Major policy decisions of session taking shape as more than half of legislative days complete

Crossover has begun in the Capitol, and the 2026 Regular Session is now in its most consequential stretch. With more than half of our legislative days complete, Senate bills are advancing in the House, House bills are moving through the Senate and the major policy decisions of this session are taking shape.

One of the most significant measures to move forward this week is House Bill 1.

HB 1 allows Kentucky to opt into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program created by Congress in 2025. Beginning in tax year 2027, the program offers a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations made to certified scholarship-granting organizations that help cover K–12 educational expenses.

However, states must formally opt in before their students can benefit. More than two dozen states have already chosen to participate.

The program is structured to serve working and middle-class families. Students qualify if their household income does not exceed 300 percent of the area median income. In many Kentucky communities, that means the vast majority of families would meet eligibility requirements.

It is important to be clear about what HB 1 does and what it does not do.

This bill does not create a new state-funded program. It does not raise taxes. It does not reduce SEEK funding. It does not redirect existing state education dollars.

The tax credit is federal. Kentuckians may claim it regardless of whether Kentucky opts in. The question before us is whether the scholarship dollars connected to Kentucky taxpayers stay here or are distributed in other states that have chosen to participate.

Certified nonprofit scholarship organizations must direct at least 90 percent of donations to eligible students. Funds can be used for tuition, tutoring, special needs services, textbooks, transportation, technology and other approved educational supports. Public school students are not excluded. In fact, families with children in public schools may use scholarships for tutoring, therapies or instructional materials that supplement classroom learning.

This debate is not about altering Kentucky’s education funding formula. The SEEK formula remains unchanged. State appropriations remain intact. Instead, this is about whether Kentucky positions its students to benefit from a federal program that will move forward either way.

If we decline to participate, Kentuckians may still receive the federal credit — but the scholarship dollars may flow to organizations serving students in other states. Opting in ensures those resources support students here at home.

States led by both Republicans and Democrats, including Arizona, North Carolina and Wisconsin, have already opted in. Their reasoning is straightforward: when federal opportunities exist, states should not leave their students behind.

House Bill 1 ultimately presents a simple decision. Do we allow federal tax benefits generated by Kentucky families to support Kentucky students, or do we allow those resources to be directed elsewhere? Opting in keeps those dollars closer to home, expands flexibility for families and strengthens educational opportunity without increasing state spending.

With the Senate officially in receipt of the House’s proposal, next week is when our deliberate and meticulous work really begins.

This week, my legislation, Senate Bill 178, advanced out of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and now heads to the full Senate for consideration. I filed this bill to ensure that when state agencies develop administrative regulations especially those affecting public health, safety and the environment, they are grounded in sound, unbiased and peer-reviewed science. SB 178 establishes clear standards requiring agencies to rely on the “best available science” and to consider the full weight of scientific evidence before adopting new rules. It defines key terms to create consistency across agencies, requires the use of generally accepted scientific and technical practices and aligns state regulatory authority with applicable federal standards when appropriate. My goal is simple: restore confidence in the regulatory process by making sure new regulations are based on credible data and transparent analysis, not speculation or shifting priorities. Effective protections for our communities depend on reliable evidence, and this legislation ensures our standards are responsible, defensible and rooted in fact.

Several measures were approved in the Senate this week and were either delivered to the Governor’s desk or sent to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Bill 52 Reinforces constitutional guardrails in state permitting by requiring agencies to state approval criteria in law clearly and prohibiting denials for reasons not outlined in statute. The bill sets a 30-day deadline for agencies to act, with applications deemed approved if no action is taken, and shifts the burden of proof to agencies in disputes. It strengthens transparency, expands judicial review and ensures permitting decisions are timely and grounded in clear legal standards.

Senate Bill 124 Allows Kentucky school districts to offer educators the option to receive payment for a portion of unused sick leave while preserving the choice to save it. The voluntary program provides flexibility for teachers and financial planning tools for districts. Supporters say it could reduce reliance on substitutes and improve teacher retention.

Senate Bill 129 Reduces employer contribution rates to the Unemployment Insurance Service Capacity Upgrade Fund, created to modernize the state’s unemployment system. The bill lowers rates through 2026 and establishes a capped annual adjustment process beginning in 2027. Contributions are suspended if fund balances meet specified thresholds.

Senate Bill 162 Streamlines Kentucky’s juvenile diversion process by removing the mandatory FAIR Team step in certain status offense cases. The bill preserves diversion options while allowing cases to move more efficiently and strengthens accountability provisions within diversion agreements. It also updates reporting requirements for court-designated workers.

Senate Bill 170 Creates a four-year SOAR pilot program in at least 10 school districts to address habitual truancy through early intervention and family engagement. The bill establishes RISE teams, updates the definition of habitual truant and enhances data reporting. It also prioritizes support-based accountability and limits secure detention for younger status offenders.

Senate Bill 101 Requires school districts to adopt policies mandating a minimum 12-month expulsion for students in grades 6–12 who assault school staff without provocation. It also requires immediate reporting of assaults to law enforcement and sets penalties for noncompliance. The measure aims to strengthen teacher safety and classroom order.

Senate Bill 98 Requires contractors to comply with American Welding Society standards when specified in project plans. Qualified inspections must be conducted when those standards apply. The bill reinforces structural safety requirements for major public and private construction projects.

Senate Bill 122 Allows courts to consider whether a non-violent defendant is a primary caretaker of a dependent child during sentencing. The bill aims to reduce unnecessary family separation while preserving full judicial discretion. Courts may order participation in structured programs that promote accountability and family stability.

I will continue working hard to advocate for the priorities and concerns of the 28th District in every vote taken.

Your engagement is essential, so please contact my office with any questions, concerns or ideas you would like to share.