Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HR126: A RESOLUTION urging the federal government to provide states with increased flexibility to design and test innovative approaches that reduce barriers to employment and promote economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families receiving public assistance.
Status: Passed both chambers, April 1, 2026
Urge the Congress of the United States and the relevant federal agencies to expand opportunities for states to seek flexibility, waivers, or demonstration authority under federal public assistance programs for the purpose of reducing barriers to work and supporting earned income advancement.
What the bill says
A resolution urging the federal government to provide states with increased flexibility to design and test innovative approaches that reduce barriers to employment and promote economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families receiving public assistance.
From the introduced text:
A RESOLUTION urging the federal government to provide states with increased flexibility to design and test innovative approaches that reduce barriers to employment and promote economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families receiving public assistance. WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that sustained employment and earned income are central to long-term economic stability for individuals, families, and communities; and WHEREAS, public assistance programs are intended to provide temporary support during periods of economic hardship, while also encouraging participation in the workforce when feasible; and WHEREAS, in certain circumstances, the interaction of income eligibility thresholds across multiple public assistance programs may unintentionally discourage wage advancement or additional work hours due to the abrupt reduction or loss of benefits as earnings increase; and WHEREAS, these interactions may create not only sudden losses of assistance, but also extended periods in which increased earnings do not meaningfully improve a household's overall financial position; and WHEREAS, states are often best positioned to understand the workforce, economic, and demographic conditions affecting their residents and to tailor policy responses accordingly; and WHEREAS, greater flexibility under federal law would allow states to design, test, and evaluate alternative approaches that better align public assistance programs with pathways to employment, wage progression, and self-sufficiency; and WHEREAS, allowing states to pursue time-limited demonstrations, pilots, or waivers may encourage innovation while maintaining accountability for …
Sponsors
- Samara Heavrin (R, HD-018) · primary sponsor
- Wade Williams (R, HD-004)
Latest actions
- : adopted by voice vote
- : to House Floor
- : taken from Rules
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Families & Children (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Poverty, Federal Laws And Regulations, Public Assistance
Common questions
- What is HR126?
- HR126 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): A RESOLUTION urging the federal government to provide states with increased flexibility to design and test innovative approaches that reduce barriers to employment and promote economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families receiving public assistance.
- What does HR126 do?
- In its own words: A resolution urging the federal government to provide states with increased flexibility to design and test innovative approaches that reduce barriers to employment and promote economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families receiving public assistance.
- What is the status of HR126?
- Passed both chambers as of April 1, 2026. Latest action: adopted by voice vote (April 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR126?
- Samara Heavrin (R, HD-018), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HR126?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hr126.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.