Kentucky Association of Counties

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Kentucky Association of Counties

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

HB 2 - Workers' Compensation
The Senate State and Local Government Committee passed House Bill 2 by a vote of 7-4, Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in Frankfort. HB 2 updates workers’ compensation laws in Kentucky. It was sponsored by Rep. Adam Koenig.
House-Senate committee
A House-Senate conference committee will soon begin meeting to hammer out agreements in the versions of the state budget bills approved by each chamber.
HB2 passes Senate
Legislation to update the state’s workers’ compensation system to provide better care for injured workers and more affordable workers’ compensation costs for Kentucky businesses passed out of the Senate Thursday evening with a 23-14 vote, sending it back to the House for concurrence.
No private prisons
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - The House-Senate Conference Committee trying to come to an agreement on a two-year state budget removed funding for private prisons sought by Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration on Monday.
pension life support
Senate Bill 1, the controversial plan to overhaul Kentucky’s ailing pension system, is still on “life support,” according to its sponsor.
TVA goes to floor
House Bill 114 passed the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Tuesday morning. It now heads to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as Thursday.
Budget Work
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - Kentucky lawmakers announced a schedule change to the calendar for the 2018 regular session on Tuesday afternoon.
budget progress
FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – A day-long meeting by the House-Senate Conference Committee on Wednesday, but no agreement on a two-year state spending plan.