State Government

The General Assembly will have no galleries for observers, no rotunda for rallies. And it won’t be the last in temporary quarters as the Capitol undergoes a lengthy renovation.

Kentucky high school students will take the SAT instead of the ACT starting this spring. In a recent op-ed, one education policy expert suggested the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) may have violated state law by switching to a different college admissions exam.

Unclaimed property can take a variety of forms, like paychecks or refunds for insurance or utilities.

Candidates have until Friday, Jan. 9, to turn their paperwork into the Secretary of State’s office.

As lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell says his top priorities include retaining state agriculture employees, expanding school nutrition efforts and advancing “food as medicine” initiatives — while also weighing the uncertain impact of recent federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. In an end-of-year interview, Shell also reflects on his work with foster youth and confirms he plans to seek reelection.

Beyond passing a two-year state budget, the GOP supermajority of the Kentucky General Assembly plans to advance bills addressing education, data centers, immigration and housing in the 2026 session.

The dispute stems from a resident farmland exemption from hunting and fishing license requirements.

After a nonpartisan forecasting group predicted a smaller shortfall, Gov. Andy Beshear said he is implementing reductions across state government — but some constitutional officers are declining to do the same.

Tuesday’s forecast comes as the impact of soaring revenues for nearly all states triggered by Covid-era stimulus spending by the federal government continues to fade.

Outside groups are urging the board to resolve questions about the situation to assure that public safety is protected and that eye care providers are duly licensed and qualified.

With the GOP-led legislature poised to revisit Kentucky’s income tax rate in January, Gov. Andy Beshear is urging lawmakers to honor the fiscal “guardrails” they put in place two years ago. Republican leaders say they’re weighing whether conditions allow another tax cut, even as state revenues flatten and budget pressures grow.