severe conditions or supply disruptions put animal welfare at risk. SB 155 grants emergency authority to deploy veterinary services, order quarantines, restrict the movement of animals or equipment, waive transportation rules for feed and medicine and secure critical goods and services without delay. The measure supports coordination with local, state and federal partners to protect Kentucky agriculture, food supply chains and rural communities.
Senate Bill 158 sets clear rules to protect consumers when buying optional financial products tied to vehicle purchases, such as debt cancellation or value protection plans. The bill makes sure these products are optional, clearly disclosed and priced separately from loan interest. It prevents lenders or dealers from requiring consumers to buy them as a condition of financing or a vehicle sale. SB 158 establishes consistent standards for contracts and applies to new agreements beginning Jan. 1, 2027, helping provide transparency and fairness for Kentucky vehicle buyers.
Senate Bill 160 Improves oversight of licensed child care centers while ensuring fair and consistent treatment for providers across Kentucky. The bill establishes clear standards the Cabinet for Health and Family Services must follow when reviewing violations and considering corrective action, suspension or revocation. It prevents a single violation of a corrective plan from automatically triggering license revocation unless the violation alone justifies that action, and it allows providers up to five business days to submit the requested documentation. SB 160 requires structured weekly support for new centers operating under preliminary licenses and limits violations during that probationary period, except in cases involving serious safety concerns. The reforms apply to pending licensing actions and take effect immediately, promoting accountability while preserving strong protections for child safety statewide.
Senate Bill 172 Known as the Fuel Surcharge Stability Act, SB 172 helps stabilize bills and improve affordability by allowing the Public Service Commission to extend the period during which utilities recover fuel costs, reducing sudden rate spikes for consumers. The bill requires coal severance taxes to be considered during fuel adjustment reviews and gives regulators flexibility to smooth fuel cost recovery when requested by a utility. The measure includes an emergency clause to take effect immediately, supporting greater rate stability for Kentucky households and businesses.
Senate Bill 72, The Health Care Heroes Recruitment and Retention Act seeks to address Kentucky’s health care workforce shortage by protecting the rights of medical professionals and health care institutions to decline participation in specific procedures or services that violate sincerely held religious, moral or ethical beliefs. The bill prohibits retaliation or discrimination against doctors, nurses and other providers for exercising conscience protections while preserving federal requirements related to emergency medical treatment and sexual assault evidence collection. SB 72 clarifies key definitions, strengthens due process protections by requiring timely notice and response to complaints, and establishes enforcement tools for violations. By reinforcing conscience protections alongside patient safety standards, the bill aims to retain experienced providers and attract new health care professionals to the commonwealth.
Senate Bill 110 Modernizes Kentucky’s vehicle titling and registration system by continuing the transition to secure electronic processes that reduce paperwork, improve efficiency and better serve vehicle owners, lenders and county clerks. The bill requires lienholders to use the electronic lien system beginning in 2027 and ensures the state’s electronic titling and centralized lien systems are fully operational before broader implementation. It allows vehicle titles to be stored electronically with an option to request a printed copy, expands the use of email or text notifications for registration and tax notices and authorizes the Transportation Cabinet to set certain titling and registration fees through administrative regulation beginning January 1, 2027. SB 110 also streamlines county clerk operations, eliminates outdated requirements and codifies current best practices to make vehicle transactions faster, clearer and more reliable for Kentuckians.
Each of these bills now move to the House for consideration.
Several important measures also cleared Senate committees this week and are now headed to the full Senate for a vote.
Health Services
Senate Bill 56 Protects Medicaid patients’ access to nonopioid pain treatments by preventing state Medicaid officials, managed care organizations, and pharmacy benefit managers from favoring opioid medications over safer alternatives. The bill prohibits denying coverage of a nonopioid analgesic in order to require an opioid first and bars placing stricter utilization controls on nonopioid pain medications than those applied to opioid or narcotic analgesics. It directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to seek any necessary federal approval and authorizes required Medicaid program updates to implement the policy.
