Representative Chris Lewis - House District 29

07/10/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

A glance at Kentucky’s billion-dollar tourism industry
Kentucky's tourism industry continues to be one of the Commonwealth's strongest economic success stories. Throughout the 2020s, tourism has experienced remarkable momentum, with 2025 marking the state's fourth consecutive year of record-breaking growth. The industry not only showcases Kentucky's natural beauty, history, culture, and hospitality to millions of visitors each year, but it also serves as a powerful economic engine that supports communities in every corner of the Commonwealth.

Behind these record-setting numbers are the hardworking men and women employed throughout Kentucky's tourism and hospitality industry. From hotel staff, restaurant employees, tour guides, and park rangers to distillery workers, retail merchants, event organizers, outfitters, and countless small business owners, these Kentuckians create the welcoming experiences that keep visitors coming back year after year. Their dedication helps strengthen local economies while preserving the unique character of Kentucky's communities.

Tourism is especially important for many small businesses, which rely on visitor spending to grow and create jobs. Family-owned restaurants, locally owned shops, bed-and-breakfasts, outdoor recreation businesses, artisan markets, entertainment venues, and family attractions all benefit when travelers choose Kentucky as their destination. In many rural communities, tourism provides opportunities for economic development that might not otherwise exist.

A comprehensive analysis of visitor spending measures tourism's impact on businesses, employment, personal income, and state and local tax revenues. The findings underscore just how significant the industry has become.

In 2025, approximately 81.1 million visitors traveled to Kentucky, spending $10.4 billion throughout the Commonwealth. That spending generated a total economic impact of $14.6 billion, benefiting businesses and communities across the state.

Visitor spending was concentrated in several major sectors:
• Food and Beverage ($2.7 billion): Dining remained the largest category, accounting for 26 percent of all visitor spending.
• Lodging ($2.4 billion): Hotels, cabins, campgrounds, and vacation rentals represented 23 percent of visitor expenditures.
• Transportation ($2 billion) and Retail ($1.9 billion): Visitors invested heavily in transportation while traveling across Kentucky and purchased locally made products, crafts, and souvenirs unique to the Commonwealth.
• Recreation and Entertainment ($1.4 billion): While the smallest spending category, recreation and entertainment experienced the fastest year-over-year growth, increasing by 5.6 percent.

Although international visitation declined by 13.9 percent in 2025, Kentucky's growing popularity among domestic travelers more than offset that decrease. The Commonwealth welcomed 81.1 million domestic visitors, an increase of 1.1 million over the previous year.

Much of this growth reflects travelers' increasing desire for authentic experiences. Kentucky offers an unmatched combination of outdoor adventure, rich history, culture, and hospitality. Visitors come to explore Mammoth Cave National Park, hike the trails of Red River Gorge, experience the state's world-renowned bourbon industry, attend horse racing and equestrian events, enjoy festivals and live music, visit historic downtowns, discover museums and cultural attractions, fish and boat on Kentucky's lakes and rivers, and explore the Commonwealth's award-winning state parks.

The economic impact of tourism can be viewed in three ways:
• Direct impacts: Visitor purchases of goods and services, such as lodging, dining, retail, and attractions.
• Indirect impacts: Businesses serving visitors purchase goods and services from suppliers, creating economic activity throughout the supply chain.
• Induced impacts: Employees supported by tourism spend their wages within their communities, generating additional economic activity across the local economy.

The benefits of a thriving tourism industry extend well beyond the visitors themselves. In 2025, tourism supported 96,993 jobs across Kentucky, providing employment opportunities in communities large and small.

Visitor spending also generated approximately $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue. Without that revenue, every Kentucky household would need to contribute an additional $581 annually to maintain current levels of public services and local government operations.

Kentucky's tourism industry demonstrates that investing in the Commonwealth's people, places, and unique experiences benefits everyone. As visitor interest continues to grow, tourism will remain an important driver of job creation, small business success, economic development, and quality of life for communities across Kentucky.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov

07/06/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

More than a screen – using technology wisely
Every July, we recognize Cell Phone Courtesy Month. It may sound like one of those lighthearted observances that encourages people to silence their ringer in a movie theater or avoid talking loudly in a restaurant. However, while those are certainly good habits, this month also offers us an opportunity to think about a much bigger issue: our growing dependence on our phones and the real consequences that come with it.

