Kentucky Association of Counties

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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

NACo Launches Connected and Automated Vehicles Toolkit
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is pleased to launch the Connected and Automated Vehicles Toolkit: A Primer for Counties to provide county leaders with an introduction to the connected and automated vehicles sector and ideas for how counties can engage.
Candidates set for special election in 63rd House District
Local Democrats and Republicans have chosen their nominee for the vacancy in the 63rd House District, created when a northern Kentucky lawmaker resigned her seat earlier this month.
2019-2020 County Insurance Premium Tax Rates
Forty-four counties have an insurance premium tax for fiscal year 2020 in at least one category (fire, casualty/liability, vehicle, inland marine, health, life or other risks).
Pence comes to Ky. with $9M in federal grants to battle opioids
Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Congressman Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, joined Gov. Matt Bevin in southeastern Kentucky.
49 counties to receive more than $13.5 million in excess coal severance tax revenue
Gov. Matt Bevin announced today that more than $15 million in excess coal severance tax revenue will be distributed to 49 counties and 122 municipalities that qualify to receive funds from the Local Government Economic Assistance Fund (LGEAF) coal severance program.
Special session ends with passage of rate freeze for health departments, other quasi agencies
Health departments, regional universities and other quasi-governmental agencies will continue to pay a lower pension contribution rate as a result of the work of the General Assembly during this week’s special session.
What you can do to fight spread of Hepatitis A in your county
Health officials are urging county officials to be more active and increase prevention measures for the Hepatitis A virus that is continuing to spread through county jails, local restaurants and essentially throughout the state.
Election bill passes senate
A bill to change state office elections to even numbered years moves to the House.