(FRANKKFORT, Ky.)-As we wrap up week six of the 2026 Legislative Session, the pace of work in Frankfort continues to accelerate. Committees are meeting daily with fuller agendas, legislation is moving to the floor, and priorities are advancing with thoughtful debate.
At this point in the session, more than 100 pieces of legislation have officially passed at least one chamber. This is a clear sign that the General Assembly is actively working to address issues important to Kentucky families.
While there is still critical work ahead, this milestone reflects meaningful progress on policies focused on strengthening our economy, addressing affordability, supporting our communities, protecting taxpayers, bettering education and ensuring government operates efficiently and transparently.
Innovation in incentivizing kindergarten readiness
I want to begin this week by letting you know I’ve filed Senate Bill (SB) 191.
My proposal would launch the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program. This bill creates a three-year pilot, administered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, which rewards child-care providers and eligible low-income parents with a one-time $2,000 incentive when a child in their care enters kindergarten ready to learn. By tying funding to results instead of a once every three-year audit, this proposal encourages strong early learning outcomes, supports parents and providers who do the challenging work of preparing children for school and allows us to measure whether performance-based incentives can help close achievement gaps before they begin.
Nuclear energy efforts update
This week, SB 57 cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, a crucial step in positioning Kentucky as a leader in advanced nuclear development. The committee adopted a substitute to strengthen the bill before advancing it.
SB 57 creates the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program within the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to help communities and industry partners secure early federal permits. These permits are the first steps on the path towards building advanced nuclear reactors in our state. If Kentucky wants to compete with states like Texas and Tennessee, we must have a structure in place to support responsible investment.
The program allows the state to invest up to $25 million per approved project, with applications reviewed by the Authority and final approval retained by the General Assembly. Projects must meet strict five-year permitting and ten-year construction deadlines. Recipients must secure financial backing and repay funds if milestones are not met.
No community will be forced to participate. A local government must first obtain a nuclear-ready designation before any award is granted.
This bill lays the foundation for building a nuclear ecosystem in Kentucky that strengthens energy reliability, attracts advanced industry, and creates long-term jobs, especially in regions that have historically powered our state’s economy. I look forward to continuing this work as the bill advances.
This week, the Senate passed SB 160, legislation I sponsored to bring clarity, consistency, and fairness to how Kentucky oversees child-care providers. As chair of the Families and Children Committee, I have heard directly from parents and providers who want the same thing we all do—safe care for children and clear rules that are applied evenly. When good providers are pushed out, families lose access to care. SB 160 keeps strong safety standards in place while ensuring expectations are clear, enforcement is consistent, and providers have a fair opportunity to correct issues. This bill puts children first while protecting families’ access to quality child care.
Education priorities
The Senate passed several education measures this week:
- SB 2 ensures that administrator pay increases do not exceed the average percentage raise provided to classroom teachers in the same district.
- SB 4 establishes a statewide leadership development program for new principals focused on accountability, instructional leadership, and school safety.
- SB 71 strengthens required training for local school board members in finance, ethics, open meetings, and superintendent evaluation.
Additional legislation passed
- SB 45 protects agritourism and working animal activities from unreasonable local restrictions while preserving animal welfare and public safety laws.
- SB 72 strengthens conscience protections for medical professionals while preserving federal emergency care requirements.
- SB 110 continues the modernization of Kentucky’s vehicle titling and registration systems through expanded electronic processing.
- SB 118 strengthens consumer protections for credit-related insurance products sold with loans.
- SB 145 modernizes licensing rules for alcoholic beverage caterers and improves efficiency at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
- SB 153 strengthens safeguards against fraudulent contractor practices, particularly following natural disasters.
- SB 155 creates a framework for responding quickly to animal health emergencies that threaten Kentucky agriculture.
- SB 158 ensures that optional vehicle-related financial protection products are clearly disclosed and not required as a condition of financing.
- SB 172 Known as the Fuel Surcharge Stability Act, helps stabilize energy bills and improve affordability by allowing the Public Service Commission to extend the period during which utilities recover fuel costs, reducing sudden rate spikes for consumers.
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.