Cell phones have become remarkable tools. They help us stay connected with family, navigate unfamiliar roads, pay bills, learn new skills, and access information in seconds. Few inventions have changed daily life more dramatically than cell phones.

Like many useful tools, however, they can become harmful when they begin controlling us instead of serving us. One of the most obvious examples is distracted driving. Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of watching another driver drift across the center line because they're looking down at a screen. Whether someone is reading a text, scrolling social media or checking email, it only takes a few seconds of distraction for lives to change forever. No text message or notification is worth risking your life or someone else's.

The challenges extend well beyond our highways. Today's smartphones provide children with instant access to nearly every corner of the internet. While that opens the door to tremendous educational opportunities, it also gives young people access to violent, explicit and age-inappropriate content that many parents would never knowingly place in front of them. Social media algorithms can expose children to mature topics long before they have the judgment or life experience to process them. Parents face a difficult task. Technology evolves faster than most families can keep up with it, making open communication, parental involvement and healthy boundaries more important than ever.

Cell phones have also changed the nature of bullying. When previous generations left school for the day, many students left the bullying behind as well. Today, harassment can follow children home through text messages, group chats and social media. Rumors spread instantly. Hurtful comments can reach hundreds of classmates in minutes, and embarrassing photos or videos can remain online indefinitely. The emotional toll on young people can be significant.

Educators have also seen firsthand how constant phone use affects learning. Notifications interrupt concentration. Social media competes with classroom instruction. Students who should be engaged with teachers and classmates can instead become absorbed in whatever is happening on a five-inch screen.

To provide educators with a tool, the General Assembly acted during the 2025 Regular Session to pass HB 208, which requires schools to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones or other personal electronic devices, during the school day. Since the law took effect, lawmakers have begun hearing encouraging reports from educators across Kentucky. Teachers describe classrooms that are more focused and less disruptive. Students are talking to one another again during lunch and between classes instead of staring silently at their screens. Discipline issues tied to phones have declined in many schools, and teachers are spending more time teaching instead of policing electronic devices. No law is a cure-all, nor does it take the place of common sense. Even so, the early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Sometimes creating healthier habits simply requires removing a constant distraction.

None of this means cell phones are bad. They have become indispensable for work, emergencies and staying connected with those we love. The goal is not to eliminate technology but to use it wisely.

That may mean putting the phone away during dinner with family. It may mean resisting the urge to check notifications every few minutes. It certainly means putting the phone down while driving. For parents, it may also mean setting reasonable limits on screen time and staying engaged with what children are seeing online.

Courtesy is about more than good manners. It is about respecting the people around us and recognizing when our own habits affect others. This Cell Phone Courtesy Month, perhaps the best courtesy we can extend is our full attention - to the road, to our families, to our children, to our classrooms and to the conversations happening right in front of us.

Our phones will still be there a few minutes later. The moments we miss while looking down at a screen often will not be.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

06/30/2026

🚨 JCPS AUDIT UPDATE 🚨

The JCPS Audit that the legislature pushed for and funded has concluded and Auditor Allison Ball has released it to the public. Along with a new board taking office this fall, this audit will be the catalyst for substantial reforms for our school system. This board and previous leadership have done an extreme disservice to our students and teachers and it’s beyond time for a change.

I will post the major findings in the days to come along with our plans for taking this issue head on during the next legislative session, but here are a few takeaways right now:

* Only about 3 in 10 JCPS students are proficient in math, and roughly a third in reading. Our African-American student achievement is much worse, and the achievement gap is widening.

* JCPS has administrative bloat unlike any comparable school system. JCPS administrator to student ratio is 1 to 137.5. Here are comparable school systems and their ratios:
Baltimore- 1 to 178
St. Pete- 1 to 253
Jacksonville- 1 to 278
San Diego- 1 to 351

* The number of struggling schools is growing, not shrinking even while the budget explodes.

