LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky General Assembly completed a two-day legislative marathon this week, sending more than 100 bills to the governor's desk after passing a new state budget and major reforms to Medicaid, gaming and child care, according to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.

Gov. Andy Beshear has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation, or allow it to become law without his signature. During the "veto recess," lawmakers will remain gaveled out and reconvene April 14 and 15 for the final two session days to override any vetoes and address remaining bills on the docket.

The flurry of legislation addressed dozens of prominent issues, including grooming, firearms, elections, literacy, health care, criminal justice and gubernatorial pardons. Significant measures affecting the governance structure and conduct within Kentucky school districts also won final passage.

Among the major bills passed this week, House Bill 185 would transform Kentucky State University into a four-year residential polytechnical institution emphasizing technical and industry-based applied learning. The measure advanced through both chambers with broad support and aims to stabilize the university's finances while continuing to serve the state's historically Black college and university mission.

Lawmakers also reached agreement on House Bill 904, a sweeping gaming reform that would increase the age for sports wagering from 18 to 21 and prohibit individuals on the attorney general's child support arrearage list from betting on online platforms. The measure would create a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework for fantasy sports and forbid negative outcome bets on college athletes from in-state teams.

Other notable legislation passed includes House Bill 4, which criminalizes grooming of minors; House Bill 7, allowing traffic cameras on school buses; House Bill 253, which would end the three-cuing reading method in Kentucky schools by 2029-30 and replace it with evidence-based approaches like phonics; and House Bill 6, proposing a broad overhaul of the state's child care regulatory framework.

Additional measures address school bus safety, license plate reader regulations, firearms liability, sexual assault nurse examiners, elections integrity, alternative diplomas for students with intellectual disabilities, provisional physician licenses, first responder protection, fishing regulations, prosthetics insurance coverage, alternative sentencing for parents, prison education programs, eating disorder coverage, mental health care, eminent domain transparency and child welfare protections.