Twenty-one bills relating directly to or having significant impact on K-12 education were enacted by the 2026 General Assembly. Listed below is a brief summary of these bills. Please use the link to access greater detail for each bill. Several K-12 bills were amended in the closing days of the session to include some, or all of the provisions of other bills, as noted in the summaries below.
HB1 FEDERAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. Rep. Kim Moser
This legislation ensures Kentucky’s participation in the federal program enabling taxpayers to receive a 100% federal tax credit for donations to a qualified scholarship granting organization (SGO) of up the $1,700 annually. While the underlying intent of this legislation is to enable public funds to be spent on private education, which violates public educations long held position in opposition to this practice, SGOs can also be established to support educational expenses for public school students. In conjunctions with the American Association of Schol Administrators, KASA will provide guidance and a webinar on the legal requirements for creating an SGO to benefit public school students.
HB4 GROOMING OF MINORS, Rep. Marianne Proctor
Defines what constitutes grooming conduct, grooming behaviors, and sexual conduct and sets penalties.
HB7 SCHOOL BUS SAFTEY. Rep. David Hale
Allows the use of camera monitoring systems on school buses operated by a school district and allows the enforcement of a civil penalty for stop arm camera violations recorded by a camera monitoring system.
HB67 SCHOOLS, Rep. JT Payne
Restrictions on communications with students and new financial disclosure requirements
Provisions relating to communications in HB 67:
This bill limits the traceable‑system requirement to “private electronic communication” and explicitly exempts several categories of communications, meaning these do not require prior written parental consent nor use of the district’s traceable platform.
This legislation narrows and clarifies Kentucky’s traceable communications law by:
Bill summaries that can be accessed using the link detail the specific types of communications exempted under HB 67.
Provisions relating to district financial disclosure in HB 67:
There are new budget and reporting requirements for school districts resulting from amending provisions of SB 3 into HB 67. The amended version of HB 67 only requires full disclosure of all district credit card transactions if the district’s budget reserve is less than 4%.
Bill summaries that can be accessed using the link detail the new financial disclosure requirements for districts in HB 67.
HB253 Reading Instruction and Teacher Misconduct Provisions, Rep. James Tipton
Prohibits the use of three-cueing in reading instruction and requires districts to develop dyslexia policies. This legislation was amended to include provisions of HB 102 that prohibit the use of NDAs relating to misconduct involving a minor or student and to ensure districts have all personnel files and other information about applicants for positions, especially as they relate to abuse allegations and investigations.
HB257 EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. Rep. JT Payne
Lays out the parameters and guidelines for districts to develop local assessment and accountability systems
HB500 HB 500 (Executive branch Budget for FY 27 and F& 28), Rep. Jason Petrie
Appropriations for education, and most other budget units are basically flat with slight increases or decreases.
The appropriation for SRO funding decreases by 36% each year from 18M each year in the current budget to 11.5M each year in the FY 27-28 budget. Language in the budget directs KDE to reimburse local school districts up to $20,000 for each full-time certified School Resource Officer. Budget language also gives private schools access to SRO funding.
Unused SEEK funds to lapse to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund rather than being reallocated to districts:
The cap on funding health insurance premiums for school district and state employees has been deleted.
Use this link to access a spreadsheet summary of K-12 education appropriations in HB 500:
HB555 Educational programs involving student food sales during the school day, Rep. Michael Pollock
Allows districts to let students engage in food sale programs that teach basic business operation skills.
HB562 ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, Rep. Timmy Truett
Replaces the alternative high school diploma with two new diploma categories for special needs students. The new ‘Alternate’ diploma can be awarded to special needs students who can demonstrate skills necessary to be employed at levels to be identified by the Dept. of Workforce Development. Students who cannot participate in the regular statewide assessment and who do not meet requirements for inclusion in the adjusted cohort graduation rate under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act can be awarded the ‘Modified’ diploma.
HB642 TRS Annual Housekeeping Bill, Rep. James Tipton
Annual TRS Housekeeping Bill that brings TRS practices into compliance with federal law, court rulings, and practices designed to streamline the delivery of TRS services.
HB727 EDUCATION, Rep. Steve Riley
Initially introduced to create the KY Educator Placement Service that will enable educators to apply for multiple positions at different districts with just one application, HB 727 was amended to include six other bills and issues:
HB757 REVENUE MEASURES, Rep. Jason Petrie
Numerous revenue/tax measures, including several that will impact K-12 education:
HB900 One-time appropriations for various state and local government agencies, Rep. Jason Petrie
HB 900 appropriates $30,550,000 in FY 27 and $17,400,000 in FY 28 for various school projects across the state.
SB1 Transfer of Powers from Jefferson Co. School Board to the Superintendent, Sen. David Givens
This legislation, in response to a court ruling invalidating SB 1, 2021 General Assembly, attempts to follow the court ruling’s guidelines to constitutionally enact legislation that transfers powers of the JCPB to the superintendent.
SB2 Salary Increase Restrictions, Sen. Julie Adams
Requires salary increases given to the superintendent and other administrators to not exceed the average percentage increase given to classroom teachers in a school district.
SB4 Principal Leadership Training and Large District School Boards, Sen. Stephen West
Years one and two of the principal leadership program will be managed by KDE and will pair new principals with a mentor and provide basic instruction relating to principals and school leadership. Year three will be tied to the Truist program offered through the Kentucky Chamber Foundation. Year four gives principals the option of continuing to advance their leadership skills by enrolling in an approved Principal Leadership Training Program. The state budget appropriates $1,000,000 each year for the initial two-years of the program to be managed by KDE.
SB 4 was amended to include the provisions of HB 649 to require the boards of districts with 25,000 or greater enrollment to consist of 5 elected members and 2 members with specified financial experience to be appointed by the State Treasurer. SB 4 will also prohibit an employee of a school board from serving as a school board member.
SB46 SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, Sen. Matt Deneen
Revises transportation legislation from 2025 to allow the use of 10 rather than 9 or fewer passengers to be used by schools to transport students. The bill also includes provisions to ensure operators of these vehicles, depending on circumstances, have the necessary background and driving records checks.
SB59 PROHIBITED USES OF TAX DOLLARS AND RESOURCES, Sen. Stephen Rawlings
Adds fines and other penalties to statutes prohibit the use of public resources in advocating for or against a ballot initiative.
SB101 CHILDREN, Sen. Matt Nunn
Requires 12-month expulsion for students in grades 6 to 12 who physically assaults, batters, or abuses school personnel without just cause or provocation on school property or at a school function.
SB170 Pilot Program to Address Truancy, Sen. Brandon Storm
Establishes the Supporting Opportunities for Accountability and Restoration (SOAR) Program, a four‑year pilot initiative aimed at improving student attendance and addressing habitual truancy through early, family‑centered interventions instead of punitive court responses.
SB263 Schools of Innovation, Sen. Stephen West
Increases local flexibility for public school districts by streamlining the process to obtain regulatory and statutory waivers for innovative programs. The bill also establishes a Schools of Innovation pilot project at Covington Independent Schools. The bill is designed to allow districts to test locally driven, innovative educational models while reducing bureaucratic barriers.
Proposed funding for the pilot program and innovative school programs was not included in the final version of the budget.