* $188 million budget hole, despite years of strong funding. JCPS has 62 percent more per student, after controlling for inflation, than it had in 2002.

* The money isn't reaching the classroom, as the central office is bloated and has worsened over the past decade. While JCPS's budget has increased dramatically, teachers have only received a 12 percent raise, after controlling for inflation. In short, JCPS has the money -- but they are not prioritizing our classroom teachers.

* Board members lack the ability to understand or manage a $2.3 billion budget.

06/29/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

Week In Review: Behavioral health, Medicaid, law enforcement
Summer may have slowed the pace of the legislative calendar, but lawmakers continue to meet through interim committees to monitor the implementation of new laws, review state programs, and prepare for the 2027 Regular Session. Meetings during the last week of June covered a wide range of issues, from protecting access to health care for Kentucky's most vulnerable citizens to strengthening public safety and improving government operations. Among the most significant discussions was an emotional hearing before the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board that underscored why legislative oversight remains so important.

Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board: Lawmakers heard from the Department for Medicaid Services regarding reports required by state law and data requests concerning the state's Medicaid program. Members also received updates on the Pharmaceutical Rebate Fund, Kentucky Behavioral Health Service Provider Performance Scorecard, implementation of community engagement and cost sharing requirements, and efforts to increase reimbursement rates for dentists - all initiatives stemming from legislation passed during the 2025 and 2026 Regular Sessions.

Board members, who include House and Senate members, medical providers, health advocates, and other stakeholders, also heard emotional testimony from families affected by the governor's initial decision to end the state's contract with the Lee Specialty Clinic. The clinic is one of a kind in Kentucky, providing specialized medical, dental, therapy, and behavioral health services to individuals with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities who often cannot receive care in traditional settings. Public testimony is a regular part of legislative meetings, but few hearings have been as moving as this one.

The governor has argued that the budget enacted earlier this year did not provide enough funding to continue the contract. However, the legislature appropriated more funding than the administration requested. More importantly, the enacted budget gives the executive branch the flexibility to prioritize essential services like the Lee Specialty Clinic over lower-priority spending within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. We want to eliminate programs that are outdated, ineffective, or duplicate other services, and we also want to seek out state contracts that are not being used to serve people. No one wants to hurt our most vulnerable.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have seen this approach. Last year, the administration told Area Development Districts there was not enough funding to continue a meal program serving vulnerable seniors, only to later identify funding elsewhere. We have also seen funding become available for other administration priorities after legislative proposals failed to advance. The day after this board meeting, the governor announced that the Lee Specialty Clinic contract would, in fact, continue - demonstrating that the resources were available.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that these Kentuckians will continue receiving the care they depend on. But no family should have to wonder whether essential services will be taken away from them before every available option has been exhausted. These are the men and women our programs were created to help and they should never be used to score political points. Our hope is that this experience serves as a reminder that protecting vulnerable Kentuckians must remain the highest priority.

IJC on Local Government: Members reviewed presentations from the Kentucky League of Cities and Kentucky Association of Counties regarding ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers. They noted that staffing shortages strain local resources, increase overtime costs, and impact public safety services. The Civil Air Patrol, Kentucky Wing, a volunteer organization established in 1941, also briefed members on the critical support they provide during emergencies. The group is seeking support to ensure volunteers can complete training and respond to state missions without losing employment benefits, seniority, or job protections.

