| Before I provide this week’s legislative update, I want to take a moment to recognize the loss of one of our own — Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky. At just 26 years old, Pennington made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. He was stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Epic Fury when the installation came under attack by Iranian drones and missiles on March 1. He was gravely injured during that attack and passed away on March 8. Kentuckians across the commonwealth join our nation in mourning his loss and remembering the sacrifice he made in defense of our freedoms. Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and served as a unit supply specialist with the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado. In that role, he supported critical systems that help protect our troops, including missile warning capabilities, GPS positioning and satellite communications. Those who served alongside him described him as a dedicated soldier and a dependable leader who took pride in serving something bigger than himself. This week, the Kentucky Senate honored Staff Sgt. Pennington’s life and service with the adoption of a Senate resolution. I join many across Kentucky in offering prayers and condolences to his family, friends and fellow soldiers during this difficult time. Legislative update: Late-session processes to expect As the General Assembly moves through Week 10 of the 2026 Legislative Session, activity in Frankfort has picked up considerably. With the closing days of the 60-day session now in sight, committee meetings are becoming more frequent and the list of bills being considered on the Senate and House floors continues to grow. This is also the time of year when many bills begin arriving at the governor’s desk for review. The governor has the authority to veto legislation, but the General Assembly can vote to override those vetoes during the final days of the session. One bill has already been enacted over a veto this year, and it is possible we will see more in the weeks ahead. The most important work still ahead of us involves finalizing the state’s two-year budget and the two-year road plan. The budget serves as the commonwealth’s roadmap for how taxpayer dollars are invested in priorities like education, infrastructure and public safety. As a member of the Senate budget committee, I’ve spent many long hours reviewing the details of this proposal alongside my colleagues. That work includes combing through agency requests, evaluating spending priorities and ensuring the plan reflects responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Crafting a state budget is one of the most complex and time-consuming responsibilities the General Assembly undertakes, and it requires careful attention to every line item. The Senate is currently reviewing the House version of the budget, House Bill 500, and considering potential changes before sending our version back to the House. Once both chambers weigh in, the bill will likely move to a conference committee where members of the House and Senate work together to iron out the final details before sending the completed plan to the governor. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to serve and represent our communities. I will continue working to ensure the voices of folks back home are heard as these final decisions are made. Bills approved in the Senate With the close of Senate and House proceedings on Friday, just 14 legislative days remain in the 2026 session. The following is an update on legislation approved by the Senate this week. Additional bills passing this week include the following. Senate Bill 6: Appropriates $150 million in fiscal year 2027 to the Endowed Research Fund created by Senate Bill 1 in 2024. The fund supports five research consortium accounts administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education to advance collaborative research initiatives across Kentucky. Senate Bill 19: Designates the indigo milk cap, a mushroom native to Kentucky forests, as the official state mushroom. The proposal was brought forward by students from Letcher County Central High School and is intended to recognize Kentucky’s natural heritage and promote environmental education. Senate Bill 34: Allows Kentuckians to transfer a home or vehicle directly to a named beneficiary at death without going through probate. Owners retain full control during their lifetime and may change or revoke the designation, with the transfer taking effect only upon death if properly recorded. Senate Bill 41: Requires most local tax increases that exceed four percent above the compensating rate to be submitted to voters for approval. Local governments may avoid a recall election by lowering the proposed rate within the four-percent threshold. Senate Bill 53: Clarifies that local planning units, commissions and boards may hold public hearings and accept public comment when reviewing subdivision plats and development plans. The bill reinforces transparency and public participation in local land-use decisions. Senate Bill 65: Nullifies several administrative regulations deemed deficient by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee. The measure reinforces legislative oversight of agency rulemaking by invalidating rules that lawmakers determined did not properly implement statutory intent. Senate Bill 66: Updates Kentucky’s impaired driving laws to clarify the consequences of refusing a blood test and to improve enforcement procedures. The bill also expands the list of substances subject to per se DUI prosecutions and aligns record-retention requirements for moving violations. Senate Bill 77: Creates a framework to support research into ibogaine as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder and other neurological conditions. The bill establishes the Ibogaine Research and Intellectual Property Development Fund and authorizes public-private partnerships to conduct clinical research. Senate Bill 97: Requires health benefit plans to cover medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices and establishes minimum coverage standards. The bill also sets patient notification requirements, network adequacy standards and reporting requirements for insurers. Senate Bill 100: Strengthens the authority of the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission in evaluating Kentucky’s energy supply and utility decisions. The bill expands the executive director’s access to information and allows the commission to participate more directly in Public Service Commission proceedings. Senate Bill 116: Updates statutes governing physician assistants to support more efficient collaboration within physician-led care teams. The bill modernizes practice and administrative