Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB263: AN ACT relating to education.
Status: Chaptered, April 14, 2026
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to make findings and declarations about locally driven innovation and the intent of the General Assembly to permit flexibility for school districts to improve practices; amend KRS 156.161 to modify the waiver process and the waiver authority of the Kentucky Board of Education; require the Kentucky Department of Education to assist local boards of education in the development of waiver requests; specify the analysis the department shall provide to the state board in reviewing a local board's waiver request; establish a process for a local board to submit a request for a school or program to be identified as a school of innovation with a set of waivers that operate collectively; provide protections for school districts that rely on waiver assistance from the department; create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to require the state board to establish a list of expedited waivers; establish the expedited waiver process and authority; require the state board to annually review all waivers granted to determine necessary changes to administrative regulations or statutes or identify new best practices; amend KRS 157.360 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to establish the school of innovation pilot project; establish the school of innovation pilot project fund; provide procedures for the operation of the pilot project; conclude the pilot project on June 30, 2028; require the department to annually report information and findings from the pilot project to the Legislative Research Commission.
What the bill says
An act relating to education.
From the committee substitute text:
AN ACT relating to education. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 156 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that locally driven innovation in public education can improve school operations and student outcomes. It is the intent of the General Assembly that Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act provide local boards of education with flexibility to depart from statutory and administrative requirements that may constrain improvement, in order to pilot, implement, and refine innovative practices, particularly in schools serving students with unmet academic needs, where such practices are informed by promising approaches implemented in other public education settings, while maintaining appropriate safeguards for student welfare and academic achievement. Section 2. KRS 156.161 is amended to read as follows: (1) Except as provided in Section 3 of this Act or otherwise provided in statute, the Kentucky Board of Education, upon the request of the local board of education of a school district, may grant a waiver from the requirements of an administrative regulation promulgated by the state board or from a statute over which the state board has authority to enforce. The state board may also grant a waiver from the requirements of an administrative regulation promulgated by the …
Sponsors
- Steve West (R, SD-027) · primary sponsor
- Lindsey Tichenor (R, SD-006)
Latest actions
- : delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 180)
- : enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
- : enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
- : passed 75-15
- : posted for consideration of Governor's veto
- : taken from Rules (H)
- : to Rules (H)
- : received in House
- : passed 32-6
- : veto overridden
Votes
- Senate: OVERRIDE VETO FINAL PASSAGE SB 263 RSN# 4153 (April 14, 2026): 32 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House: Veto Override RCS# 485 (April 14, 2026): 75 yea, 15 nay, passed
- Senate: FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 263 w/ HCS 1 (HCS 1) RSN# 4116 (April 1, 2026): 32 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House: Suspend the Rules (HFA 1) RCS# 410 (April 1, 2026): 18 yea, 25 nay, failed
- House: Pass RCS# 411 (April 1, 2026): 75 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Senate: PASS SB 263 w/ SCS 1 (SCS 1) RSN# 3945 (March 17, 2026): 30 yea, 6 nay, passed
Subjects: Funds, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Reports Mandated, Sunset Legislation, Education, Vocational, Boards And Commissions, Education, Finance, Public Buildings And Grounds
Common questions
- What is SB263?
- SB263 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to education.
- What does SB263 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to education.
- What is the status of SB263?
- Chaptered as of April 14, 2026. Latest action: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 180) (April 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB263?
- Steve West (R, SD-027), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB263?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb263.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.