IJC on State Government: Legislators heard from representatives of Kentucky State Police (KSP) and from the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The KSP presented data on current recruitment and attrition rates for cadets and retention rates for troopers. They discussed efforts being made to improve the number and quality of cadets in order to continue to build the organization, pointing out that legislative funding has been helpful with this and trooper retention within KSP. Representatives of Kentucky’s Finance and Administration Cabinet gave an overview of the state’s procurement process, specifically for government contracts and capital projects.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

06/22/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

Improving Access to Care for Individuals with Autism
Autism spectrum disorder affects thousands of Kentucky families and continues to be an important topic for policymakers, educators, healthcare providers, and community leaders across the Commonwealth. As awareness and understanding of autism have grown, so too has recognition of the need for strong support systems that help individuals with autism reach their full potential throughout every stage of life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in 31 children is identified with autism spectrum disorder. Nationally, autism rates have steadily increased over the past decade, though experts note that improvements in screening, awareness, and diagnostic practices have played a significant role in identifying more individuals who may have previously gone undiagnosed.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect communication, behavior, social interaction, and sensory processing. Because autism exists on a spectrum, every individual experiences it differently. Many autistic individuals possess unique talents, strengths, and perspectives that enrich their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.

During a recent meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children, lawmakers received updates on Kentucky's efforts to improve autism services and support systems. Representatives from the University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute highlighted several initiatives designed to expand access to care and improve outcomes. Programs such as Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) help train healthcare professionals to better identify and support children with developmental differences. The institute also administers Learn the Signs. Act Early., which encourages parents to monitor developmental milestones and seek assistance when concerns arise.

Early identification remains one of the most important factors in helping children access services. However, families often face significant challenges obtaining evaluations. Wait times for diagnostic assessments can range from several months to as long as two years in some areas. These delays can postpone access to therapies and other interventions that may help children build critical skills during their early developmental years.

Committee members also heard testimony regarding Applied Behavior Analysis, commonly known as ABA therapy, which is one of the most frequently utilized autism services. Advocates emphasized the importance of early intervention while also raising concerns about provider shortages, reimbursement rates, and lengthy waitlists that many Kentucky families encounter when seeking care.

Education remains another critical component of support for students with autism. The Kentucky Department of Education outlined how schools utilize a Multi-Tiered System of Supports to provide individualized academic, behavioral, and social-emotional assistance. Through specialized instructional strategies, targeted interventions, and collaboration with families, schools work to ensure students receive services tailored to their unique needs.

The committee also received updates on the Kentucky Autism Training Center, which was established by the General Assembly in 1996. The center provides training and resources for educators, families, first responders, and community organizations in all 120 counties. Its work helps strengthen existing support systems while promoting greater understanding of autism across the Commonwealth.

Kentucky has also taken steps to strengthen long-term support for individuals and families affected by autism. During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers approved Senate Bill 69, establishing the Autism Spectrum Disorder Trust Fund. The measure creates a framework to accept donations and distribute funding to support children, adults, caregivers, and service providers.

While challenges remain, particularly in access to evaluations, workforce participation, and service availability, Kentucky continues to make progress. By expanding awareness, supporting families, and investing in evidence-based services, we can help ensure that individuals with autism have the opportunity to succeed and contribute their talents to communities throughout the Commonwealth.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

https://education.louisville.edu/research/centers-institutes/kentucky-autism-training-center

06/12/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

Lawmakers discuss public safety initiatives and law enforcement priorities during interim
The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary met on June 9 to hear from Attorney General Russell Coleman and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) on public safety initiatives, law enforcement priorities, and ongoing efforts to protect Kentucky communities.

Coleman highlighted his office's commitment to enforcing laws passed by the General Assembly, defending the Constitution, protecting seniors from scams, and supporting law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth.

Through the Body Armor Grants Program created by the legislature, the attorney general is able to help law enforcement and first responders ​purchase body armor, duty weapons, ammunition, electronic-control devices, and body-worn cameras.

The program purchases protective equipment for ​Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC)-certified peace officers. Applications for s​oft body armor take precedence and any armor purchased through this grant program is assigned to the officer specifically named in the application and will remain assigned to that officer for the duration of its five year life cycle.

Coleman shared that the role of the attorney general has shifted significantly in recent years, moving from frequent legal disputes with the federal government to increasing collaboration. He also provided an update on efforts to combat violent crime, including the creation of the office's first Louisville-based unit dedicated to targeting violent offenders. In addition, a new digital forensics lab in western Kentucky is being developed to address a significant gap in forensic investigative resources in that region.

