By Sen. Jason Howell
Collaborating closely with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we’ve successfully crafted and passed a comprehensive biennial budget that places vital investments in education, public safety, and economic development at the forefront of our priorities.
A notable addition by the Senate to House Bill (HB) 1 leveraged Kentucky’s $3.7 billion budget reserve trust fund to fuel infrastructure enhancements and ignite economic growth. This legislation proposes injecting over $2.7 billion from the trust fund into Kentucky’s infrastructure over three fiscal years. Notably, it authorizes the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to allocate $250 million in 2024 and $200 million in 2025 from the trust fund to the road fund, bolstering projects aimed at fostering industrial growth, economic development, and enhancing quality of life, particularly in counties poised for significant population growth.
In our commitment to enhancing education, we have significantly boosted funding through the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) formula. By doing so, we are ensuring that every child in Kentucky has access to a quality education, regardless of their ZIP code. Specifically, we have increased the SEEK per-pupil base guarantee to $4,326 in FY 25 and to $4,586 in FY 26, representing a 3 percent increase from the FY 24 base amount of $4,200 and a 6 percent increase from the FY 25 amount of $4,326.
We are also making important strides in improving public safety. Through measures like HB 5, the “Safer Kentucky Act,” and Senate Bill (SB) 2, we are taking concrete steps to better protect our communities and support our youth.
SB 2 aims to fortify safety measures, promote trauma-informed care, and enhance mental health support in Kentucky schools through the introduction of the Kentucky Guardian program. Meanwhile, HB 5, targets repeat violent offenders, cracking down on crime at various levels and modernizing outdated criminal statutes. This comprehensive approach seeks to bolster public safety and strengthen community resilience.
Among the bills supporting our transportation infrastructure are HB 265, HB 266, and House Joint Resolution (HJR) 92.
HB 265, the Transportation Operating Budget, allocates $7.2 billion across FY 25 and 26, including