FRANKFORT, Ky. — Katie C. Comstock, an accomplished attorney with nearly two decades of experience in Kentucky government, was appointed Wednesday as the next Director for the Legislative Research Commission (LRC).

Comstock has served as LRC's Deputy Director for Committee and Staff Coordination since 2024, overseeing committee operations and more than 80 nonpartisan staff members and bill drafters. She first joined the organization in 2005 as a committee analyst and later worked as a budget reviser, fiscal analyst, and Judiciary Committee Staff Administrator.

Her appointment was approved by the LRC's governing committee, which comprises majority and minority leaders from both the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives. Comstock will succeed Jay D. Hartz, who announced his retirement last year. Her appointment takes effect August 1, with Hartz remaining through the end of July.

During her tenure in state government, Comstock also served as Director of the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, overseeing Kentucky's unified court system and supporting nearly 3,300 employees and more than 400 elected officials. She holds positions across all three branches of state government—executive, legislative, and judicial—giving her extensive expertise in legislative procedure, government operations, staff workflow, and fiscal management.

"I was fortunate to start my career at LRC, and I consider it my professional home," Comstock said in a statement. "We have incredible talent here, and a strong culture of public service throughout the organization."

The LRC serves as the administrative and research arm of the Kentucky General Assembly, providing committee staffing, bill drafting, budget oversight, and legislative research to support the state's 138 lawmakers.

House Speaker David W. Osborne praised Comstock's qualifications. "Her experience and her willingness to engage thoughtfully with legislators and citizens alike make her uniquely prepared to guide the Legislative Research Commission," Osborne said.

Senate President Robert Stivers echoed that sentiment, calling Comstock "a steady presence with an unmatched wealth of knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the success of the institution."

Comstock earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in 2001 and graduated cum laude from the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law in 2005. She lives in Lexington with her husband, Kris, and two children, Cooper and Claire.