As the Kentucky General Assembly closes out the ninth week of the 2026 Legislative Session on Friday, our work in Frankfort continues at a steady pace. With only a few weeks remaining in the 60-day session, much of our focus is on advancing legislation through the process while continuing discussions on the state budget.
First, I’d like to update you on an exciting development from this week.
Advancing Kentucky’s energy future
On Thursday, I joined energy leaders, educators, workforce partners and legislators from across Kentucky to announce the first round of nuclear energy development grants through the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA). The projects supported through these grants represent an important step toward building a full nuclear energy ecosystem in the commonwealth, one that includes workforce training, supply chain manufacturing, research partnerships and eventually energy generation itself.
I have said many times that my interest in nuclear energy has grown significantly as I learn more and engage with others about this exciting technology. The more I have studied this issue and traveled to conferences across the country to learn from experts, the more convinced I have become that we are living at the beginning of a historic shift in energy development, not just for Kentucky, but for the world. Nuclear energy, particularly advanced small modular reactors, has the potential to provide reliable, clean power for decades to come while supporting the growing electricity demands of modern industries.
The grants announced this week support projects across Kentucky that will help prepare our state for that future. They include workforce training initiatives, early site evaluation for advanced reactors and education programs designed to build a skilled pipeline of workers prepared for careers in the nuclear energy sector.
What excites me most is the opportunity this creates for communities that have faced economic hardship in recent years. Eastern Kentucky, for example, has experienced significant job losses and population decline following the downturn of the coal industry. Nuclear energy development offers a real opportunity to bring new industries, new investment and new careers back to those communities.
As one workforce leader explained during the event, the same workers who helped power America in the past stand ready to help power its future. The skills, work ethic and technical abilities already exist across Kentucky. Our job as policymakers is to ensure that opportunities exist as well.
Another important part of this effort is preparing the next generation. One grant will help establish a STEM education pipeline across rural school districts in western Kentucky, connecting students directly to high-tech career pathways in the nuclear industry. Other projects will expand workforce training programs across our community and technical college system, ensuring Kentuckians have access to high-paying careers in this emerging sector.
This effort has been a long time in the making. Nearly two decades ago, legislation was first introduced to lift Kentucky’s nuclear moratorium. When that finally passed, it opened the door for the work we are doing today. Since then, the General Assembly has taken step after step, forming working groups, creating the Nuclear Energy Development Authority and building the partnerships needed to attract investment.
Now we are at a pivotal moment. States across the country are investing heavily in nuclear technology and advanced energy infrastructure. If Kentucky wants to compete for these projects and the economic growth they bring, we must be willing to invest in our own future as well.
That is why the Senate this week approved my Senate Bill (SB) 57, legislation that would establish a nuclear site readiness pilot program to prepare locations across Kentucky for future reactor development. With the right investments and partnerships, Kentucky could see nuclear power generation within the next 15 years.
The impact of that kind of development would be enormous, new industries, new jobs, expanded research and a stronger energy grid capable of supporting everything from advanced manufacturing to the growing demands of artificial intelligence and data centers.
The steps we are taking today will not just affect the next few years. They will shape Kentucky’s economy for generations.
And if we get this right, the benefits will be seen not just by us but also by our children and grandchildren.
Legislative update
As the Kentucky General Assembly concluded its ninth week of the 2026 Legislative Session, which included passing 40-mark. Only 19 more days remain in the 2026 legislative session.
Monday was the final day for bill filings in the Senate, and Tuesday was the final day for new House bills. Approximately 350 bills have been filed in the Senate. That number is more than 900 in the House.
With only a few weeks remaining in the 60-day session, much of our focus is on advancing sound policy that benefits Kentucky families, but our biggest priority remains the state budget.
I’m happy to share that SB 191, which I filed, was approved in the Senate. This is the bill I previously outlined, which creates a performance-based child care incentive pilot program to improve kindergarten readiness. The program, administered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, will provide financial incentives to child care providers or parents when children demonstrate measurable readiness for kindergarten.
