Before providing a legislative update, I want to begin by recognizing the loss of 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky.
Pennington was stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Epic Fury when the installation was attacked by Iranian drones and missiles on March 1. Gravely injured in the attack, he passed away on March 8. All of Kentucky and America mourn his loss, along with the loss of others who have been taken from us in this conflict.
Pennington enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and served as a unit supply specialist with the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado, supporting critical systems that provide missile warning, GPS tracking and satellite communications for our armed forces. His fellow soldiers described him as a dedicated service member and leader who ultimately paid the highest price in service to our great nation.
The Senate honored his memory this week with a Senate resolution. I join many others in offering my sincerest condolences to all who knew, loved and served alongside Pennington.
Legislative update: Late-session processes to expect
Week 10 of the 2026 Legislative Session brought a notable surge in committee and floor activity in Frankfort, as the closing days of the 60-day session are now officially upon us. Committee agendas and bills designated for full Senate or House of Representatives consideration are growing longer as lawmakers in both chambers work to move both their respective legislation and the General Assembly’s collective priorities across the finish line.
The most important legislation we will deliver to the governor this session is the two-year budget plan and the two-year road plan. The budget is our ultimate policy document. In the Senate, we are carefully reviewing the House proposal—House Bill (HB) 500—and have begun considering modifications we want to provide back to the House. Within the next couple of weeks, we will present that plan.
Once the House receives a Senate-modified version of the HB 500, the bill is likely to move to a conference committee. The conference committee includes leadership members from both the Senate and the House, along with House and Senate budget chairs. At this stage of the process, the final decisions are hammered out before the General Assembly presents the governor with its budget proposal. Stay tuned and remain engaged.
Bills approved in the Senate
With the close of Senate and House proceedings on Friday, just 14 legislative days remain in the 2026 session. The following is an update on some of the legislation approved by the Senate this week.
SB 34 allows Kentuckians to transfer a home or vehicle directly to a named beneficiary at death through a transfer-on-death designation without going through probate while maintaining existing protections for creditors, Medicaid recovery and spousal rights. Owners retain full control during life and may change or revoke the designation at any time.
SB 77 establishes the Ibogaine Research and Intellectual Property Development Fund within the Department of Agriculture and authorizes public-private partnerships with drug developers to study ibogaine as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. The legislation also sets requirements for research contracts and the management of intellectual property from the trials.
SB 97 requires health benefit plans to cover prosthetic and orthotic devices and sets minimum coverage standards, utilization review protections and network adequacy requirements. The bill includes insurer reporting requirements and delays implementation until Jan. 1, 2028, while allowing regulators to evaluate federal compliance.
SB 100 strengthens the oversight role of the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission by allowing the executive director to access information from commission meetings, submit independent reports to the Public Service Commission and intervene in relevant PSC proceedings. The bill also requires state agencies to cooperate with EPIC and limits the executive director’s annual compensation increases to 10 percent.
SB 116 updates statutes governing physician assistants to modernize administrative requirements and support more efficient collaboration within physician-led care teams while maintaining physician supervision. The changes are intended to improve provider flexibility and expand access to care, particularly in rural areas.
SB 147 modernizes Kentucky’s vital records laws by updating procedures for issuing and maintaining birth and death records and clarifying that certified copies carry the same legal weight as originals. The bill also adjusts certain fees, expands fee waivers for vulnerable populations and strengthens coordination between death records and voter registration maintenance.
SB 224 establishes statutory protections for vested property rights in development approvals by allowing projects to proceed under the regulations in place when the application was submitted. The bill also sets timelines for how long those rights remain vested and limits who may challenge final zoning decisions.
SB 225 requires the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to evaluate the impact of proposed building code changes on residential construction. The department must conduct cost-benefit analyses and report findings to the advisory committee and the General Assembly.
SB 261 allows fiscal courts and cities to spend public funds to maintain pedestrian swinging bridges used for recreation and provides liability protections for landowners who lease property for these public bridges.
SB 262 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing ballot questions for constitutional amendments to present a clear summary explaining the amendment’s substance and effect rather than requiring the full text on the ballot.
SB 291 creates a statewide licensing system for secondary metal recyclers to help deter copper theft, which damages critical infrastructure, including telecommunications and electrical systems. The bill requires background checks, transaction reporting through the LeadsOnline database and coordination with law enforcement.
SB 333 requires that proceeds from the sale of confiscated firearms be transferred to the Office of the Attorney General, which will use the funds to provide grants for police departments to purchase body armor. In the 2024-2026 budget, the legislature championed millions of dollars in support for the attorney general’s body armor program, so this bill is a natural alignment. I’ll be advocating to ensure the fund’s support for the body armor program is recurring, so our brave law enforcement men and women have the protection they need.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 66 encourages the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to explore participation in federal nuclear energy programs and expand academic pathways for nuclear science and engineering careers.
SJR 116 directs the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University to collaborate on solutions to Kentucky’s physician shortage and expand access to care in underserved areas, with recommendations due by Jan. 1, 2027.
SJR 134 directs the Public Service Commission to review how utilities calculate and apply fuel adjustment charges and evaluate options to reduce volatility in customer bills. The commission must gather public input and submit recommendations to the General Assembly.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you and to serve as Senate Majority Floor Leader. You may reach my office with comments or questions by calling 502-564-8100 or emailing Max.Wise@kylegislature.gov.
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Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. Wise serves as Senate majority floor leader. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Education, and Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor. As part of Senate leadership, Wise also serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Rules Committee, and the Committee on Committees.
(Dustin R. Isaacs – Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise)