Kentucky Association of Counties

KACo Logo

Kentucky Association of Counties

Kentucky Association of Counties

Services

County Champion

SPOTLIGHT

#Williams & Towe Law Group, PLLC

The County Voice


KACo has a strong voice representing Kentucky counties at the state and federal levels. We work to promote counties first, preserve county decision making and protect counties from cost shifting and preemption of authority.

KACo Advocacy Team


Jim Henderson
Executive Director/CEO

Shellie Hampton
Director of Government Affairs

Kayla Carter Smith
Policy Analyst
2026 Legislative Priority: Reshaping the Shared Responsibility of County Jails

Kentucky county jails are at a crisis point, with fiscal court subsidies rising more than 76% in six years and counties forced to raise taxes or cut essential services just to keep their facilities operating.

KACo has published a one-page document with key points of HB 557, our comprehensive jails proposal.

Know Your Legislator

Find listings for Kentucky's legislators by chamber including a short biography, committee assignments and contact information for both their Capitol office and home district.

We encourage members to meet with legislators in their district prior to the start of the legislative session to update them on issues important to counties and how those issues will affect their district in particular. During the session, stay engaged and visit legislators in Frankfort as bills make their way through the legislative process.

Legislative News

Voter ID bill passes House, returns to Senate
The House passed SB2 by a vote of 62-35. The bill now returns to the Senate, where it passed by a vote of 29-9 in late January.
EMS funding bill supported by KACo advances to Senate
A bill that would allow Kentucky’s struggling emergency medical services statewide to benefit from enhanced federal Medicaid payments for ground ambulance runs has passed the Kentucky House.
KACo testifies in support of HB475 to give local governments more revenue flexibility
HB475, which would amend the Kentucky Constitution to expand the ability of the General Assembly to provide more revenue options for counties, passed out of the committee 15-0 (with two passes) Thursday, Feb. 27.
2020 Legislative Session Update: Week 7
Review of activity from the seventh week of the 2020 General Assembly.
Changes to election procedures approved in House
A bill that would change Kentucky mail-in absentee ballot procedures and clarify that more than one voting precinct may vote at a single location has passed the state House.
Legislation to expand revenue options for counties introduced in House
A bill to allow the General Assembly the option to help counties restructure their revenue options has been filed in the House by Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Edmonson, Warren).
House votes to approve legalization of medical marijuana
For the first time in Kentucky history, a bill to legalize medical marijuana came to a vote on the floor of the Kentucky House. Apparently the first time was a charm.
SB4, which would change how state selects Transportation Secretary, moves forward
A bill that would pave the way to changes in how Kentucky hires transportation secretaries passed out of the state Senate today.
Kentucky Association of Counties
400 Englewood Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-223-7667 • 800-264-5226 • Fax: 502-223-1502
Contact Us