HB 576 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to workforce investment.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 154.12 to establish the Kentucky Talent Recruitment Grant Program under the Cabinet for Economic Development; define terms; establish the duties of the cabinet in implementation of the program subject to approval of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority; establish eligible grant applicants' duties and program reporting requirements; establish the Kentucky Talent Recruitment Grant Program fund; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 8 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly rewritten to shift oversight from the Kentucky Economic Development Authority to the Cabinet for Economic Development. The definitions of eligible projects were expanded to include plans for retaining Kentucky students and targeted marketing campaigns, rather than just relocating employees. Funding limits and disbursement conditions were clarified, and reporting requirements were updated to track specific metrics like engagement rates and student retention.
Scope change
The bill's scope broadened to include 'retention' goals for Kentucky students and 'regional' projects involving multiple counties, in addition to the original focus on recruiting employees from outside the state.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'Authority' was changed from the Kentucky Economic Development Authority to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

The definition of 'Cabinet' was changed from the Cabinet for Economic Development to the Cabinet for Economic Development (text appears identical but context shifted to new authority structure).

Added new definitions for 'Regional project' and 'Retention goal'.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 'Eligible project' to include plans to retain Kentucky students and targeted marketing campaigns to engage new residents.

Removed the specific income threshold of $60,000 for eligible households.

FISCAL

Clarified that the maximum funding per applicant is $500,000 and updated disbursement conditions to require proof of meeting household or retention goals.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded reporting requirements to include specific metrics such as engagement rates, qualified interest, and graduate retention rates.

Changed the requirement for eligible grant applicants to contribute 20% of costs to include 'in-kind donations' and clarified rules for regional projects.

Floor votes · House Mar 12, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 82)
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 79-10
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 83-3 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.