Week 7 Legislative Update

As we reach the halfway point of the 2026 Legislative Session, I want to provide an update grounded in a simple principle: government works best when it respects liberty, exercises restraint, and remains accountable to the people.

With more than 30 of the 60 legislative days complete, the Senate has focused on steady, deliberate progress — not rushed decisions or expansive promises. Nine of the Senate Majority’s 10 priority bills have now been filed and passed the Senate. That work reflects months of interim preparation and careful debate, aimed at strengthening Kentucky while preserving individual freedom and limiting unnecessary government intrusion.

The Constitution requires that the budget originate in the House. The current House proposal remains in its early stages and has not yet fully passed that chamber. It is still subject to committee revisions and amendments before it reaches the Senate.

No final budget decisions have been made.

When the House sends a proposal to the Senate, we will carefully examine every line. The Senate’s responsibility is not simply to approve spending, but to ensure the government lives within its means and respects the hard-earned dollars of Kentucky families.

As we approach that phase, our guiding principles remain rooted in fiscal responsibility and individual liberty:

• Maintain a structurally balanced budget so the government does not spend beyond sustainable revenues.
• Treat one-time dollars as one-time dollars, avoiding temporary fixes that create long-term dependence or instability.
• Make transparent, accountable decisions that protect taxpayers while honoring commitments responsibly.
• Kentuckians expect disciplined stewardship, not growth for growth’s sake, but thoughtful governance that protects opportunity, affordability, and freedom.

Several bills passed out of the Senate this week:

Senate Bill 9 Priority housing legislation designed to cut red tape and expand home construction across Kentucky, while encouraging responsible growth and preserving agricultural land. The measure builds on work by the Kentucky Housing Task Force. It 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, including through local bonds and special assessments on property within the district, which functions as property-based liens within the district, 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 reporting and ensures that only properties within a district bear the costs. The goal is to support new housing and redevelopment while helping communities grow in planned, sustainable ways. 

Senate Bill 69 Modeled after past legislation establishing a pediatric cancer research trust fund, SB 69 establishes an Autism Spectrum Disorder Trust Fund in the state treasury and allows Kentucky taxpayers to voluntarily contribute all or a portion of their state income tax refund to support autism-related initiatives, including research.

Senate Bill 141 A product of collaboration and agreement among stakeholders, including the Kentucky Press Association, the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, SB 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.

Senate Bill 47 Expands “line of duty” death benefits and tuition waivers to include rescue squad personnel—volunteer or paid individuals who participate in search and rescue operations for lost or trapped people, including water rescues. These roles are distinct from firefighters or EMTs acting in their official capacity. The bill allows families of rescue personnel killed while performing these duties receive the same state benefits available to other emergency responders. It also directs the Division of Emergency Management to set eligibility criteria and procedures.

Senate Bill 85 Allows retirement benefits from Kentucky’s public pension systems to be directed into a Special Needs Trust on behalf of a disabled beneficiary, giving families greater certainty that long-term care needs will be met. The bill permits members of the State Police, Teachers’, Judicial and public employee retirement systems to name a Special Needs Trust as a beneficiary so lifetime survivor benefits can be paid without jeopardizing eligibility for Medicaid or other support services. SB 85 includes safeguards requiring trustees to notify retirement systems upon a beneficiary’s death and repay any improper payments, while authorizing agencies to update regulations for implementation. The measure does not expand benefits or increase costs; it ensures that existing benefits can be managed responsibly to protect vulnerable dependents.

Senate Bill 159 Strengthens Kentucky’s response to missing persons cases by requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies ensuring the timely entry of missing and unidentified persons’ information into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System after it has been entered into the National Crime Information Center. The bill sets clear deadlines for reporting based on the circumstances of each case and conditions eligibility for Law Enforcement Foundation Program funding on compliance. By aligning Kentucky procedures with the federal Help Find the Missing Act, known as Billy’s Law, SB 159 improves coordination between state and federal databases, enhances public safety and increases the likelihood that missing individuals are located quickly.

