(FRANKFORT, Ky.)-The first week of the 2026 Legislative Session is now complete. We wrapped up the second week of the 2026 session, and things continue to move quickly here in Frankfort. Committee meetings are in full swing, legislation is moving off the Senate floor, and work is underway to deliver results on the issues Kentuckians care about most.
Improving driver’s license access for everyone
One of the first big wins this session was the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 7 in the full Senate. I supported this bill because it directly responds to a concern I hear from people across Kentucky. Folks in rural parts of our state have told me they spend too much time and money driving long distances just to renew a driver’s license. I have also heard from people in urban areas who sit in long lines or deal with slow appointments because the system does not work as well as it should.
SB 7 gives counties without a regional licensing office the option to bring driver’s license renewal services back home. Local officials, such as the county clerk, sheriff, judge/executive, or circuit clerk, can choose to offer this service if they wish. These are the people y’all know, and they are accountable to you in ways a distant bureaucracy cannot be. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet would provide the necessary equipment, and counties could work together to share it if needed. There would be a small $25 service fee to help support staffing and provide reliable customer service. Regional offices will remain available for those who prefer that option.
This is about improving access, expanding local control, and making state government work better for the people it serves.
Supporting seniors with property tax relief
I also want to highlight SB 51, which recently passed out of committee and is headed to the full Senate for consideration. This bill would provide meaningful relief to Kentuckians age 65 and older by freezing the taxable value of their home, starting in the year they turn 65 or purchase it, whichever is later. This means seniors would not be hit with higher property tax bills just because home values rise. The bill would put this proposal on the ballot as a constitutional amendment, giving voters the final say. With many seniors living on fixed incomes, this is a commonsense step that can help them stay in their homes with greater financial security.
Other bills moving through committee
Several other bills cleared committee this week and are now eligible for full Senate consideration. These include measures to improve school transportation, address distracted driving, and expand the state’s ‘grow your own’ program, which helps prepare high school students to enter the teaching profession and remain home and teaching in the communities they love. These are important topics that reflect voices I hear from constituents across our region.
Addressing the roots and realities of juvenile justice challenges
As in past sessions, I remain committed to improving our juvenile justice system. This year’s focus includes strengthening our detention system and responding to the increasingly urgent mental health needs of young people in crisis. In this budget session, I’m encouraging my colleagues to finally invest in addressing these issues. We can’t continue to give this critical topic only lip service.
Many of the youth entering our system require intensive, specialized care, and without proper support, we risk deepening the challenges they face. That is why I will continue advocating in this budget session for the creation and funding of a high-acuity mental health facility designed to meet these kids where they are, with the care they desperately need. My push will also include additional funds for female youth detention facilities.
Early childhood education’s role
At the same time, we must recognize that the path to juvenile justice involvement often begins much earlier. Many of the long-term challenges our youth face, like educational struggles, behavioral issues, and unmet developmental needs, can be traced back to early childhood when most of the brain’s development occurs. I’m proposing efforts this session to expand access to early learning and incentivize kindergarten readiness through a holistic approach. Helping children build a strong foundation from the start is one of the most effective ways to reduce the need for intervention later in life.
These two issues, early childhood education and juvenile justice reform, are closely connected. Addressing both is essential if we want to create a safer and healthier future for Kentucky’s kids. More to come on these two pieces of legislation in the weeks to follow.
Stay connected
It is important to stay engaged as the session moves forward. Bills often change through amendments or substitutes as they work their way through committee and onto the Senate floor.
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.
