LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear signed four pieces of legislation in March to enhance public education and safety across Kentucky, prioritizing equal compensation for classroom teachers and strengthened protections for students in schools.

Senate Bills 2, 5 and 46, and House Bill 657 represent the administration's ongoing commitment to improving educational quality and student welfare. "These pieces of legislation will ensure school districts provide our dedicated classroom teachers equal pay increases with administrators, while also helping public schools better care for Kentucky students by boosting nutrition and safety," Beshear said in a statement.

Senate Bill 2 requires school districts to ensure that administrator pay increases do not exceed the percentage raise given to classroom teachers. The measure aims to level compensation disparities in school budgets.

Senate Bill 5 encourages school districts to purchase locally grown and produced food products, directly supporting Kentucky farmers while improving student nutrition through farm-to-school initiatives.

Senate Bill 46 expands flexibility in student transportation by allowing schools to use non-school bus passenger vehicles designed for 10 or fewer passengers, up from the previous limit of nine passengers. The bill also permits local districts to adopt safety policies governing use of such vehicles.

House Bill 657 strengthens consumer safety by requiring national and state background checks for psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, social workers and professional counselors working in schools.

The bills are part of Beshear's broader education and safety agenda in 2026. In February, the governor signed Senate Bill 172 to help lower utility costs for Kentucky families, and earlier this month signed legislation establishing a residential safe room rebate program and creating Kentucky's first reentry campus.