Senate Bill 59

Actions | Amendments
Last Action 03/19/26: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026
Title AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources.
Bill Documents Current
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Statements Corrections Impact
Local Mandate
Additional Fiscal Impact Statements Exist
Bill Request Number 25
Sponsors S. Rawlings, G. Elkins, M. Deneen, D. Douglas, A. Reed, L. Tichenor
Summary of Original Version Amend KRS 65.013 to define terms; expand the prohibition on using tax dollars to advocate for or against a public question on the ballot to prohibit using any resources, and to explicitly apply prohibition to school districts, regional educational cooperatives, and recalls on a ballot; establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person found guilty of violating the prohibition; create a cause of action for a citizen aggrieved by a violation of the prohibition; establish a statute of limitations to commence suit and the appropriate venue; provide when the suit accrues; specify damages recoverable per violation; allow for class action; include a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for a person held civilly liable; amend KRS 48.025 and 132.017 to conform.
Index Headings of Original Version Education, Elementary And Secondary - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Local Government - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Local Mandate - Public question, advocacy violations, culpability, establishment
Public Officers And Employees - Public question, advocacy violations, culpability, establishment
Special Districts - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Special Purpose Governmental Entities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
State Agencies - Public question, advocacy violation penalties, establishment
Cities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Corrections Impact - Public question, advocacy violations, fines, Class A misdemeanor
Counties - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Crimes And Punishments - Public question, advocacy violations, fines, Class A misdemeanor
Jump to Proposed Amendments Senate Committee Substitute 1 with Fiscal Impact Statements
House Committee Substitute 1 with Fiscal Impact Statements
House Floor Amendment 1
House Floor Amendment 2
Votes Vote History

Actions

Top | Amendments
01/09/26
  • introduced in Senate
  • to Committee on Committees (S)
02/20/26
  • to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
02/25/26
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
02/26/26
  • 2nd reading, to Rules
03/04/26
  • posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 05 2026
03/05/26
  • 3rd reading, passed 28-9 with Committee Substitute (1)
03/06/26
  • received in House
  • to Committee on Committees (H)
03/10/26
  • to State Government (H)
03/12/26
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
  • floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
03/13/26
  • 2nd reading, to Rules
03/17/26
  • floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute
03/19/26
  • posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026

Proposed Amendments

Top | Actions
Amendment Senate Committee Substitute 1
Fiscal Impact Statements Corrections Impact to Senate Committee Substitute 1
Fiscal Note to Senate Committee Substitute 1
Local Mandate to Senate Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions, except remove original criminal penalties and establish new fines and classify a third or subsequent violation as a Class A misdemeanor; exclude volunteers as resources; remove provisions creating a private cause of action and the related waiver of immunity; remove provisions related to recall petitions; include provision exempting educational television; include exemption for advocating on public employees' own time and with their own resources.
Index Headings Cities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Counties - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Crimes And Punishments - Public question, advocacy violations, fines, Class A misdemeanor
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Local Government - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Public Officers And Employees - Public question, advocacy violations, culpability, establishment
Special Districts - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
Special Purpose Governmental Entities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, penalties
State Agencies - Public question, advocacy violation penalties, establishment

Amendment House Committee Substitute 1
Fiscal Impact Statements Corrections Impact to House Committee Substitute 1
Local Mandate to House Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions; provide an exception from the advocacy restrictions for associations advocating on behalf of its members.
Index Headings Cities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Counties - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Local Government - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Public Officers And Employees - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Special Districts - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
Special Purpose Governmental Entities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions
State Agencies - Public question, advocacy restrictions, associations, exceptions

Amendment House Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor M. Lehman
Summary Remove the "or impartial" from all sections.
Index Headings Cities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Corrections Impact - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Counties - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Crimes And Punishments - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Local Government - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Local Mandate - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Public Officers And Employees - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Special Districts - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
Special Purpose Governmental Entities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal
State Agencies - Public question, advocacy restrictions, impartial removal

Amendment House Floor Amendment 2
Sponsor T. Roberts
Summary Remove sections 1, 2, and 3 and replace with substantially similar language in all sections; remove "school district" definition from KRS 65.013 section and insert in KRS 48.025; remove "in partial or impartial terms, for or against" from all sections.
Index Headings Cities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Corrections Impact - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Counties - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Crimes And Punishments - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Education, Elementary And Secondary - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Local Government - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Local Mandate - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Public Officers And Employees - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Special Districts - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
Special Purpose Governmental Entities - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal
State Agencies - Public question, advocacy restrictions, partiality removal

Last updated: 3/19/2026 8:27 PM (EDT)