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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2026) — The 2026 legislative session kicked into a higher gear this week as dozens of bills began moving through committee, including several measures related to driving, the state constitution and health care coverage.
Leading the pack in the Senate was Senate Bill 7, which seeks to ease the process for renewing or obtaining a duplicate driver’s license, particularly for residents in rural areas.
The legislation would allow certain offices in local government – such as county clerk’s and sheriff’s offices – to provide renewal and duplication services for driver’s licenses. Participation would be voluntary for local officials, and the bill allows those offices to collect a $25 convenience fee.
SB 7 cleared the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday and received a favorable vote on the floor Friday, making it the first bill to pass out of a chamber this session. It now heads to the House.
Most of the floor action in the House and Senate this week centered on continuing to introduce bills for the 60-day session, which hit day 9 on Friday.
Bills filings remained steady in both chambers, and among them were House proposals for the judicial and legislative branch budgets – both key in this year’s deliberations for the next budget biennium.
The House and Senate also took time on Tuesday to memorialize the victims of United Parcel Service Fight 2976, which claimed of lives of 15 people when it crashed at the Louisville airport in November. Lawmakers stood in silence to honor the victims and commend the first responders who aided during the disaster.
In committee, the action picked up momentum on Wednesday. That’s when the Senate State and Local Government Committee voted to advance two measures related to the Kentucky Constitution.
Senate Bill 10 proposes to amend the state constitution and limit the governor’s ability to grant pardons and commutations for 90 days surrounding a gubernatorial election.
Senate Bill 51 proposes a new section of the state constitution that would exempt homeowners who are 65 and older from paying increased property taxes that result from higher assessments on their permanent residence.
If the bills win final passage this year, Kentucky voters would still need to ratify the amendments before they could take effect.
The House Banking and Insurance Committee also moved Wednesday to advance House Bill 176, which seeks to streamline the prior authorization process for health insurance claims by creating exceptions for certain health care providers.
Here’s a look at some of the other bills that were on the move this week:
Medicaid Delivery Model – Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 calls for a study of accountable care models used for Medicaid programs in other states. The study would also look at opportunities to implement such a model in Kentucky through a pilot program. The effort is seeking to control costs and improve health outcomes. The Senate Health Services Committee advanced the legislation Wednesday.
Distracted Driving – Senate Bill 28 would expand Kentucky’s ban on texting while driving to include nearly all use of hand-held mobile devices behind the wheel. The measure includes some exceptions for navigation devices, radio devices and devices used in emergencies. The Senate Transportation Committee voted in favor of SB 28 on Wednesday.
Safe Room Rebates – Senate Bill 11 would create a pilot program that helps Kentuckians build safe rooms in their homes to serve as emergency shelters during dangerous weather. The goal is to eventually provide grant-funded rebates to help cover the cost of building the rooms. The Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection advanced the legislation on Thursday.
Dual Credit Scholarships – Senate Bill 22 would allow school districts to establish a “grow-your-own” teacher apprenticeship program as part of an effort to address shortages in the teacher profession. The Senate Education Committee advanced the measure Thursday.
Mental Health Care – House Bill 178 seeks to support the psychiatric collaborative care model, allowing primary care providers, care managers and consulting psychiatrists to work together on a patient’s mental health care. The House Health Services Committee advanced the measure on Thursday.
The General Assembly will not gavel in on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But lawmakers plan to resume in the chambers on Tuesday for day 10 of the session.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the general assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
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