Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB650: AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.
Status: In committee, February 24, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to name and designate the musical composition "A Mighty Long Way" as the official state musical composition.
What the bill says
An act relating to designating the official state musical composition.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition. WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes and values the arts as essential to its cultural identity and historical legacy; and WHEREAS, this Commonwealth, through codification in its statutes, has already designated "My Old Kentucky Home," as the official state song, "Blue Moon of Kentucky," as the state bluegrass song, and bluegrass music as the official state music; and WHEREAS, a compelling need exists to establish a symbolic musical work of a symphonic nature that reflects the rich and complex history, present vitality, and optimistic future of this Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, Shawn E. Okpebholo is a distinguished American composer and proud native of Lexington, Kentucky, whose works, including his orchestral suite "A Mighty Long Way," have achieved national recognition; and WHEREAS, "A Mighty Long Way" was commissioned specifically for the 250th anniversary of Lexington, Kentucky, and uses its four movements to tell the story of the Commonwealth and its central city; The "Hoofbeat Fanfare" pays tribute to this Commonwealth's unparalleled equestrian history and heritage as the Horse Capital of the World; "After Bourbon" celebrates this Commonwealth's global reputation and communal joy associated with its iconic native spirit; "Cheapside" offers a necessary and profound contemplation of the painful legacy of racial violence and slavery that occurred in this Commonwealth, including at the …
Sponsors
- Adam Moore (D, HD-045) · primary sponsor
- Lindsey Burke (D, HD-075)
- Chad Aull (D, HD-079)
- Adrielle Camuel (D, HD-093)
- Anne Donworth (D, HD-076)
- Ryan Dotson (R, HD-073)
- Vanessa Grossl (R, HD-088)
Latest actions
- : to State Government (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: State Symbols And Emblems
Common questions
- What is HB650?
- HB650 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.
- What does HB650 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to designating the official state musical composition.
- What is the status of HB650?
- In committee as of February 24, 2026. Latest action: to State Government (H) (February 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB650?
- Adam Moore (D, HD-045), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB650?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb650.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.