Applications are now open for the 2026 Summer Policy Institute.
More details and application here: kypolicy.org/spi/
05.03.2026 17:31
👍 2
🔁 1
💬 0
📌 0
Applications are now open for the 2026 Summer Policy Institute.
More details and application here: kypolicy.org/spi/
How does HB 500 affect your school district?
kypolicy.org/hb-500-house...
For more than 20 years, the legislature has suspended its own law and funded school transportation at a lower amount than required. That continues in the House budget that passed last week, but it can and should end this session. New @kypolicy.bsky.social analysis in the link below
NEW: The House budget (HB 500) continues the yearslong trend of underfundiang school transportation. This time, by $93 million in each of the next two years.
Meeting this obligation is a key step toward adequately and equitably funding Kentucky public schools.
Our statement on the House passage of HB 500, the House budget
Who would be harmed by the health insurance caps in HB 500?
More than 300,000 people receive benefits through the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan (KEHP). That’s 6.9% of Kentucky’s population. They work for 614 employers in every county of the state.
As introduced, the upcoming state budget includes major cuts to state-funded programs as lawmakers contend with falling revenues from income tax cuts.
Medicaid has become a prime target, but these cuts are unnecessary and would leave Kentucky worse off.
kypolicy.org/state-budget...
Everything you need to know about the proposed health care cuts in HB 500, the House budget bill
kypolicy.org/understandin...
Great to be on @myoldkypod.bsky.social last night to talk about the public employee health insurance debacle and the harm of state income tax cuts. Thanks @robertkahne.com and Jazmin myoldkentuckypodcast.podbean.com/e/jason-bail...
Grateful for @jbaileyky.bsky.social and @kypolicy.bsky.social and the work they do in analyzing policies and effectively getting that information out to the people!
This graphic above shows a sample of what districts would face. The link below has a table with all of the state's districts.
kypolicy.org/heres-how-mu...
This would result in a more than $100 million reduction in state payments to local schools by 2028, putting even more pressure on local districts that are already struggling with rising prices and decades of disinvestment.
As introduced, HB 500 would cut school transportation funding and freeze the guaranteed base funding level used to determine payments to school districts under the SEEK formula.
HB 500, the House budget bill, doesn't just propose major cuts to the health care of school and state employees, it proposes major cuts to education generally.
More on HB 500, the House budget bill: kypolicy.org/house-budget...
Kentucky teachers could see a $486 monthly cut in health benefits. Bus drivers could see a $535 monthly cut. State troopers a $394 monthly cut.
Health insurance premiums for state and school employees could explode by *78%* because of language added to the House budget, having a "devastating impact on all...members and their dependents," according to a new letter from the Personnel Cabinet & reported by @austin-horn.bsky.social 1/
In a new op-ed, Jason Bailey writes that lawmakers face a choice with the state budget.
Do they underfund public services to trigger more income tax reductions, which is what they're signaling with the first draft of the budget?
Or do they start putting Kentuckians over cuts?
The state budget allows us to build a better Kentucky, but the current House proposal fails to put Kentuckians over cuts.
The House budget chair recently invited advocates to put their “best case forward.” That’s what we'll do February 25.
Join us: actionnetwork.org/events/kentu...
A choice is hidden in the pages of Kentucky’s next state budget kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/11/a...
NEW: As JCPS makes cuts to address a $188 million budget shortfall, our new analysis shows the district is losing $186 million a year because state SEEK payments have not kept pace with inflation.
Commentary by @jbaileyky.bsky.social @kypolicy.bsky.social
A choice is hidden in the pages of Kentucky’s next state budget.
Who is Kentucky for?
kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/11/a...
Important in-depth, fact-based budget analysis from @jbaileyky.bsky.social of @kypolicy.bsky.social: kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/11/a...
SEEK payments to JCPS are down an inflation-adjusted 45% since 2008. The House budget proposal would make it 58% by 2028.
The state keeps requiring the JCPS board to shoulder more of the cost of funding schools, even as lawmakers try to take away the its authority to govern.
Our analysis of the House budget proposal: kypolicy.org/house-budget...
