Budget & Taxes

This bill establishes Kentucky's official 2026-2028 Biennial Highway Construction Plan, authorizing specific road projects across the state. It grants the Transportation Cabinet authority to spend funds on these projects with flexibility for bid variations or unexpected circumstances. The bill also requires the Transportation Secretary to create a single document detailing both the 2026-2028 construction program and the 2028-2032 preconstruction program. An emergency declaration ensures the bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, allowing the state to proceed with planned road improvements without delay.

This bill establishes the official list of county road projects included in Kentucky's Six-Year Road Plan. It works alongside two other bills to define which local road improvements will receive state funding assistance over the next six years. The resolution specifically outlines the County Priority Projects portion of the plan, determining which roads qualify for financial support from the Local Assistance Road Program. Once signed into law, it guides state transportation funding decisions for county road maintenance and construction projects.

This bill authorizes the Kentucky state government to pay specific outstanding claims that were previously approved but not paid due to expired or insufficient funding or missing procurement documents. It directly affects various businesses, healthcare providers, and state employees by providing funds from the general, transportation, and federal funds to settle these debts. The legislation includes a detailed list of individual vendors and employees along with exact payment amounts, ranging from small fees to larger contracts totaling tens of thousands of dollars. By declaring an emergency, the bill allows for immediate payment of these claims without waiting for the regular legislative budget cycle.

SB 185 requires all branches of Kentucky government (executive, legislative, judicial) to include supporting budget documents when preparing their budget recommendations for the General Assembly. The bill amends Kentucky Revised Statute 48.030 to mandate that branches provide these supporting materials alongside their budget statements and estimates. This change applies to the budget preparation process before submissions to the legislature, ensuring more detailed documentation accompanies each branch's financial requests. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Committees following its introduction on February 11, 2026.

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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to allow a contribution to be made to the autism spectrum disorder trust fund through an income tax refund designation effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026; require the designation to be printed on the face of the individual income tax form; require a description of the trust fund in the individual income tax return instructions; require the Department of Revenue to transfer the funds designated to the autism spectrum disorder trust fund; create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to create the autism spectrum disorder trust fund; amend KRS194A.624 to require the Advisory Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders to administer the trust fund; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislative Research Commission and to promulgate administrative regulations; EMERGENCY.