requirements to help improve health care access, particularly in rural areas. Senate Bill 133: Updates fiscal reporting and audit requirements for certain local entities. The bill raises reporting thresholds, allows qualified entities to move to longer audit cycles and aligns audit procedures for several local government offices. Senate Bill 147: Modernizes Kentucky’s vital records laws governing birth and death certificates. The bill clarifies the legal status of certified copies, updates fee structures and strengthens coordination between death records and voter registration maintenance. Senate Bill 149: Updates statutes governing the office of county treasurer. The bill aligns treasurer appointments with county election cycles and allows fiscal courts to appoint acting or deputy treasurers when necessary. Senate Bill 198: Updates statutes governing the authority and responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General. The bill adds federal tax information security requirements, clarifies agency record custody and establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for certain legal actions. Senate Bill 219: Requires the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions to impose a $3 fee on deferred deposit transactions. The fee supports the collection and reporting of required data from licensed deferred deposit service businesses. Senate Bill 221: Strengthens Kentucky’s abuse of a corpse statute by making it a Class D felony to knowingly buy or sell a corpse or parts of a corpse after final disposition has been authorized. The bill addresses gaps in law exposed by cases involving the illegal sale of human remains. Senate Bill 222: Updates Kentucky law governing environmental covenants used in environmental remediation projects. The bill clarifies procedures for creating and enforcing land-use restrictions on contaminated properties to support redevelopment. Senate Bill 224: Establishes statutory protections for vested property rights in development approvals. Planning authorities must evaluate permit applications using the development standards in effect when the application was submitted. Senate Bill 225: Requires the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to evaluate the impact of proposed building code changes on residential construction. The department must conduct cost-benefit analyses and report findings to the General Assembly. Senate Bill 226: Allows agents guaranteeing prices under preneed burial contracts to charge a one-time administrative fee of up to 15 percent once the contract is fully paid. The fee is exempt from certain refund requirements and applies to contracts entered into after the law takes effect. Senate Bill 261: Allows fiscal courts and cities to fund the maintenance of pedestrian swinging bridges used for recreation. The bill also provides liability protections for landowners who lease property to local governments for these purposes. Senate Bill 262: Proposes a constitutional amendment allowing constitutional amendments to appear on ballots as a clear summary or question rather than the full text. The change is intended to make ballot language easier for voters to understand. Senate Bill 291: Creates a statewide licensing system for secondary metal recyclers to help deter the resale of stolen metal. The bill requires reporting through the LeadsOnline database and strengthens coordination with law enforcement to combat copper theft. Senate Bill 312: Expands the authority of certified court security officers to transport individuals in custody beyond courthouse grounds. The bill also allows these officers to assist with certain involuntary mental health commitment transports. Senate Bill 323: Requires subpoenas for medical records to be served at least 14 days before records must be produced. The change provides health care providers adequate time to locate and provide records while supporting orderly court proceedings. Senate Bill 333: Requires proceeds from the sale of confiscated firearms to be transferred to the Office of the Attorney General. The funds will be used to provide grants to police departments for the purchase of body armor. Senate Bill 343: Reorganizes the Department of Workers’ Claims by moving it under the Office of the Governor. The bill establishes leadership qualifications and transfers all related staff and resources as part of the restructuring. Senate Concurrent Resolution 66: Encourages the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to explore participation in federal nuclear energy programs. The resolution also urges expansion of academic programs in nuclear science and engineering. Senate Joint Resolution 62: Directs the Division of Water to prepare a report outlining the permitting process for debris removal from waterways following flooding. The report will also include recommendations for improving cleanup coordination and efficiency. Senate Joint Resolution 75: Directs the Public Service Commission to study ways to improve the affordability of utility services, particularly for low-income households. The commission must report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by Sept. 1, 2027. Senate Joint Resolution 116: Directs Kentucky’s public universities to collaborate on solutions to address the state’s physician shortage. The effort will produce recommendations for expanding health care access in underserved areas. Senate Joint Resolution 134: Directs the Public Service Commission to review how utilities calculate fuel adjustment charges on customer bills. The commission must gather public input, evaluate ways to reduce volatility and report recommendations to the General Assembly. House Bill 314: Modernizes oversight of the KentuckyWired broadband network by placing management under the Commonwealth Office of Technology. The bill expands board representation and took effect immediately after the legislature overrode the governor’s veto. It’s an honor to represent you in Frankfort. I look forward to continuing my dedication to Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis counties while representing my fellow communities in District 18. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, you can always contact me at 502-564-8100 or by email at Robin.Webb@kylegislature.gov. ### Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties. She served as co-chair of the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force in 2025. Webb is a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture; Appropriations and Revenue; Natural Resources and Energy; and Families and Children. She also serves as a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary. For a high-resolution JPEG file of Webb, please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate118.jpg |
