Attention Investors:
GA 2026 Legislative Update: Week Two
Another week of the 2026 Legislative session has passed. At close on Friday the General Assembly wrapped day nine of the 60-day session. The bill count has risen to 421. There were a handful of committee hearings this week that reported several bills in their respective chambers, however, by week’s end only one bill had passed either chamber. Senate Bill 7, to address the regional drivers’ licensing system. Here are some highlights from the last week:
Second Chance Licensure
House Bill 185 sponsored by Rep. Emily Callaway, this bill focuses on getting those with a history of criminal involvement back into the workforce. The bill would require employers to disclose if the applicant’s criminal history would disqualify them from the opportunity in advance to eliminate unnecessary expenses for training and certification. GLI has supported this legislation in recent years as a way to increase workforce participation and hopes to see its passage this session.
Policy Trends
Housing: This session is expected to be a big session for Housing. The legislature has been opining on potential solutions for the statewide housing shortage over the last two sessions in the Kentucky Housing Taskforce. This taskforce heard from local leaders and housing experts across the state on how the housing shortage is impacting growth in Kentucky and has published a list of recommendations. We could see legislation this session that creates areas development districts, housing tax credits, and revolving infrastructure loan funds for cities and businesses to use for readying areas for development. GLI is tracking all housing legislation as it’s filed this session. For a list of relevant bills filed so far, see here.
Tax Incentives: GLI and our partners are working with legislators to ensure Kentucky’s economic development incentives remain competitive as the state moves away from the personal income tax. This session, GLI is advocating for the expansion of eligible costs within the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program. The KBI program is critical for attracting and expanding companies, but its current structure excludes many of Kentucky’s fastest-growing sectors, like business services and technology. By expanding certain eligible cost criteria of the program to include things like lab equipment, software, and leasehold improvements, Kentucky can better attract high-wage employers and diversify its economy for long-term growth.
Talent Attraction: GLI has been working with stakeholders, the legislature’s 2024 Workforce Attraction and Retention Interim Taskforce and consulting firm DCI to develop a budget ask for the state’s talent attraction campaign. This builds on the $250,000 allocated in the 2024 session to hire the consultant and build out a plan for a talent attraction campaign. This would fund a statewide talent attraction campaign and have grant availability for regions doing their own talent work. Our team testified in front of the Economic Development committee on November 20. You can watch that testimony here.
Local Update
Over the last couple weeks Louisville Metro Council held their annual reorganization meeting including the election of their council and caucus leadership, and chairs of committees. For a full review of these results check out the latest Policy Distilled.