Addressing criminal justice issues, Coleman reiterated his support for implementing the state’s death penalty laws and thanked lawmakers who supported legislation aimed at aligning Kentucky's laws with those of other states.

Additionally, he highlighted encouraging progress in the fight against addiction, noting that Kentucky recorded its lowest overdose death total since 2014. Through the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, more than $34 million in settlement funds have been awarded to more than a hundred organizations focused on prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services.

Earlier this year, the commission approved $5.78 million in funding for Kentucky’s first ever statewide youth drug prevention effort called Better Without It. Better Without It is about meeting young people where they are by engaging with social media influencers and recognizing the importance of spreading the drug prevention message directly to them.

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. shared an update on KSP operations and ongoing recruitment efforts. KSP currently operates 16 posts across the Commonwealth and continues to provide critical support to local law enforcement agencies. The agency remains one of only two law enforcement organizations in Kentucky with a full-time Critical Response Team and maintains partnerships with federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, through task force assignments aimed at combating violent crime and drug trafficking.

The commissioner emphasized the importance of recruitment and retention in an increasingly competitive market. While law enforcement agencies nationwide continue to face staffing challenges, KSP has seen strong interest in its latest cadet class, which began with more than 500 applicants. The agency has worked with the legislature to improve recruitment through competitive pay and benefits, as well as providing travel reimbursements for academy participants, and efforts to provide greater certainty regarding post assignments after graduation.

He also discussed investments made possible through support from the General Assembly, including upgraded protective equipment for troopers, construction of a new skills training pad at the KSP Academy, and plans to replace aging facilities in Harlan and Richmond.

Staffing shortages in telecommunications have improved significantly due to competitive pay increases, and one of the largest recent telecommunicator academies graduated 22 new employees.

Drug trafficking remains a major focus for KSP, with 1,625 drug-related arrests made between January and April of this year. The commissioner also noted that the impact of drug abuse reaches every demographic, from youth to senior citizens, making enforcement and prevention efforts critical statewide priorities.

Additional updates KSP shared are plans to expand driver's testing services through Saturday testing events and the addition of three new testing facilities. KSP also continues strategic planning efforts for its laboratory system while working to address staffing shortages that have contributed to delays in sexual assault kit testing. The backlog as of this week stands at 673 sexual assault test kits.

Committee members highlighted the continued partnership between state agencies and the General Assembly in addressing public safety, supporting law enforcement, combating addiction, and ensuring access to essential services throughout the Commonwealth.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

06/06/2026

Representative Jared Bauman
Representative Emily Callaway
Representative Ken Fleming
Representative John Hodgson
Representative Chris Lewis
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes
Representative Susan Witten

“We echo these words and join in calling on the governor to reconsider a decision that threatens services for some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens.

“The General Assembly provided the resources necessary to meet Kentucky’s needs. Lawmakers approved more than $31 billion in funding for state services and programs, while also giving the administration the flexibility to protect essential services and prioritize spending where it is needed most.

“Our focus remains on making state government work better for the people it serves. That means making sure that funding and services are available for those who truly need them, improving efficiency, and holding government accountable for results. We know there is funding within the cabinet’s budget and it is within the governor’s discretion to use it. Frankly, you only have to look at recent reports by the auditor’s office to recognize that there are millions of dollars being wasted.

“At the same time, we have deliberately provided additional funding for programs that work – including creating new slots in Medicaid waiver programs that provide better care for Kentuckians with chronic conditions at what is often a cost savings. The progress made in recent years has been driven by a commitment to responsible budgeting and a clear understanding that every tax dollar should deliver value to Kentucky families.

“The governor’s decision risks undermining that progress. Rather than focusing on solutions and using the funding and discretion provided by the legislature, this action sends the wrong message about the priorities and places uncertainty on agencies and the people they serve.

“This is not the time to score political points. It is time to find solutions, not manufacture crises. The stakes are too high, and the consequences are too real.”

