Budget & Taxes

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.

Amend KRS 157.350 to provide that in order to be eligible to receive support education excellence in Kentucky funds a school district shall not provide the superintendent or any administrator a percentage pay increase greater than the average percentage pay increase provided to classroom teachers within the district; amend KRS 156.070 to conform.

SB 6 appropriates $150 million from Kentucky's General Fund for the state's endowed research fund during the 2026-2027 budget year. The funds must be evenly distributed across five university research consortium accounts established under Kentucky law, with unspent money carried forward to future years to avoid lapsing. This bill directly supports Kentucky's public universities and their research initiatives by providing dedicated, long-term funding. The legislation declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage, emphasizing its focus on advancing research and economic opportunities.

Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to exempt homeowners who are 65 years of age or older from any increase in the valuation of their permanent residence that is assessed after the later of the year the homeowner turned 65 or the year the homeowner acquired the property; require the exemption to be in addition to the exemption provided in Section 170 of the Constitution of Kentucky and notwithstanding Sections 171, 172, and 174 of the Constitution of Kentucky; apply the exemption to increases in valuation that occur after the date the amendment is ratified by the voters; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.