Kentucky General Assembly

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has signed a Republican-backed measure to further reduce Kentucky’s income tax. The state's personal income tax will be lowered from 4% to 3.5% percent on Jan. 1, 2026.

State employees in Kentucky are receiving an upgrade to their benefits package. Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday that the Personnel Cabinet will amend regulations to offer six weeks of paid family leave.

The Republican majority in the Kentucky General Assembly is pushing back on new proposals concerning gender-affirming care for state inmates. The state Department of Corrections has proposed new rules to improve accommodations for transgender prisoners, which could include gender reassignment surgeries.

The Kentucky Board of Education has passed a resolution supporting public dollars for public education. The statement, approved unanimously this week, opposes Amendment 2 on the November ballot.

With 43 days until Election Day, some Kentucky superintendents said Monday that a ballot question on school choice would disproportionately threaten their districts because they rely more on the state to fund public education. They called Amendment 2 a voucher program.

Businesses that want to sell, process or grow medical marijuana for Kentucky can start applying for permits starting Monday, part of an accelerated push to have products available in early 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday.

in 2018, Kentucky legislators changed the law to exclude radiologists. Today, only pulmonologists (lung doctors) with the certification to diagnose coal dust exposure can make a black lung confirmation for the state.

The Majority Floor Leader of the Kentucky Senate has announced plans to retire from the legislature. Republican Damon Thayer of Georgetown said Wednesday that he won't seek re-election after his current term ends in Dec. 2024.

In the "Safer Kentucky Act," Louisville Republican legislators proposed 18 measures that would increase penalties for existing crimes, place restrictions on nonprofit bail funds, and ban "street camping" and homeless encampments in public areas.

SB 150 prohibits doctors from providing hormone therapy, including estrogen or testosterone treatment and medication that delays puberty, to patients under 18 years old. That portion of the law was set to take effect Thursday.