Kentucky legislators file new bills for 2026 session

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Kentucky state legislators have filed several bills for consideration during the 2026 general session, addressing driver’s licensing, reproductive health care, education oversight and tax relief.

Driver’s license changes

Representative Savannah Maddox filed House Bill 162 to return driver’s licensing to Circuit Clerk Offices from state regional offices. The bill claims the previous switch to the regional model created problems with accessibility, reliable service and longer wait times.

Reproductive health protections

House Democratic Caucus Chair Lindsey Burke filed House Bill 23 aimed at protecting medical privacy and preventing criminalization of reproductive health care. The bill does not change existing abortion laws but clarifies that researching abortion, assisting with travel, providing information, or offering medical support related to pregnancy and reproductive health cannot be grounds for investigation or punishment.

The bill also adds protection for licensed practitioners from disciplinary action and prevents agencies from interfering with traveling to get an abortion.

Education district oversight

Representative Jared Bauman filed House Bill 11, which claims to strengthen local control on education. For any school district containing 50 percent or more of the state’s underperforming schools classified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement schools, the bill would require local legislators to vote on whether to split the district into two and create new district maps.

As of 2025, the commonwealth has 53 CSI schools. Forty-one of these schools are in Jefferson County, the district Bauman represents.

If the vote passes in the local government, it would then go to a vote by the people. If passed by all, the new districts would have two years to open. The goal is to hold school districts accountable for the educational outcomes of students.

Tax-free weekend proposal

House Bill 175, filed by Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton, would establish a yearly state sales tax-free weekend in August to help families save with back-to-school shopping. Items like clothing and personal goods would need to fall under specific price limits, but would apply to both in-store and online sales.

Other states neighboring Kentucky, including Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri, have similar tax-free weekends.