Kentucky Association of Counties

KACo Logo

Kentucky Association of Counties

The County Voice



KACo has a strong voice representing Kentucky counties at the state and federal levels. We work to promote counties first, preserve county decision making and protect counties from cost shifting and preemption of authority.



KACo Advocacy Team


Jim Henderson
Executive Director/CEO

Shellie Hampton
Director of Government Affairs

Kayla Carter Smith
Policy Analyst

2026 Legislative Priority: Reshaping the Shared Responsibility of County Jails

Kentucky county jails are at a crisis point, with fiscal court subsidies rising more than 76% in six years and counties forced to raise taxes or cut essential services just to keep their facilities operating.

KACo has published a one-page document with key points of HB 557, our comprehensive jails proposal.


Know Your Legislator

Find listings for Kentucky's legislators by chamber including a short biography, committee assignments and contact information for both their Capitol office and home district.

We encourage members to meet with legislators in their district prior to the start of the legislative session to update them on issues important to counties and how those issues will affect their district in particular. During the session, stay engaged and visit legislators in Frankfort as bills make their way through the legislative process.


Legislative News

Kentucky hemp bill passes House
The Kentucky House voted 70-17 yesterday to expand options for hemp testing while continuing to meet federal requirements for the state’s hemp program.
2020 Legislative Session Update: Week 2
Review of activity from the second week of the 2020 General Assembly.
Public health ‘transformation’ bill clears committee
A bill aimed at improving Kentucky’s public health system by putting it through a legislative “transformation” was approved Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, by the House Health and Family Services Committee.
Sports wagering bill clears House committee
A bill to legalize sports wagering and regulate online poker and fantasy sports operations in Kentucky is on its way to the House after receiving committee approval today.
Gov. Beshear: ‘We have more in common than what divides us.’
Gov. Andy Beshear delivered his first State of the Commonwealth Address Tuesday evening, Jan. 14, 2020. He began his speech by declaring that the state of the Commonwealth is “strong, coming together and ready to face our challenges.”
House Transportation hears of Real ID rollout
The rollout of Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards resumes this week with regional offices opening in Bowling Green, Paducah and Somerset, state officials told the House Transportation Committee today.
2020 Legislative Session Update: Week 1
Welcome to the 2020 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly.
KACo leadership joins Pres. Trump for announcement on regulatory reform efforts
KACo President and Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore was front and center for the president’s announcement of proposed changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations yesterday.