The 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly is well underway. After a slow start, a number of bills of interest to the Catholic Conference and the Catholic community have been introduced and are beginning to move. CCK supports the following bills:
SB 122 - Last year, a priority of CCK was the Family Preservation and Accountability Act, which is an effort to address Kentucky's high rate of incarceration of parents and the costs to families and children that generates. It would encourage alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders who are active parents. Though it passed the House easily, time ran out before the Senate considered the bill. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported SB 122 to the full Senate and a vote there could occur as soon as next week. It will then need to pass the House, as well.
HB 88 - Earlier this year, Congress created a federal tax credit program, known as the Educational Choice for Children Act. The federal tax credit would offset donations of up to $1,700 to scholarship granting organizations for needs-based scholarships for a wide array of educational services for students in both public and private schools. In order for kids in each state to benefit, the state must opt in. HB 88 would opt Kentucky in to the program.
HB 333 - During the last session, a proposal was brought forward to allow religious organizations to build affordable housing on church-owned property with a streamlined approval process. That proposal is back as HB 333 and could receive a hearing very soon.
There are many other bills, some positive and others of concern. In future emails we will highlight more of those and do our best to keep you informed. You can always call and leave a message with your legislators at 800-372-7181. You can also use the Find Your Legislator page to send your senator or representative an email.
In case you missed it, Kentucky's bishops issued a joint statement on Epiphany, "We Stand With Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters."
Thank you for your commitment to Faithful Citizenship!