Interim Session Update

Sen. Steve Rawlings (District 11)
The General Assembly officially began the interim period this week as lawmakers returned to Frankfort to start preparing for the 2027 Regular Session. While many people naturally focus on the busy pace of the legislative session each winter, much of the work that shapes legislation actually happens during the months between sessions.

That is what the interim process is designed to accomplish.

The interim allows legislators to step back from the fast-moving pace of session and spend more time examining issues in greater detail. Through committee meetings, working groups and conversations with state agencies, local officials, industry experts and citizens across Kentucky, lawmakers begin developing the groundwork for policies and priorities that may eventually come before the General Assembly next year.

In many ways, the interim is where legislation truly begins to take shape.

Throughout the coming months, committees will meet regularly to review ongoing programs, discuss challenges facing communities across the commonwealth and hear testimony on a wide range of issues impacting Kentucky families. Many of the bills debated during the regular session begin as ideas and conversations that first take place during the interim process.

That process matters because good public policy takes time. Effective legislation requires research, thoughtful discussion and input from the people and communities who will be affected by it. The interim allows lawmakers to ask more detailed questions, evaluate long-term impacts and work through concerns before legislation is formally filed when the Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes in 2027.

Several interim committees will spend the coming months examining issues such as infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, workforce development, public safety, economic growth and disaster preparedness. Legislators will also continue reviewing how recently passed legislation is being implemented and whether additional improvements or updates may be needed moving forward.

During the interim, I will serve as co-chair of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Education. I also serve on the Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue, Banking and Insurance, Education, Health Services, Local Government and State Government. I am also a member of the Capital Planning Advisory Board and the 2026–2028 Budget Preparation and Submission Statutory Committee.

The interim also provides one of the best opportunities lawmakers have to remain connected with the communities we represent back home. Conversations with local officials, educators, business owners, first responders and families often help identify concerns that deserve attention in Frankfort. Many legislative ideas begin with issues raised by people at the local level.

As Kentucky continues facing new challenges and opportunities, thoughtful planning and long-term problem-solving remain essential. The interim process helps lawmakers prepare in advance rather than simply reacting once the regular session begins.

While the legislative session receives most of the public attention each year, the interim remains one of the most valuable and productive parts of the legislative process. The work underway now will help shape the priorities, debates, and legislation considered when lawmakers return for the 2027 Regular Session