Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB59: AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.
Status: Chaptered, April 14, 2026
Amend KRS 65.013 to define terms; expand the prohibition on using tax dollars to advocate for or against a public question on the ballot to prohibit using any resources, and to explicitly apply prohibition to school districts, regional educational cooperatives, and recalls on a ballot; establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person found guilty of violating the prohibition; create a cause of action for a citizen aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition; establish a statute of limitations to commence suit and the appropriate venue; provide when the suit accrues; specify damages recoverable per violation; allow for class action; include a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person held civilly liable; amend KRS 48.025 and 132.017 to conform.
What the bill says
An act relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 65.013 is amended to read as follows: (1) As used in this section: (a) [Local, state, and federal tax dollars shall not be used to advocate, in partial terms, for or against any public question that appears on the ballot. For purposes of this section, ]"Local" means[ and includes] any city, county, urban-county government, consolidated local government, unified local government, charter county government, school district, or special district; (b) "Resources" means 2. Items of value, facilities, materials, and other physical resources derived from local, state, or federal tax dollars, including but not limited to computers, copiers, printers, paper, office supplies, and buildings; 3. Digital resources derived from or supported by local, state, or federal tax dollars, including but not limited to any official website, email account, or social media account; 4. Classified and unclassified employees, and other human resources within the scope of their state employment; or 5. Employees and other human resources within the scope of their school district employment; and (c) "School district" means 2. Independent school district as defined in KRS 160.020; or 3. Regional educational cooperative organization formed by local boards of education or other public educational institutions listed in …
Sponsors
- Steve Rawlings (R, SD-011) · primary sponsor
- Greg Elkins (R, SD-028)
- Matthew Deneen (R, SD-010)
- Donald Douglas (R, SD-022)
- Aaron Reed (R, SD-007)
- Lindsey Tichenor (R, SD-006)
Latest actions
- : delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 155)
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : passed 80-19
- : posted for consideration of Governor's veto
- : taken from Rules (H)
- : to Rules (H)
- : received in House
- : passed 31-7
- : veto overridden
Votes
- Senate: OVERRIDE VETO FINAL PASSAGE SB 59 RSN# 4147 (April 14, 2026): 31 yea, 7 nay, passed
- House: Veto Override RCS# 477 (April 14, 2026): 80 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Senate: FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 59 w/ HCS 1, HFA 2 (HCS 1) RSN# 4018 (March 26, 2026): 29 yea, 8 nay, passed
- House: Pass RCS# 326 (March 25, 2026): 75 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS SB 59 w/ SCS 1 (SCS 1) RSN# 3883 (March 5, 2026): 28 yea, 9 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Special Districts, Crimes And Punishments, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Special Purpose Governmental Entities, Local Mandate, Corrections Impact, Counties
Common questions
- What is SB59?
- SB59 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.
- What does SB59 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.
- What is the status of SB59?
- Chaptered as of April 14, 2026. Latest action: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 155) (April 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB59?
- Steve Rawlings (R, SD-011), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB59?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb59.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.