Following yesterday's news of the Beshear administration’s plans to make cuts to state contracts and programs serving some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, House Speaker David Osborne issued the following statement:

06/05/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Lewis

Kentucky’s revenue growth shows smart tax reform and economic strength can go hand in hand
For years, critics have warned that reducing Kentucky’s individual income tax would jeopardize the state’s finances, threaten essential services, and leave future budgets on unstable footing.

Every time the General Assembly has taken steps to make Kentucky’s tax structure more competitive, opponents – including the governor - have predicted declining revenues and budget shortfalls. The latest revenue numbers tell a very different story.

According to the Office of State Budget Director, Kentucky’s General Fund receipts reached a historic milestone in April, totaling more than $2 billion for the first time ever. Collections came in 15.2% higher than April of last year at $2.013 billion, an increase of $265.5 million.

That is not a small achievement. April is traditionally Kentucky’s strongest revenue month because of tax filing deadlines, but even by those standards, this year’s performance stands out. The increase pushed General Fund receipts to 1.7% growth through the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2026, despite an official revenue estimate that projected a 1.3% decline for the year.

In practical terms, revenues could decline by more than 16% over the final two months of the fiscal year and still meet expectations.

The strongest growth came from Kentucky’s largest revenue sources. Sales and use tax collections, business taxes, and individual income taxes combined to generate $223 million more than they did in April 2025. Individual income tax net returns alone increased by nearly $120 million compared to the same month last year.

These numbers matter because they directly challenge a narrative that has persisted throughout the legislature’s efforts to reform our tax code. Opponents have repeatedly suggested that lowering the individual income tax would inevitably lead to budget shortfalls and fiscal instability. Yet, Kentucky continues to post strong revenue performance while simultaneously reducing the tax burden on workers, families, and job creators.

That outcome is not accidental. While we modernized taxes across the board to make them reflect today’s marketplace and economy, the biggest results can be seen in the individual income tax – the tax paid by those who are working or have worked for their money. Since 2018, the legislature has cut the individual income tax from 6% to 3.5%, and laid the groundwork for further cuts. It will not happen overnight, but it will happen when it should because our approach has been as intentional as it has been responsible. With the passage of HB 8 in 2022, we created conditions that must be met before any reduction in the individual income tax can take effect. Those triggers protect the necessary services and functions of government, while emphasizing responsible spending and investing. The goal is to create a tax structure that encourages investment, rewards work, attracts employers, and positions Kentucky to compete successfully with neighboring states.

The latest revenue report suggests that strategy is working. At the same time, it highlights the difference between carefully structured tax policy and short-term political gestures.

Recently, the governor released an executive order suspending a scheduled increase in the motor vehicle fuel tax (we usually call it the gas tax) and cutting it by 10 cents a gallon. That executive order is set to expire and he has called on local governments to request and extension. The governor continues to tell Kentuckians he is providing relief through reductions in the gas tax. In reality, the motor fuels tax is one of the least targeted ways to help Kentucky families because it only saves an estimated $5 a month and even that benefit is shared equally by everyone who purchases fuel, including out-of-state motorists traveling through Kentucky. Meanwhile, the revenue generated by the gas tax is a primary source of funding for road maintenance, bridge repairs, transportation improvements, and highway safety projects.

Kentucky is giving the same tax break to drivers from Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and beyond while reducing the resources available to invest in the infrastructure Kentuckians rely on every day. If the objective is relief for Kentucky families, there are more effective options. Direct tax relief tied to income, work, and economic growth provides lasting benefits to Kentucky residents without undermining dedicated funding streams for transportation. Allow working families to keep more of what they earn without costing them more in the long run.

The contrast is clear. One approach focuses on careful planning, clear revenue tracking, and building a competitive economy with good-paying jobs. The other provides a small benefit that benefits people who do not even live in Kentucky while jeopardizing future investments in road safety and infrastructure.

As the fiscal year draws to a close on June 30, Kentucky’s record-setting revenue performance offers strong evidence that the General Assembly’s approach is working. Growth, investment, and disciplined fiscal management remain the most sustainable path to long-term prosperity—and Kentucky is proving it.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.