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More than 200 new laws passed by the Kentucky General Assembly take effect Wednesday, addressing gaming reform, child protection, first responder safety and criminal justice changes.
Katie C. Comstock, an attorney with two decades of Kentucky government experience, was appointed Wednesday as the next Director of the Legislative Research Commission, replacing retiring Director Jay D. Hartz. Comstock has served as Deputy Director since 2024 and previously worked in all three branches of state government.
Kentucky lawmakers heard testimony Monday about the negative effects of classroom technology on student achievement, with a neuroscientist citing declining test scores since the state adopted one-to-one digital devices in 2016. Lawmakers indicated they may pursue legislation on the issue during the 2027 session.
Three Kentucky Republicans testified before a legislative committee, requesting lawmakers create penalties for geoengineering activities in the state. The proposal would make violations a Class D felony punishable by up to a $500,000 fine.
Kentucky legislators expressed concerns Thursday about medical cannabis pricing and access, with patients reporting sticker shock at dispensary prices compared to neighboring states. State officials attributed higher prices to Kentucky's newer market but promised prices would drop as more growing facilities come online.
Kentucky education officials outlined implementation plans for House Bill 257, which reshapes the state's assessment and accountability system to focus on individual student growth rather than year-to-year school improvements. The new system takes effect this school year.
Kentucky legislators received an update on a work zone speed camera pilot program that showed a 20% reduction in excessive speeding in several counties, with plans to expand the system statewide.
Kentucky lawmakers will begin interim committee meetings June 1 through mid-December, reviewing state issues and preparing proposals for the next legislative session.
The Kentucky General Assembly concluded its 2026 session after overriding more than two dozen gubernatorial vetoes and passing major legislation on Medicaid reform, school governance, firearms and gaming in a temporary Capitol building.
The Kentucky General Assembly sent more than 100 bills to the governor this week, including a new state budget and major reforms to gaming, child care and Kentucky State University.
The Kentucky General Assembly passed a $6.2 billion executive branch budget Wednesday that emphasizes disciplined spending while investing in education, health care and public safety, though some Democrats questioned Medicaid funding levels.
The Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 185, comprehensively restructuring Kentucky State University with a shift toward a polytechnic model while preserving its HBCU status and historic mission. The measure passed both chambers with bipartisan support and includes enhanced financial oversight and enrollment standards.
Kentucky has passed comprehensive gaming legislation that raises the sports wagering age to 21, creates regulations for fantasy sports, and implements new consumer protections. The bill passed 24-13 in the Senate and 64-19 in the House despite some concerns about impacts on major racetracks.
The Kentucky House passed Senate Bill 251 by a 68-23 vote, allowing the Department of Corrections to set execution procedures through internal policies instead of formal administrative regulations, a change supporters say will streamline a system that has produced no executions since 2008.
Kentucky's Senate Health Services Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 2, legislation designed to align the state's Medicaid program with new federal requirements and implement program efficiency reforms, amid concerns about managing the program's explosive growth.
A House committee approved Senate Bill 10, which proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Kentucky governors' ability to issue pardons and commute sentences during a 90-day period surrounding gubernatorial elections. The bill would advance to the House floor for a full vote.
The House State Government Committee advanced SB 251, legislation that would allow Kentucky's Department of Corrections to establish execution protocols through internal policy rather than formal administrative regulations, moving the bill to the full House.
Kentucky's House Families and Children Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 156, which would eliminate a judicial exception allowing 17-year-olds to marry, making 18 the firm minimum age with no exceptions. The move follows findings that illegal child marriages continue despite Kentucky's 2018 reform law.
House Bill 78, which would protect Kentucky gun manufacturers and sellers from civil liability lawsuits arising from criminal misuse of firearms, advanced from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill aligns Kentucky law with federal protections, though it includes exceptions for negligence and defective products.
The Kentucky Senate committee advanced legislation Thursday that would expand access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with PTSD, building on existing 2018 law that currently covers traumatic brain injuries.
The Kentucky House passed Senate Bill 101, which would require school boards to expel students in grades 6-12 for at least 12 months if they assault school staff, addressing an ongoing concern after 25,000 reported teacher assaults since 2021.
Senate Bill 281, which would establish a clear and convincing evidence standard for grandparent visitation cases, passed the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday and now heads to the House floor. The bill responds to a 2020 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling that struck down portions of the state's grandparent visitation statute.
A Kentucky Senate committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would transform Kentucky State University into a polytechnic institution over five years, pursuing institutional reform rather than closure after lawmakers met with the university's president.
The Kentucky Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously advanced House Bill 778, which strengthens foster care protections, allows youth to reenter care until age 20½, and codifies new legal language treating substance ingestion injuries as neglect amid a documented crisis of child overdoses in the state.
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. told state lawmakers that the agency faces significant recruitment and retention challenges, including a 10% nationwide staffing shortage, competition from private-sector jobs, and a cadet class that dropped from 81 to 48 recruits.
Kentucky lawmakers heard testimony Wednesday about the challenges families face accessing autism services, with one representative describing a constituent who contacted 349 facilities seeking care for her son.
State officials outlined Kentucky's plan to spend a $213 million federal grant on rural health improvements during a legislative committee meeting, warning that tight deadlines could jeopardize funding if implementation targets are not met.
Kentucky legislators heard warnings about mounting agricultural pressures including declining working capital, high input costs and weak grain prices, though livestock markets remain relatively strong, according to a University of Kentucky economic briefing.
Kentucky ranks among the nation's top states for student reading and math recovery, with education officials crediting the 2022 Read to Succeed Act and its teacher training programs for the gains.