Senate Bill 104 Known as the HALO Act, SB 104 establishes a 25-foot safety zone around first responders while they are lawfully performing their official duties. After a verbal warning, the bill makes it a crime to knowingly approach or remain within the zone with the intent to interfere with official duties, threaten physical harm or harass a first responder. The legislation establishes escalating penalties: a first offense is a Class B misdemeanor, a second or third offense is a Class A misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are Class D felonies. The HALO Act applies to peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical and rescue personnel, probation and parole officers, and university and airport police, including nonprofit responders. The bill is designed to reduce risks in high-stress situations while preserving lawful public activity, including constitutionally protected speech and the right to record.

Senate Bill 152 provides greater clarity and strengthens accountability in school leadership by converting School Based Decision Making councils into advisory councils and clarifying that principals retain final decision-making authority at the school level. The bill establishes a clearer chain of command of principal, superintendent and school board so responsibility for school performance rests with designated leaders rather than shared councils. Advisory councils will continue to provide input and recommendations, including a consulting role regarding principal candidates. SB 152 aims to reinforce leadership accountability while maintaining structured input from teachers and parents.

Senate Joint Resolution 74 Directs the Legislative Research Commission, in collaboration with relevant state agencies, to create a comprehensive statewide fiscal map of substance use disorder programs and funding sources. Recognizing that Kentucky invests hundreds of millions of dollars each year in prevention, treatment, recovery housing, workforce reentry, education, criminal justice diversion and opioid abatement efforts, the resolution responds to concerns about fragmented funding streams and limited coordination across agencies. The fiscal map will identify all funding sources, amounts, uses and program capacities, highlight duplication and gaps, and support more strategic planning, accountability and long-term sustainability of SUD services. A report and public posting of the fiscal map are required by October 30, 2026.

Senate Bill 39 Exempts private landowners from state fishing rules on lakes or ponds located on their private property, allowing them to manage and stock fish without creel, size or method-of-take limits. Landowners may extend those same fishing privileges to others through written or electronic permission specifying allowable dates and location. The bill exempts private landowners from state stocking requirements except for invasive species, clarifies that largemouth bass are not considered invasive except for Alabama bass, and places no restriction on stocking F1 largemouth bass. The measure further defines what qualifies as a private lake or pond, clarifies that the exemptions apply to both residents and nonresidents, and specifies that individuals who violate fishing laws on public waters may not claim private lake privileges as a defense.

Senate Bill 70 Updates the structure of Kentucky’s Public Pension Oversight Board to strengthen legislative and fiscal oversight of the state’s retirement systems. The bill adds key legislative leaders and the State Treasurer to the board, adjusts membership qualifications, and requires annual reporting on line-of-duty death benefits in addition to disability benefits.

Senate Bill 80 proposes a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to individuals convicted of certain nonviolent felonies once they have completed their sentence, including any prison time, probation or parole. The proposed amendment would maintain strict exclusion of those who have committed the most serious offenses, such as crimes against children, sexual assault, violent crimes, treason and election-related offenses. If approved by three-fifths of lawmakers in both legislative chambers, the measure would be placed on a future general election ballot for Kentucky voters to decide by a simple majority. 

Senate Bill 127 clarifies how the actuarial cost of unused annual leave included in a retiring teacher’s pension benefit is paid. The bill requires the state to cover costs for leave accrued through July 31, 2026, and requires the final employer to cover costs for leave accrued on or after August 1, 2026, ensuring clearer financial responsibility within the Teachers’ Retirement System.

Senate Bill 154 Strengthens Kentucky’s existing voter ID law, which was enacted in 2020, by removing Social Security cards and public benefits cards—which do not include a person’s photograph—from the available list of additional documents that may be offered to establish identity when a person seeking to cast a ballot in an election cannot provide proof of identification.  Each of these bills now advances to the House for further consideration.