SEN. BRANDON STORM’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week nine of the 2026 Regular Session
Several pieces of legislation continued moving forward this week as the General Assembly works through the final weeks of the 2026 Legislative Session. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, much of my focus has been on legislation aimed at strengthening Kentucky law and ensuring our legal system continues to serve families and communities effectively.
Passing a balanced budget remains one of the General Assembly’s most important responsibilities during even-numbered years. The House has now advanced its initial proposal, and the Senate will begin its review in the coming days. As that process moves forward, my focus remains on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while ensuring the core services Kentucky families depend on remain strong.
Earlier this session, the Senate Majority Caucus outlined 10 priority pieces of legislation focused on addressing key challenges facing our commonwealth. All ten of those measures have now been filed, and several have already passed the Senate and are under consideration in the House of Representatives.
These proposals reflect months of work during the interim and were shaped by conversations with constituents, community leaders and stakeholders across Kentucky. They focus on strengthening education, encouraging economic development and ensuring government remains accountable to the people it serves.
In addition to these broader priorities, several bills I am working on have continued advancing this week.
I recently filed Senate Bill (SB) 289, Wynter’s Law, to strengthen Kentucky’s Amber Alert system by clarifying activation standards, reinforcing the Kentucky State Police’s authority to issue alerts and improving coordination when a child is abducted or reported missing and endangered. When time is critical, our laws should make it easier—not harder—to bring a child home safely.
Another measure moving forward is SB 221, which advanced unanimously from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill clarifies that knowingly purchasing, selling or transferring a corpse—or any part of one—after it has been authorized for burial or cremation would be a Class D felony, helping ensure human remains are treated with dignity and respect under Kentucky law.
Furthermore, the Senate has passed my SB 50, which modernizes Kentucky’s probate and trust laws to reflect modern estate planning practices, including recognizing electronic wills, and strengthening privacy protections for families during the probate process. The bill now moves to the House for consideration.
Below are several other bills approved by the Senate this week.
SB 57: Establishes a Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program to prepare Kentucky for advanced nuclear energy development.
SB 59: Clarifies that government funds and resources cannot be used to advocate for or against ballot measures.
SB 94: Ensures motor vehicle dealers are fairly compensated for warranty and recall repairs and creates a standardized labor rate process.
SB 125: Establishes a clearer process to identify and treat youth in the juvenile justice system with serious behavioral health needs.
SB 145: Updates statutes governing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and modernizes licensing provisions.
SB 156: Strengthens Kentucky law by clearly prohibiting marriage for anyone under age 18.
SB 173: Establishes a formal legislative review process for Kentucky’s Medicaid and CHIP state plans.
SB 177: Updates licensure standards for speech-language pathologists and assistants to reflect current professional practices.
SB 191: Creates a pilot program encouraging child-care providers to improve kindergarten readiness outcomes.
SB 192: Allows small cities to use simplified accounting methods to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining transparency.
SB 193: Clarifies court authority and timelines when handling probation or supervision violations.
SB 197: Creates a tiered county system to better target economic development incentives toward distressed communities.
SB 245: Updates licensing requirements and enforcement tools for retailers selling tobacco, nicotine and vapor products.
SJR 54: Encourages state agencies to expand enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Frankfort, and please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact my office at 502-564-8100 or Brandon.Storm@kylegislature.gov if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas. Learn more about bills, committees, and the Kentucky General Assembly at www.legislature.ky.gov.
Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, represents the 21st Senate District, including Casey, Lincoln, Laurel, and Rockcastle Counties. He serves as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and as Senate co-chair of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Storm is also a member of the Senate Committees on Transportation and on Banking and Insurance. He serves as a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice.
