Kentucky
General Assembly

02/11/26	introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
03/19/26	to Appropriations & Revenue (S) taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S) 1st reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
03/20/26	taken from Appropriations & Revenue (S) 2nd reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (S)
03/25/26	reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) taken from Rules placed in the Orders of the Day passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
03/26/26	3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) received in House to Committee on Committees (H) taken from Committee on Committees (H) 1st reading returned to Committee on Committees (H) to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
03/31/26	taken from Appropriations & Revenue (H) 2nd reading returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H) floor amendments (1), (2-title), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (13) filed

Amendment	Senate Committee Substitute 1
Fiscal Impact Statement	Actuarial Analysis to Senate Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Delete original provisions; create new sections of KRS Chapter 164 to define Kentucky State University's (KSU) mission as a land grant polytechnic institution; require the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) to approve KSU expenditures more than $5,000 and provide designated financial oversight of KSU; require KSU to cooperate with the financial oversight of CPE; require KSU to transition to EMARS by July 1, 2027; prohibit KSU from incurring a budget deficit during the financial exigency; prohibit organizations that have public-private leases with KSU from entering into any such leases with KSU or any other state agency after the effective date of this Act; require KSU to conduct a review of academic programs, eliminate programs to align with the mission of a polytechnic institution in accordance with the requirements of the accrediting body of KSU, and terminate staff as necessary; prohibit enrolling new students in programs subject to closure by the 2026-2027 school year; close all but 10 in-person academic programs with limited exceptions; provide that KSU shall abide by all instructions required to maintain institutional accreditation; create admissions criteria for KSU; prohibit KSU from enrolling an individual that owes more than $1,000 to KSU; provide that the KSU president has sole discretion to readmit a former student; direct KSU to diligently collect debts and refer all debts in excess of $1,000 due and owing for 60 days to the Department of Revenue for collection; grant KSU the unfettered right to intercept tax refunds; require KSU to intercept a tax refund for any debt in excess of $1,000; provide that the Department of Revenue shall not decline withholding a tax refund referred by KSU; amend KRS 164.290 to remove the reference to the mission of KSU, which was reestablished in Section 1 of the Act; require fraternities and sororities to reapply for charter recognition; EMERGENCY.
Index Headings	Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University expenditures, CPE approval, requirement Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, reorganization to a polytechnic intuition Actuarial Analysis - Kentucky State University expenditures Education, Finance - Financial exigency, Kentucky State University, declaration Education, Finance - Kentucky State University expenditures, CPE approval, requirement Education, Higher - Kentucky State University expenditures, CPE approval, requirement Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, reorganization to a polytechnic instruction Effective Dates, Emergency - Kentucky State University, financial exigency declaration, reorganization to polytechnic institution Personnel And Employment - Kentucky State University, personnel, reduction of staff in restructuring to polytechnic institution State Agencies - Council on Postsecondary Education, KSU expenditures and program review, approval, requirement

Amendment	Senate Committee Amendment 1
Sponsor	C. McDaniel
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Title Amendments - SB 185

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor	C. McDaniel
Summary	Retain original provisions except increase the spending authority of Kentucky State University from $5,000 to $20,000; remove the in-person enrollment cap and establish a target enrollment at that number.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Kentucky State University, spending authority, $20,000 Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, spending authority, $20,000 Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, enrollment target, 1,000 in-person students Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, spending authority, $20,000 Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, enrollment target, 1,000 in-person students

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 1
Piggyback?	Yes
Sponsor	V. Grossl
Summary	Retain original provisions; amend KRS 164.2951 to require public postsecondary institutions to publicly post their statewide course classification system and transfer eligibility information; require the council to publish on its website a list of the available transfer pathways and the institutions that participate; require the Council on Postsecondary Education to study and report on statewide transfer pathways by December 1, 2026.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Statewide course classification system, online resource, requirements Reports Mandated - Council on Postsecondary Education, statewide transfer pathways, December 1, 2026 State Agencies - Council on Postsecondary Education, statewide transfer pathways Universities And Colleges - Statewide course classification system, online resource, requirements Piggybacked Bills - HB 94, HCS 1

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 2
Sponsor	V. Grossl
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Title Amendments - SB 185/GA

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 3
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions; extend notice for Kentucky State University staff and faculty upon termination from 30 days to 90 days; require Kentucky State University to terminate tenured staff in accordance with university policy.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, staff terminations, procedures State Employees - Kentucky State University, staff terminations, procedures Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, staff terminations, procedures

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 4
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions, except remove requirement for fraternities and sororities to reapply for charter recognition.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, Greek life charters, preservation of Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, Greek life charters, preservation of

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 5
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions except the prohibition of organizations that have public-private leases with KSU from entering into any such leases with KSU or any other state agency after the effective date of this Act
Index Headings	Contracts - Organizations with P-3 leases with Kentucky State University, remove prohibition of future contracts Education, Higher - Organizations with P-3 leases with Kentucky State University, remove prohibition of future contracts Universities And Colleges - Organizations with P-3 leases with Kentucky State University, remove prohibition of future contracts

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 6
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provision's except remove deletions from KRS 164.290 to retain the description of Kentucky State University and its mission and add polytechnic programs to the existing mission.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, description and mission Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, description and mission

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 7
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain, original provisions except reduce the minimum ACT score for Kentucky State University admission from 18 to 16; permit the Council on Postsecondary Education to establish alternative admissions criteria.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, admissions criteria, alternative criteria established by CPE State Agencies - Council on Postsecondary Education, KSU alternative admissions criteria, establishment of Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, admissions criteria, alternative criteria established by CPE

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 8
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions, except extend the timeframe for a due and owing outstanding balance in excess of $1,000 to prevent enrollment or continued enrollment at Kentucky State University from 30 days to 60 days; establish that an amount is not due if a student is making payments in accordance with a payment plan approved by the university; extend the timeframe for a due and owing outstanding balance in excess of $1,000 to be referred to the Department of Revenue from 60 days to 90 days.
Index Headings	Education, Finance - Kentucky State University, debt referrals to Department of Revenue, after 60 days Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, continued enrollment, over $1,000 due and owing for 60 days Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, continued enrollment, over $1,000 due and owing for 60 days

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 9
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions, except remove requirement for fraternities and sororities to reapply for charter recognition.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, Greek life charters, preservation of Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, Greek life charters, preservation of

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 10
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions except authorize certification from the Council on Postsecondary Education to terminate the financial exigency declared for Kentucky State University.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, state of financial exigency, authority of CPE to certify termination Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, state of financial exigency, authority of CPE to certify termination State Agencies - Council on Postsecondary Education, authority to terminate financial exigency status of KSU

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 11
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions; increase the maximum number of programs that do not otherwise meet a designated exception from 10 to 15.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, in-person program offerings, increase maximum number from 10 to 15 Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, in-person program offerings, increase maximum number from 10 to 15

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 12
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions; emphasize mission of Kentucky State University as a liberal studies institution.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, institutional mission, liberal studies Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, institutional mission, liberal studies

Amendment	House Floor Amendment 13
Sponsor	J. Watkins
Summary	Retain original provisions; emphasize mission of Kentucky State University as an 1890 land-grant university and Historically Black College or University.
Index Headings	Education, Higher - Kentucky State University, institutional mission, 1890 land-grant institution and HBCU Universities And Colleges - Kentucky State University, institutional mission, 1890 land-grant institution and HBCU