House moves to lower individual income taxes in 2026 (report submitted)
Last week, members of the Kentucky House of Representatives passed legislation that lowers the state’s individual income tax to 3.5% as of January 2026. The measure, HB 1, is sponsored by Representative Jason Petrie, Chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
Economists estimate the tax cut will leave approximately $718 million in the pockets of Kentucky taxpayers in the first fiscal year of full implementation. The measure cleared the House by a vote of 90-7.
“We’re leaving more money in the pockets of Kentuckians, empowering them to save, invest, and spend in ways that benefit their own communities,” Petrie said. “This measure not only helps Kentuckians, but also strengthens Kentucky’s economic competitiveness, making it an even more attractive place to work.”
In 2018, the General Assembly first acted to decrease the individual income tax rate from 6% to 5%, which resulted in historic economic growth, as well as record job creation and state revenue.
Lawmakers passed legislation (HB 8) in 2022 that lays the groundwork to eliminate the individual income tax entirely but includes preset triggers that must be met before the legislature can move to decrease the tax in half a percentage point increments. These triggers essentially hold funding for state programs and agencies harmless.
HB 1 is now being considered in the Senate. To follow the progress of this bill throughout the 2025 Legislative Session, please visit legislature.ky.gov.
Bills introduced in House and Senate that would decriminalize marijuana possession, use in certain instances (by Trevor Sherman)
There has been a lot of discussion recently about Kentucky’s new medicinal cannabis industry, but what are the chances of recreational use becoming legalized at any point in the near future? While it may seem like a long shot at this point, bills were introduced in both the Senate and House of Representatives last week that are proposing just that.
On the first day of the 2025 legislative session (Jan. 7), Senator David Yates, a Democrat from the state’s 37th District (part of Jefferson County), introduced a pair of bills that, if successful, would allow for the possession, cultivation and trafficking of marijuana within certain parameters.
Senate Bill 33 aims to “amend KRS 218A.1421, 218A.1422, and 218A.1423 to remove penalties for possession, cultivation, or trafficking of up to eight ounces or five plants of marijuana,” as well as “create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to allow [for the] expungement of certain convictions relating to cannabis.”
A second bill submitted by Yates, SB 36, proposes to “create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to guarantee the right of an individual 21 years of age or older to possess, use, buy, or sell one ounce or less of cannabis and to cultivate, harvest, and store up to five cannabis plants for personal use.”
SB 36 also proposes that the “production, processing, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-derived products” should be controlled by the General Assembly.
On day two of this year’s legislative session, a pair of House version bills were submitted by Democrat Nima Kulkarni, who represents the state’s 40th District (part of Jefferson County). HB 105 also seeks to amend the Constitution of Kentucky to create the allowances outlined in SB 36. Meanwhile, HB 106 supports amending the Kentucky Revised Statutes previously mentioned in SB 33.
To track the progress of these bills, and all other bills submitted during the ongoing 2025 legislative session, go online to www.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky Revised Statutes can also be viewed on the website under the “Kentucky Law” tab at the top of the page.
Proposed Senate Bill would create ‘super speeders’ on KY roads, help fund special programs (by Trevor Sherman)
If you have a heavy foot while driving, then you may want to listen up.
A bill was introduced in the Kentucky Senate last week that proposes to amend the Kentucky Revised Statutes to define a “super speeder,” and to create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to assess a fee of $200 to any person who is convicted of such an offense.
Senate Bill 57 is sponsored by Republican Stephen Meredith, who hails from the state’s 5th District (Breckinridge, Butler, Grayson, Meade and Ohio counties). While it is unclear exactly what one would have to do to be considered a “super speeder,” the bill proposes that offenders would have to pay up should they be caught engaging in such behavior.
In addition to the aforementioned $200 fee, SB 57 also proposes an additional fee of $50 and a requirement for the suspension of driving privileges for anyone who does not pay their initial fine in a timely manner. As for where this money will go, the bill outlines that all funds would be used to help support various special programs within the state.
Specifically, SB 57 proposes that, “money from fees be deposited into the Kentucky trauma care system fund, the emergency medical services education grant fund, the school AED fund, and the Bentley rural hospital preservation fund.”
SB 57 is currently being considered by the Senate Committee on Transportation. To track the progress of the bill, and all other bills submitted during the ongoing 2025 legislative session, go online to www.legislature.ky.gov.
Hodgson and Reed file measures to create Kentucky Emergency Volunteer Corps (report submitted)
Last week, Rep. John Hodgson of Fisherville filed HB 41, which would establish the Kentucky Emergency Volunteer (KEV) Corps, an all-volunteer, un-armed adjunct to the Kentucky National Guard to assist County Emergency Management Coordinators in emergency situations like floods, tornados, storms, and earthquakes.
“Kentucky emergency responders have been stretched to the limit in recent years with our multiple natural disasters,” said Hodgson. “Kentucky needs a framework to organize, train, and deploy volunteers who can provide timely help.”
The KEV Corps will provide extra help in local emergency situations. Additionally, this program will serve as a volunteer avenue for thousands, including retired military, Bluegrass Challenge graduates, and Scout program graduates.
Members of the KEV Corps must meet minimum defined qualifications, be trained in KEV unit discipline, and complete FEMA training standards for emergency response. Each local government will be given the option to participate in the program, and units and volunteers may only be deployed outside their designated county with consent.
The KEV Corps will be funded via state appropriations, donations, and grants.
“KEV Corps is envisioned as being about halfway between Scouting programs and service in the National Guard, a way for adults to serve their communities in an exciting volunteer role with less rigorous requirements than National Guard enlistment,” Hodgson added.
Senator Aaron Reed of Shelbyville is the Senate sponsor of the measure.
“Over the past several years, Kentucky has seen several natural disasters devastate communities across the state,” said Reed. “The creation of the KEV Corps will aid in recovery efforts and ensure that communities affected by natural disasters get the assistance they need.”
To track the progress of these measures throughout the 2025 Legislative Session, please visit legislature.ky.gov.
