With the #kyga26 session of the Kentucky General Assembly nearing its end, lawmakers advanced a flurry of bills this week dealing with schools, data centers, guns and gubernatorial powers. Here's a rundown of 12 bills closer to becoming law.
A Kentucky Senate committee passed a #kyga26 bill Thursday that would open the door for public colleges and universities to fire staff and educators for a wider range of reasons – even employees with tenure.
From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social
The Kentucky General Assembly will gavel-in for day 55 of the 2026 legislative session at 9 a.m. You can watch the proceedings live on ket.org/legislature #kyga26
Kentucky GOP Senate President Robert Stivers has filed a resolution to start a commission to put a statue of Sen. Mitch McConnell in the Capitol Rotunda, along with Lincoln & company. #kyga26
The Kentucky Senate passed the KSU bill 38-0.
They're now moving to HB 139, a mammoth elections bill that does a lot, including raising maximum campaign contributions, making judicial elections more partisan, removing forms of voter IDs and sharing vote data with the feds. #kyga26 Background:
In a bid to hasten the return of the death penalty in Kentucky, a bill that would allow execution protocols to bypass the formal rulemaking process passed a #kyga26 House committee.
From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Kentucky Senate is now voting to pass SB 185, which was unveiled yesterday as a #kyga26 bill to implement dramatic reforms at Kentucky State University and then quickly passed out of committee. Background on the bill here:
It's Christmas Tree Bill Season in Frankfort!
Rep. Hart just walked by me speaking loudly on the phone: "would you be willing to add my fluoride amendment.” That's his bill to make fluoridation of water systems optional, which has stalled in the Senate. #kyga26
Kentucky already banned nearly all child marriages in 2018, but some are still happening in violation of state law. A bill to raise the minimum age of marriage to a flat 18 is moving closer to passage. #kyga26
From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Day 54 of #KYGA26
8:00 am - S - Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection
8:00 am - H - Economic Development & Workforce Investment
9:00 am - H - Natural Resources & Energy
9:00 am - H - Families & Children
9:00 am - S - Judiciary
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Legislative Calendar for Thursday, March 26 Senate 8 a.m. VMAPP 9 a.m. Judiciary 10 a.m. Education 11 a.m. Economic Development, Tourism and Labor 2 p.m. Senate convenes House 8 a.m. Economic Development 9 a.m. Families and Children; Natural Resources and Energy 10 a.m. Elections, Constitutional Amend. Noon State Government 2 p.m. House convenes Upon recess: Appropriations and Revenue
Today is day 54 of the 2026 legislative session. For more information on the legislative calendar, visit apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeC.... Today's meetings and chamber proceedings will be livestreamed on ket.org/legislature or youtube.com/@KYLRCCommitteeMeetings #kyga26
#kyga26 Legislation that would make it a crime to remain within 25 feet of first responders if they believe they are being obstructed, threatened or harassed moved closer to final passage in the Kentucky House.
From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org
The new version of SB 185 passed committee and has enough readings in the Senate to pass … um literally right now. #kyga26
SB 185 passed committee and is likely to pass the Senate floor, maybe in a matter of minutes. #kyga26
On employment, I believe the bill is giving the president the power and flexibility to hire and fire any faculty at Kentucky State University. #kyga26
The bill is SB 185.
They ran through some of changes:
— which programs would be in person vs online
— Greek life would need to reapply to be on campus
— something about giving school more flexibility in collecting debts
— increasing min. GPA and test score to get in #kyga26
KSU President Koffi Akakpo says he agrees with the changes in the bill. Sen. Chris McDaniel, the Senate budget chair and sponsor of the bill, says they were considering closing KSU because of its many problems in recent years, but says this bill is a solution to revive it. #kyga26
This shell bill, SB 185, is now being discussed in a Kentucky Senate committee, and could be passed on the Senate floor later today.
A copy of the bill is not online and Democratic Sen. Gerald Neal says he's only had a short time to read it. #kyga26
A shell bill in the Kentucky Senate has suddenly transitioned to a bill to implement major changes at Kentucky State University, an HBCU in Frankfort. It would change KSU to a polytechnic university over the next five years, raise admission standards and (i think?) reset all employment. #kyga26
Oh wow, Senate A&R’s surprise meeting is dealing with a shell bill being used to overhaul Ky. State University into a polytechnic school.
KSU leader and CPE leader are both speaking in favor of it. #kyga26
The Kentucky elections bill now combines elements from other stalled legislation, increasing maximum political contributions, restricting forms of voter ID and allowing more partisanship in judicial races. #kyga26
At long last, the House is giving Sen. Chris McDaniel’s bill on gubernatorial pardons a committee hearing tomorrow.
Incredible. #kyga26
The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee will meet upon recess this afternoon. The meeting will be livestreamed on ket.org/legislature #kyga26
Day 53 of #KYGA26
8:00 AM – (S) Health Services
8:30 AM – (H) Primary & Secondary Education
10:00 AM – (S) Natural Resources & Energy
10:00 AM – (H) Judiciary
10:30 AM – (H) Agriculture
11:00 AM – (S) State & Local Government
12:00 PM – (H) Banking & Insurance
2:00 PM – House & Senate Convene
Legislative Calendar for Wednesday, March 25 Senate 8 a.m. Health Services 10 a.m. Natural Resources and Energy 11 a.m. State and Local Government 2 p.m. Senate convenes House 8:30 a.m. Primary and Secondary Education 10 a.m. Judiciary 10:30 a.m. Agriculture Noon Banking and Insurance 2 p.m. House convenes
Today is day 53 of the 2026 legislative session. For more information on the legislative calendar, visit apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeC.... Today's meetings and chamber proceedings will be livestreamed on ket.org/legislature or youtube.com/@KYLRCCommitteeMeetings #kyga26
Aaron, Kim and Nate cover news from #KYGA26 and then check in with Russell Allen, from the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty about SB251, an effort to reestablish the death penalty in Kentucky. – www.forwardky.com/corporate-de...
Members of Kentucky Government Retirees continue to engage with budget conference committee to secure a 13th pension check for state retirees in the state budget. The most recent COLA was provided in July, 2011. #KYGA26