Senate Bill 78 Standardizes and modernizes health care provider credentialing across Kentucky by creating a single, uniform process insurers must follow when evaluating providers for participation in managed care networks. The bill requires use of the nationally recognized Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) uniform credentialing application, establishes clear timelines for application review, and prohibits insurers from requesting unnecessary health history information that does not affect a provider’s ability to practice safely. SB 78 sets objective and non-discriminatory standards for network participation, ensures providers have fair opportunities to apply, and strengthens continuity of care protections when providers are removed from a network. It also aligns Medicaid managed care and state employee health plans with the new standards and repeals outdated credentialing statutes to create a consistent, transparent statewide framework.
Senate Bill 137 Creates a new provisional medical license in Kentucky to help attract experienced physicians from outside the United States and Canada while maintaining oversight and accountability. The bill allows qualified international physicians who have completed medical training, practiced for at least five years, and secured employment with a Kentucky health care sponsor to receive a three-year provisional license. If the physician remains in good standing and employed with the sponsoring entity, the provisional license automatically converts to a full, unrestricted medical license after three years. The Board of Medical Licensure retains authority to revoke a provisional license for misconduct or loss of sponsorship. The measure aims to expand Kentucky’s physician workforce, particularly in underserved areas, while preserving patient safety standards.
State and Local
Senate Bill 9 Priority housing legislation designed to cut red tape and expand home construction across Kentucky. The measure builds on work by the Kentucky Housing Task Force and gives local governments and developers new tools to build the roads, utilities and infrastructure needed for large residential developments. Cities and counties could create Residential Infrastructure Development Districts that allow infrastructure costs to be financed over time rather than paid upfront, helping lower housing costs and accelerate construction. The bill also creates a framework for Housing Development Districts, allowing local governments to partner with developers on qualifying residential projects and negotiate housing incentive payments based on a portion of future property tax revenues. These incentives may be awarded annually for up to seven years for new construction or up to 15 years for redevelopment of existing structures. SB 9 keeps decisions local, requires transparency and ensures that only properties within a district bear the costs. The goal is to support both new housing and redevelopment, help communities grow responsibly and ensure Kentucky’s housing supply keeps pace with population and economic growth.
Senate Bill 141 Modernizes Kentucky’s public notice laws by clarifying where and how legally required advertisements must be published while preserving transparency and controlling taxpayer costs. The bill defines key terms, establishes objective rules for determining which newspapers qualify to publish notices and sets clear procedures when multiple newspapers serve the same area or when no qualifying newspaper exists. It updates publication timelines, allows certain digital publication standards and expands remedial procedures to correct advertising errors. SB 141 also ensures public agencies receive the lowest available advertising rates and comparable contract terms offered to commercial customers while maintaining print publication requirements and expanding statewide online access to public notices.
EDUCATION
Senate Bill 152 Strengthens accountability in school leadership by converting School-Based Decision Making councils into advisory councils and clarifying that principals hold final decision-making authority at the school level. The bill establishes a clearer chain of command—principal, superintendent and school board—so that responsibility for school performance rests with designated leaders rather than with shared councils. Advisory councils will continue to provide input and recommendations, but principals will make final decisions. A committee substitute narrowed the bill to focus solely on this governance change, and a subsequent amendment clarified that principal hiring decisions remain binding on superintendents. SB 152 aims to reinforce leadership accountability and ensure that school governance aligns with Kentucky’s broader educational priorities, including those of SB 4.
I filed Senate Bill 52 to strengthen property rights and protect personal freedom by bringing greater clarity and accountability to government permitting and licensing processes. I’m pleased to share that the bill has now passed out of committee and is moving forward.
SB 52 requires state and local agencies to operate permitting and licensing systems with clear standards, defined timelines, and fair appeal procedures. Too often, individuals and small businesses face vague requirements or open-ended delays when simply trying to work, build, or make lawful use of their own property. This legislation ensures those decisions are guided by transparent rules — not uncertainty.
Importantly, the bill does not eliminate permits or weaken legitimate oversight. It restores predictability and fairness in how government authority is applied, ensuring Kentuckians are treated consistently and respectfully when interacting with regulatory agencies.
Committee passage is a notable step in the legislative process. It allows subject-matter experts and stakeholders to weigh in before measures reach the Senate floor.