Last week was important for the future of college athletics in Kentucky. Joined by University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and University of Louisville Athletics Director Josh Heird, I presented Senate Bill (SB) 3 to the Senate Education Committee to ensure our universities remain competitive as the landscape of name, image, and likeness (NIL). This bill is about positioning Kentucky at the forefront of NIL changes to protect our student-athletes and secure the future of the programs that mean so much to our commonwealth.
When I stood before the committee this week, I had my parents and my daughter, McLean, by my side. My parents instilled a love for sports in me. As a father, I see firsthand the impact athletics can have on young people—whether it’s teaching discipline, teamwork, or the value of hard work. I am grateful that my mother Donna was the women’s basketball coach at Campbellsville University, the all-time winningest coach, and an inductee into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
SB 3 reflects that same commitment to opportunity and fairness. It aligns our state laws with national standards, ensures our universities can directly support student-athletes, and provides the protections they need as they navigate NIL agreements. This is about more than just policy—it’s about keeping Kentucky competitive, giving our student-athletes every chance to succeed, and preserving the integrity of the programs we all take pride in. I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from our university leaders, my colleagues in the Senate, and the people of Kentucky who recognize what’s at stake.
Several bills cleared the Senate in week five.
• SB 4 establishes comprehensive policies for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) within Kentucky’s government. It defines key AI-related terms, tasks the Commonwealth Office of Technology with setting policy standards. It creates an Artificial Intelligence Governance Committee to ensure AI use remains ethical, transparent, and accountable. The legislation also prioritizes public disclosure, employee training, and data privacy protections. Additionally, it addresses the role of AI in elections by defining terms related to synthetic media and electioneering communications, creating legal protections against deceptive AI-generated content in political messaging. The bill includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.
• SB 25 updates Kentucky’s land use laws to improve development, zoning, and planning. It expands the types of projects that qualify for funding, including new housing developments and public facilities. The bill also changes how people can challenge zoning decisions so only property owners directly affected by changes can file appeals. These updates aim to make the land use process more efficient and fair.
• SB 27 proposes the creation of a state Parkinson’s Disease Research Registry to be managed by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. This registry would collect essential data to support research, enhance treatment options, and help identify factors contributing to the disease. With over 548 Kentuckians lost to Parkinson’s in 2022, the bill aims to advance understanding of the disease, improve patient outcomes, and address its growing impact on public health. Similar registries in other states have helped identify at-risk populations, track disease patterns, and investigate links to environmental and genetic factors, offering hope for more effective interventions.
• SB 50 allows two or more counties to create a multi-county taxing district by following existing procedures outlined in Kentucky law. This change gives counties more flexibility in forming special districts to address shared needs, such as public services, infrastructure, or other regional projects.
•SB 19 requires all public schools to observe a one- to two-minute moment of silence at the start of each school day. Students must remain seated and silent, free to pray, meditate, or reflect without instruction from school staff. The bill also requires parental notification.
SB 22 updates licensing and enforcement standards for cosmetologists and estheticians to improve access to the profession while strengthening oversight. The bill expands testing opportunities for individuals seeking licensure and allows professionals from U.S. territories to obtain reciprocal licenses in Kentucky. It also enhances enforcement by permitting penalties beyond warnings for businesses that knowingly employ unlicensed nail technicians. Additionally, it removes the requirement that the Board of Cosmetology’s executive director be a licensed cosmetologist which broadens the pool of qualified candidates for the role.
• SB 57 targets excessive speeding while funding key health care initiatives. It defines “super speeders” as drivers exceeding the speed limit by 25 mph on any highway. Offenders face a $200 fine, with revenues allocated to trauma care (40 percent), rural hospital preservation (20 percent), EMS education (30 percent), and school AEDs (10 percent). Unpaid fines will result in license suspension. These measures aim to improve road safety and support critical health care services statewide.
• SB 60 protects religious freedom by prohibiting government actions substantially burdening an individual’s religious exercise. It defines substantial burdens, including withholding benefits, imposing penalties, or restricting access to programs or facilities. Exceptions are allowed only if the government proves a compelling interest and uses the least restrictive means. Individuals with violated religious rights can seek relief, including damages and legal fees. The bill applies to all government actions, past and future, and waives governmental immunity for violations. A severability clause ensures the law remains effective even if parts are invalidated.
• SB 65 nullifies two administrative regulations related to Medicaid services that were found deficient during the 2024 legislative interim. The bill ensures that unapproved or problematic policies are ineffective by voiding these regulations. The bill also includes an emergency clause to make it effective immediately upon passage and prevent regulatory uncertainty or disruptions in Medicaid services.
• SB 83 ensures KEES eligibility for homeschool graduates by allowing a mechanism for ACT scores to determine GPA and align them with graduates of certified schools who qualify based on GPA and ACT performance. Currently, homeschooled students receive only ACT-based awards, which limits their scholarship potential. This update recognizes their academic achievements and provides equal access to KEES funds so all students, regardless of educational path, have the same opportunities for postsecondary support.
• SB 71 grants county judge/executives, with fiscal court approval, the authority to appoint public library board members and fill vacancies without input from unelected boards or state agencies to increase local control and accountability.
• SB 100 requires tobacco and vape retailers to obtain a state license, with annual fees and escalating fines for underage sales up to license revocation after four violations. Distributors cannot supply revoked retailers; half of fines fund youth vaping education. The Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will enforce the law with unannounced inspections.
