As we close out week six of the 2026 Legislative Session, the work in Frankfort is moving quickly but my focus remains on what it means for families here in Eastern Kentucky.
Committees are meeting every day with full agendas, and legislation is steadily advancing to the Senate floor. More than 100 bills have now passed at least one chamber, a strong sign that the General Assembly is actively working on the issues that impact our mountain communities and rural counties.
While there’s still important work ahead, we’re making real progress on policies aimed at strengthening our local economy, supporting small businesses and family farms, addressing affordability, improving our schools, protecting taxpayers, and ensuring government operates with transparency and accountability.
Eastern Kentucky has unique challenges but we also have strong communities, resilient families, and tremendous opportunities. My commitment remains the same: making sure the voices of our region are heard and that the policies we pass in Frankfort deliver real results back home.
This week, the Senate approved the following measures.
Senate Bill 2 is intended to ensure fairness and balance in educator compensation by preventing school administrator pay raises from outpacing those of classroom teachers. The bill prohibits administrators from receiving a percentage pay increase greater than the average percentage increase provided to teachers within the same district, while still allowing for waivers under existing law. SB 2 also updates conforming language and removes outdated statutory provisions.
Senate Bill 4 Seeks to create a new statewide leadership training program for new school principals. Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, principals in their first five years on the job would participate in a structured, cohort-based practicum that provides mentoring, professional training, and peer support. The program is designed to better prepare principals for instructional leadership, school safety, accountability, and managing staff and student needs—without adding new financial burdens for school districts. Most participation costs would be covered by the state, and training hours could count toward existing professional requirements.
Senate Bill 71 SB 71 strengthens fiscal oversight and governance by expanding required training for local school board members. The bill establishes a structured in-service training framework that includes finance, ethics and open meetings and open records education, with requirements tailored to a board member’s length of service. It also adds training related to superintendent evaluation and requires boards to formally review budget roles and responsibilities with district leadership. SB 71 makes reforms to ensure school board members have a consistent understanding of financial responsibilities and public resource management. It aims to improve financial decision-making and accountability in public education.
Senate Bill 136 Updates Kentucky’s unemployment insurance fraud procedures by requiring the Education and Labor Cabinet to refer suspected fraud cases directly to the U.S. Department of Labor and local prosecutors. It removes the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the U.S. Department of Justice from the referral process, streamlining investigations and clarifying lines of accountability. The bill also requires referrals to be made within 30 days of detecting suspected fraud and ensures no employment termination occurs without a legal finding of guilt under state evidentiary standards.
Senate Bill 183 Strengthens corporate accountability in Kentucky by requiring proxy advisory firms—companies that influence shareholder votes—to prioritize financial reasoning over political or ideological agendas. The bill builds on the 2025 bill of the same number by expanding the law’s standards to cover all publicly traded companies doing business in Kentucky, not just those incorporated here. If a proxy firm bases its recommendations on environmental, social or other non-financial factors, it must clearly disclose that information to shareholders, the company and the attorney general, explaining how those interests shaped its advice. SB 183 treats violations as deceptive business practices under Kentucky law and empowers companies, shareholders and state officials to take legal action. It also bars proxy firms from giving materially different advice to different clients without disclosure. By holding major players like ISS and Glass Lewis accountable, SB 183 ensures proxy recommendations align with sound financial judgment and protect long-term investor value.
Senate Bill 45 is my legislation to protect Kentucky’s agriculture community and ensure that a vital part of our economy is not undermined by overreach or radical activist efforts aimed at shutting down lawful operations.
SB 45 strengthens protections for agritourism and working-animal activities across the commonwealth by making clear that local governments cannot impose unreasonable or impractical restrictions on legitimate agricultural businesses. Kentucky’s farms and rural enterprises are already subject to health, safety, zoning, and animal welfare laws. This bill ensures they can continue operating within those existing standards without facing burdensome or politically motivated regulations.
The legislation clarifies and modernizes our agritourism statutes by formally recognizing activities such as farm tours, rodeos, livestock exhibitions, carriage rides, and other working-animal events when conducted in compliance with current law. It prevents cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from adopting rules that create undue obstacles for farmers and operators, while preserving full authority to enforce animal welfare, public safety, and criminal laws.
Kentucky agriculture is more than a tradition, it is a cornerstone of our economy and our way of life. Senate Bill 45 ensures that family farms, rural businesses, and responsible animal-related operations remain protected, competitive, and free to operate without unnecessary interference.
Senate Bill 118 Updates Kentucky law to establish clear consumer protections and regulatory standards for credit personal property insurance sold with closed-end loans, including coverage for financed collateral. The bill limits the amount and term of coverage, requires insurers to reflect a genuine risk of loss, and prohibits bundling or pricing practices that increase borrowers’ costs. It strengthens transparency by requiring timely disclosure of coverage and costs and ensures refunds of unearned premiums when policies are canceled early. SB 118 requires insurers to file policy forms and rates with the Department of Insurance while clarifying that vehicle financial protection products are regulated separately.
