Kentucky Association of Counties

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Kentucky Association of Counties

Kentucky Association of Counties

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County Champion

SPOTLIGHT

#Commonwealth Insurance Advisors

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

No private prisons
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The House-Senate Conference Committee trying to come to an agreement on a two-year state budget removed funding for private prisons sought by Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration on Monday.
pension life support
Senate Bill 1, the controversial plan to overhaul Kentucky’s ailing pension system, is still on “life support,” according to its sponsor.
TVA goes to floor
House Bill 114 passed the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Tuesday morning. It now heads to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as Thursday.
Budget Work
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - Kentucky lawmakers announced a schedule change to the calendar for the 2018 regular session on Tuesday afternoon.
budget progress
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – A day-long meeting by the House-Senate Conference Committee on Wednesday, but no agreement on a two-year state spending plan.
Tax Reform
The Kentucky General Assembly passed a revenue measure today that would generate nearly a half of billion dollars in additional money for the state over the next two fiscal years.
Budget passes
FRANKFORT— A $22 billion state spending plan that would restore some funding cuts proposed by the governor while ensuring that Kentucky fully funds its public pension systems has received final passage in the House after being approved by the Senate earlier today.
CERS employer contribution phase-in finally passes
The long-awaited CERS employer contribution phase-in or “rate collar” was finally passed providing pension relief Kentucky counties desperately need.
Kentucky Association of Counties
400 Englewood Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-223-7667 • 800-264-5226 • Fax: 502-223-1502
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