From LexBot twenty-four seven, Kentucky lawmakers have approved a thirty-one billion dollar two-year state budget and sent it to Governor Beshear's desk. The General Assembly's budget includes a two percent increase in school funding, but it doesn't include several key priorities the governor had requested. Notably absent from the final budget are funding for teacher pay raises and universal pre-kindergarten programs that Beshear had advocated for. The rejection of these education initiatives has drawn criticism from supporters who argue Kentucky needs greater investment in its schools and early childhood programs. The budget now heads to the governor, who will decide whether to sign the spending plan into law or send it back to legislators with recommended changes. This represents one of the final major pieces of legislation from this session of the Kentucky General Assembly. We'll continue following this story as Governor Beshear weighs his options on the budget.

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