SEN. BRANDON STORM’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Week 10 of the 2026 Regular Session
Before sharing this week’s legislative update, I want to recognize the loss of Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Glendale, Kentucky, who died after being gravely injured during a March 1 attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Staff Sgt. Pennington served as a unit supply specialist with the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado, supporting systems that help provide missile warning, GPS tracking and satellite communications for our armed forces. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and was just 26 years old.
The Kentucky Senate honored his service this week with a resolution recognizing his sacrifice. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow service members as we remember a young Kentuckian who gave his life in service to our nation.
Legislative Update: The final stretch of the session
Week 10 of the 2026 Legislative Session brought an increase in committee hearings and floor votes as lawmakers work to move legislation through both chambers before the session concludes.
At this stage of the process, bills approved by the Senate and House are sent to the governor for review. The governor may sign legislation into law or veto it. If a veto occurs, the General Assembly has the authority to override it during the final days of the session.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are also working on the most significant legislation of the session — the state’s two-year budget and two-year road plan.
The House recently advanced its version of the budget through House Bill 500, and the Senate is currently reviewing that proposal and preparing potential changes. Once the Senate acts, the bill will likely move to a conference committee made up of members from both chambers. That process allows lawmakers to finalize the details before sending the budget to the governor.
Bills approved in the Senate
Several measures I’m sponsoring also moved forward in the legislative process this week.
Senate Bill (SB) 170 advanced from the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation creates a four-year SOAR pilot program in ten school districts aimed at addressing habitual truancy earlier by bringing families, schools, and local partners together to develop diversion plans and improve data reporting. The goal is to intervene sooner so students stay engaged in school and avoid deeper involvement in the justice system.
In the Senate, my SB 333 also passed. The bill directs proceeds from confiscated firearms auctions to support grants for local law enforcement agencies, prioritizing the purchase and replacement of body armor for officers. It ensures resources generated from forfeited firearms are reinvested into protecting the men and women who serve our communities.
Several additional measures I sponsored also received Senate approval this week. SB 312 expands the authority of certified court security officers to assist with transporting individuals in custody or under court order, helping courts operate more efficiently. SB 66 updates Kentucky’s impaired driving statutes by clarifying consequences for refusing a blood test and updating the list of substances subject to DUI enforcement.
The Senate also passed SB 221, which makes it a felony to knowingly buy or sell human remains once they have been authorized for burial or cremation, helping ensure families’ wishes are respected and loved ones are treated with dignity. Lawmakers also approved SB 291, establishing a statewide licensing system for secondary metal recyclers and strengthening reporting requirements to help deter copper theft and protect critical infrastructure.
I’m pleased to see these measures advancing and appreciate the thoughtful support they received in the Senate. Serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I’m grateful for the collaboration of colleagues, stakeholders, and community partners who help shape these policies.
I look forward to continuing the process and hope to see these measures ultimately become law.
Below is an update on other legislation approved by the Senate this week.
SB 6: Appropriates $150 million in FY 2027 to support research consortiums through the Endowed Research Fund administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education.
SB 19: Symbolically designates the indigo milk cap, a mushroom native to Kentucky forests, as the official state mushroom to recognize the commonwealth’s natural heritage.
SB 34: Allows property owners to name a beneficiary to receive a home or vehicle at death without going through probate while preserving existing legal protections.
SB 41: Requires most local tax increases exceeding four percent above the compensating rate to be approved by voters while preserving limited growth without triggering an election.
SB 53: Clarifies that local planning commissions and boards may hold public hearings and accept public comment when reviewing development plans and subdivision plats.
SB 65: Nullifies several administrative regulations deemed deficient by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee, reinforcing legislative oversight of agency rulemaking.
SB 97: Establishes minimum insurance coverage standards for prosthetic and orthotic devices to ensure patients have access to medically necessary equipment.
SB 100: Strengthens the oversight authority of the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission in reviewing Kentucky’s energy supply and major utility decisions.
SB 116: Updates statutes governing physician assistants to support more efficient collaboration within physician-led health care teams and improve access to care.
SB 133: Updates audit and financial reporting requirements for certain local entities, raising thresholds and allowing flexible audit schedules for qualifying entities.
SB 198: Updates statutes governing the Office of the Attorney General, including background check requirements for staff accessing federal tax data and administrative law clarifications.
SB 219: Establishes a $3 fee on deferred deposit transactions to support statewide reporting and data collection requirements for those businesses.
SB 226: Allows agents guaranteeing prices under pre-need burial contracts to charge a one-time administrative fee of up to 15 percent once the contract is fully paid.
SB 261: Allows local governments to maintain pedestrian swinging bridges used for recreation and provides liability protections for cooperating landowners.
SB 262: Proposes a constitutional amendment allowing ballot questions to summarize amendments rather than requiring the full text on the ballot.
SB 323: Requires subpoenas for medical records from non-party health care providers to be served at least 14 days before records are due.
SB 343: Reorganizes the Department of Workers’ Claims by moving it to administrative attachment under the Office of the Governor and establishing new leadership and operational structures.
SJR 62: Directs the Division of Water to study permitting and regulatory requirements for removing debris from waterways after flooding and recommend ways to streamline cleanup.
SJR 116: Directs Kentucky universities to collaborate on solutions to address the state’s physician shortage and expand access to care in underserved communities.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you in Frankfort. 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.
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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.