Senate Bill 145 Expands flexibility and modernizes licensing rules for alcoholic beverage caterers while improving efficiency at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The measure allows licensed caterers to sell alcoholic beverages at restaurants, removes outdated storage and Sunday sale restrictions and prevents the ABC from imposing arbitrary limits on event size or frequency. It prevents bureaucratic delays and provides greater certainty for Kentucky businesses by requiring the ABC to approve or deny all license applications within 45 days. The bill carries an emergency designation, which allows the changes to take effect immediately upon the bill’s filing with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Senate Bill 153 Strengthens accountability for contractors and protects homeowners from fraudulent and abusive practices, particularly following natural disasters. The bill targets deceptive marketing, damage inducement, improper financial relationships and unenforceable contract terms tied to insurance-funded repairs. It requires clear notice before assignment of insurance benefits and prevents contractors from collecting illegal or misleading fees. During declared emergencies, SB 153 authorizes the Attorney General to require contractor registration, limit aggressive in-person solicitation and require proof of registration at job sites while coordinating with local governments. The bill also strengthens enforcement by requiring prosecutors to refer suspected fraudulent insurance activity to the Department of Insurance for review. Recent enforcement actions, including court-ordered bans against contractors engaged in fraudulent conduct, underscore the need for stronger accountability tools to protect Kentucky families after disasters.
Senate Bill 155 Establishes a clear framework for responding quickly and effectively to animal health emergencies that threaten livestock, poultry or other domesticated animals across Kentucky. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the state veterinarian, to declare an animal health emergency and take targeted action when disease outbreaks, severe conditions or supply disruptions put animal welfare at risk. SB 155 grants emergency authority to deploy veterinary services, order quarantines, restrict the movement of animals or equipment, waive transportation rules for feed and medicine and secure critical goods and services without delay. The measure supports coordination with local, state and federal partners to protect Kentucky agriculture, food supply chains and rural communities.
Senate Bill 158 Sets clear rules to protect consumers when buying optional financial products tied to vehicle purchases, such as debt cancellation or value protection plans. The bill makes sure these products are optional, clearly disclosed and priced separately from loan interest. It prevents lenders or dealers from requiring consumers to buy them as a condition of financing or a vehicle sale. SB 158 establishes consistent standards for contracts and applies to new agreements beginning Jan. 1, 2027, helping provide transparency and fairness for Kentucky vehicle buyers.
Senate Bill 160 Improves oversight of licensed child care centers while ensuring fair and consistent treatment for providers across Kentucky. The bill establishes clear standards the Cabinet for Health and Family Services must follow when reviewing violations and considering corrective action, suspension or revocation. It prevents a single violation of a corrective plan from automatically triggering license revocation unless the violation alone justifies that action, and it allows providers up to five business days to submit the requested documentation. SB 160 requires structured weekly support for new centers operating under preliminary licenses and limits violations during that probationary period, except in cases involving serious safety concerns. The reforms apply to pending licensing actions and take effect immediately, promoting accountability while preserving strong protections for child safety statewide.
Senate Bill 172 Known as the Fuel Surcharge Stability Act, SB 172 helps stabilize bills and improve affordability by allowing the Public Service Commission to extend the period during which utilities recover fuel costs, reducing sudden rate spikes for consumers. The bill requires coal severance taxes to be considered during fuel adjustment reviews and gives regulators flexibility to smooth fuel cost recovery when requested by a utility. The measure includes an emergency clause to take effect immediately, supporting greater rate stability for Kentucky households and businesses.
Senate Bill 72 The Health Care Heroes Recruitment and Retention Act seeks to address Kentucky’s health care workforce shortage by protecting the rights of medical professionals and health care institutions to decline participation in specific procedures or services that violate sincerely held religious, moral or ethical beliefs. The bill prohibits retaliation or discrimination against doctors, nurses and other providers for exercising conscience protections while preserving federal requirements related to emergency medical treatment and sexual assault evidence collection. SB 72 clarifies key definitions, strengthens due process protections by requiring timely notice and response to complaints, and establishes enforcement tools for violations. By reinforcing conscience protections alongside patient safety standards, the bill aims to retain experienced providers and attract new health care professionals to the commonwealth.
Senate Bill 110 Modernizes Kentucky’s vehicle titling and registration system by continuing the transition to secure electronic processes that reduce paperwork, improve efficiency and better serve vehicle owners, lenders and county clerks. The bill requires lienholders to use the electronic lien system beginning in 2027 and ensures the state’s electronic titling and centralized lien systems are fully operational before broader implementation. It allows vehicle titles to be stored electronically with an option to request a printed copy, expands the use of email or text notifications for registration and tax notices and authorizes the Transportation Cabinet to set certain titling and registration fees through administrative regulation beginning January 1, 2027. SB 110 also streamlines county clerk operations, eliminates outdated requirements and codifies current best practices to make vehicle transactions faster, clearer and more reliable for Kentuckians.
Each of these bills now move to the House for consideration.
Several important measures also cleared Senate committees this week and are now headed to the full Senate for a vote.
Natural Resources and Energy
Senate Bill 57 Advances a new Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program designed to accelerate nuclear energy development in Kentucky by supporting early federal permitting and structured partnerships between the state, utilities and private-sector partners. The legislation allows the state to invest up to $25 million per project while incorporating strict accountability measures, milestone requirements and financial safeguards to protect taxpayers. Projects will be evaluated based on site suitability, regional economic impact and geographic diversity, with final approval retained by the General Assembly. The proposal positions Kentucky to compete for advanced nuclear investment as a part of our energy portfolio and provide long-term economic growth.
Committee passage is a notable step in the legislative process. It allows subject-matter experts and stakeholders to weigh in before measures reach the Senate floor.
As we move into week seven, floor action will continue to increase and our attention will begin turning more toward budget discussions and key priority legislation.
I remain committed to working hard on behalf of the people of the 18th District, so your voice is represented in every vote taken.
If you have questions about legislation or would like to share your thoughts on an issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
