Legislature Adjourns Ahead of Veto Session
Rep. Marianne Proctor (District 60)
Before adjourning in the early hours of April 2, the legislature wrapped up months of work and sent dozens of bills to the next step in the legislative process – gubernatorial review. As part of our system of checks-and-balances, governors have ten days (not including Sundays or holidays) to consider legislation approved by the legislature. They can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without their signature. If a governor chooses to veto legislation, the measure returns to the legislature where the veto can be overridden. Essentially, a veto provides notice that the state’s executive officer disagrees with a policy or action, but the legislature remains the state’s lawmaking body.
Among the bills we sent to the governor’s desk this week are the following:
HB 500 would provide $32 billion in funding for executive branch agencies and programs for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
HB 501 would provide $7 billion to fund Kentucky Transportation Cabinet activities, not including the six-year road plan.
HB 502 would provide a $4.6 billion two-year roadmap for the construction and maintenance of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure.
HJR 76 would provide $70 million in funding for the Local Assistance Road Plan (LARP) with local projects that earned top ratings of 8, 9, and 10, including $68.2 million dedicated to county and city road resurfacing projects – bringing critical improvements to communities across the Commonwealth.
HB 503 would provide $182 million in funding for legislative branch operations for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
HB 504 would provide nearly $1 billion in funding for the operation of the state’s judicial branch for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, including the Supreme Court of Kentucky, Court of Appeals, and circuit and district courts.
HB 900 would allocate $1.7 billion in one-time funds from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life improvements across the state.
HB 2 would align Kentucky’s Medicaid Program with federal changes to improve health outcomes and ensure eligibility, as well as improve program management.
HB 4 would define and criminalize behavior commonly referred to as “grooming.” Under provisions of HB 4, grooming refers to the manipulative and deceptive process by which a predator builds a relationship with a vulnerable person, such as a child, to gain their trust and access for abuse or exploitation.
HB 5 would expand prison-based education and job-training programs proven to reduce crime by developing a model vocational campus at a state prison offering intensive education and workforce training while completing their sentences.
HB 6 expands safe, affordable child care for working parents, removes barriers for children with disabilities, and promotes community-based innovation. It strengthens the Child Care Assistance Program, enhances quality ratings, improves transparency, and permanently establishes the CCAP income exclusion – creating a more accessible, high-quality system that supports families and children statewide.
HB 10 would strengthen accountability, transparency, and continuity of government during gubernatorial transitions in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
HB 253 would phase out the use of the “three-cueing” reading method in Kentucky schools and teacher preparation programs, as well as prohibit school districts from entering into nondisclosure agreements when misconduct involving a minor or student has occurred.
HB 305 would strengthen procedures around grand jury proceedings by extending the statute of limitations applicable for knowingly recording the proceeding or disclosing any information gathered while present during a proceeding. The provisions do not apply to commonwealth’s attorneys, their staff, or peace officers engaged in their official duties.
SB 2 would cap pay increases for superintendents and school administrators to no more than those awarded to classroom teachers, and tie a district’s SEEK eligibility to this limit.
SB 104, the HALO Act, would establish a 25-foot safety zone around first responders while they are lawfully performing their duties, preventing interference in high-risk situations while protecting lawful public activity.
SB 137 would create a provisional license for doctors trained in other countries, allowing them to work in Kentucky while sponsored by a medical practice or health care organization.
SB 170 would create a 10-school district pilot program to address truancy as it links to educational performance.
We will return to the capital city on April 14 to review and consider any vetoes before we adjourn the 2026 Session entirely on April 15.