Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

Kentucky · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 59: AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 59 is a bill introduced in the Kentucky Senate on January 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. Primary sponsor: Steve Rawlings (Republican), Greg Elkins (Republican), Matt Deneen (Republican), Don Douglas (Republican), Aaron Reed (Republican), Lindsey Tichenor (Republican). Most recent recorded action (April 14, 2026): delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 155).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Amend KRS 65.013 to define terms; expand the prohibition on using tax dollars to advocate for or against a public question on the ballot to prohibit using any resources, and to explicitly apply prohibition to school districts, regional educational cooperatives, and recalls on a ballot; establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person found guilty of violating the prohibition; create a cause of action for a citizen aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition; establish a statute of limitations to commence suit and the appropriate venue; provide when the suit accrues; specify damages recoverable per violation; allow for class action; include a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person held civilly liable; amend KRS 48.025 and 132.017 to conform.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 6

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Steve RawlingsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate11
Greg ElkinsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate28
Matt DeneenPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate10
Don DouglasPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate22
Aaron ReedPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate7
Lindsey TichenorPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate6

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 155)
  2. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
  3. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
  4. received in Senate
  5. passed 80-19
  6. veto overridden
  7. posted for consideration of Governor's veto
  8. taken from Rules (H)
  9. to Rules (H)
  10. received in House
  11. passed 31-7
  12. veto overridden

Showing 12 most recent of 40 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source