Passing a balanced two-year budget is one of the most important responsibilities the General Assembly has during even-numbered years. The Senate has begun a deep dive into the House budget proposal we received recently, and our current focus is to compare the proposals in House Bill 500 to the enacted budget we passed in 2024 to review the changes and to compare those to current revenues and state needs. As conversations continue, my focus remains on ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly while maintaining the core services Kentucky families rely on.
Earlier this session, the Senate Majority Caucus identified 10 priority pieces of legislation to address some of the most pressing issues facing our commonwealth. I’m pleased to report that all 10 Senate priority bills have now been filed and are moving through the legislative process.
The latest bill, SB 8, addresses Kentucky’s energy regulating body, the Public Service Commission (PSC). The bill modernizes the PSC’s structure and operations to strengthen oversight of utilities serving customers across the commonwealth. It’s yet another measure from the Senate aiming at policies that will improve affordability for Kentucky families, especially as it relates to energy costs.
Many other bills have passed the Senate this week.
SB 11 creates a rebate program to help Kentucky homeowners build FEMA-compliant storm shelters that are accessible to neighbors during emergencies. The program covers up to $5,000 or 50 percent of construction costs and prioritizes shelters registered for community use during severe weather events. Funding will come from gifts and grants.
SB 50 modernizes Kentucky probate, estate and trust laws to streamline inheritance procedures and allow electronic estate planning documents. The bill updates rules governing wills, trusts and estate administration, clarifies property distribution when someone dies without a will and adopts nationally recognized uniform trust laws to improve legal consistency and efficiency.
SB 59 strengthens protections against the misuse of taxpayer dollars in elections by prohibiting the use of public funds or government resources to advocate for or against ballot measures. The bill applies to public entities such as school districts while preserving public employees’ right to engage in political activity on their own time.
SB 94 ensures motor vehicle dealers are fairly compensated for warranty and recall repairs. The bill establishes a process for dealers to request adjustments to manufacturer labor rates and repair times, sets response deadlines for manufacturers and standardizes how compensation rates are calculated.
SB 137 creates a provisional medical license to help attract experienced international physicians to Kentucky. Qualified physicians may receive a three-year provisional license to practice in medically underserved areas, which converts to a full unrestricted license if the physician remains in good standing.
SB 156 strengthens Kentucky’s ban on child marriage by prohibiting marriage for anyone under age 18 and repealing outdated provisions that previously allowed limited exceptions.
SB 173 establishes a formal legislative review process for Kentucky’s Medicaid and Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program state plans, allowing lawmakers to review annual plan submissions and amendments to improve oversight of major policy changes and rising program costs.
SB 177 updates licensing laws for speech-language pathologists and assistants by modernizing supervision requirements and aligning Kentucky law with current professional standards, including provisions related to the Interstate Licensure Compact.
SB 189 creates a licensing and regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosk operators, commonly known as crypto ATMs. The bill requires operators to obtain a license, verify user identities, disclose fees, limit transactions for new users and provide fraud protections for consumers.
SB 192 reduces regulatory burdens on small cities by allowing municipalities with less than $15 million in annual revenue or spending to use simplified accounting methods and complete agreed-upon financial procedures instead of full audits while maintaining oversight from the Auditor of Public Accounts.
SB 193 clarifies the court’s authority in cases involving probation or supervision violations by allowing courts up to 60 days after a supervision period ends to determine whether a violation occurred and to take appropriate action.
SB 197 creates a four-tier county system to better target Kentucky Business Investment incentives to economically distressed areas and help attract jobs and investment to rural communities.
SB 199 aligns Kentucky pesticide labeling standards with federal law by recognizing EPA-approved labels as sufficient warnings under state law while maintaining liability protections if safety information is knowingly withheld.
A Senate bill was also approved by the House and delivered to the Governor this week after receiving minor technical changes.
SB 145 updates statutes governing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control by modernizing catering license provisions and requiring license applications to be approved or denied within 45 days. House changes expanded the bill to strengthen licensing oversight for tobacco, nicotine and vapor retailers.
Please feel free to contact my office if you have any concerns or suggestions. My office can be reached at 502-564-8100 or by email at Danny.Carroll@kylegislature.gov.
