Kentucky Association of Counties

KACo Logo

Kentucky Association of Counties

Kentucky Association of Counties

Services

County Champion

SPOTLIGHT

#Walther, Gay, & Mack, PLC

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

Bevin aide: Governor's pension plan has enough votes to pass
Gov. Bevin's team is confident that enough votes have been rounded up to pass his pension-relief proposal in a special legislative session, a key Bevin aide said Wednesday.
Public pension proposal unveiled but questions persist
A new proposal to deal with the public pension for health departments and quasi-governmental agencies was unveiled on Monday; however, there is still no date for a special session.
Gov. Bevin and Rep. Rogers announce milestone for broadband infrastructure project
Gov. Matt Bevin and Congressman Hal Rogers held a joint press conference Friday to announce the completion of the first phase of KentuckyWired, a project to build a network of high-speed fiber optic cable throughout the Commonwealth.
Stivers and Osborne reveal legislative priorities at KCJEA/KMCA Conference
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne share insights on the next legislative session and talk about big impacts ahead for counties.
House leader says special session on pension-relief bill may start July 19
House Majority Leader John "Bam" Carney said legislative leaders have informed members and Gov. Matt Bevin that "July 19 is the most likely date to start the session."
As the Kentucky legislature's special pension session begins, here's what you need to know
Gov. Matt Bevin will call the Kentucky General Assembly into special session at 8 a.m. Friday to pass a pension proposal. Here’s a look at the special session and the issue lawmakers want to address.
Ky. House passes pension bill for quasi-governmental agencies
The Kentucky House passes a pension relief bill for county health departments and other quasi-governmental agencies in a 52-46 vote Monday, July 22.
Tax on e-cigarettes proposed to help solve Kentucky's struggling pension system
Rep. Jerry Miller (R-Louisville) proposed a new bill that would tax e-cigarettes and products like chewing tobacco and snuff by 27.5% of the wholesale price, which is similar to the tax on traditional cigarettes.
Kentucky Association of Counties
400 Englewood Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-223-7667 • 800-264-5226 • Fax: 502-223-1502
Contact Us