Education

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.

Amend KRS 132.017, relating to the process for a recall of a local ad valorem tax rate, to define "school nickel tax rate"; require a petition process for recalling the levy of a school nickel tax rate; remove other taxes levied by local governmental entities from the petition process requirements; require an ad valorem tax levied by a local governmental entity and a general tax rate levied by a local board of education to be voted upon by the voters if the tax rate produces more than 4% in revenues over the revenues produced by the compensating tax rate; require the suspension of the ordinance, order, resolution, or motion levying the tax rate until after the required election; allow a local governmental entity or a local board of education to cancel a required recall election by reconsidering the levy and instead levying a tax rate that produces no more than 4% in revenues over the revenues produced by the compensating tax rate; specify ballot and public notification requirements for the election; provide that if a tax rate is recalled, the compensating tax rate shall be levied; amend KRS 68.245, 75A.050, 132.018, 132.023, 132.027, and 160.470 to conform; make technical changes; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

SB 71 requires all Kentucky local school board members to complete six hours of financial training every two years. This applies to every member serving on school boards across the state, replacing the previous annual training system. The bill specifies that the training must cover financial management topics, with no other detailed content provided in the text. It directly affects school board members' professional development requirements, focusing on financial oversight responsibilities. The change is a concrete policy update to existing training rules under KRS 160.180.

Amend KRS 61.315 to define "rescue squad personnel"; expand eligibility for in the line of duty death benefits to rescue squad personnel; require the Division of Emergency Management to promulgate administrative regulations establishing necessary criteria and procedures; amend KRS 164.2841 to define "rescue squad personnel"; expand eligibility for tuition and fee exemption to dependents of rescue squad personnel who died in the line of duty; amend KRS 342.316 to conform.