Richard White State Representative

06/14/2026

“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.” – George Washington

06/13/2026

Beautiful day at the Kiwanis Car show in West Liberty. Happening today until 4. Hope to see you here!

06/12/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Richard White
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.

06/10/2026

The official signage is now in place at the Don McKenzie Memorial Bridge.

Superintendent Ralph Hamilton, Ryan Quarles, Shawn McKenzie, Donnie’s son, and I visited the memorial together last week. While Donnie is deeply missed by many, his legacy of service and community continues to live on.

I’m grateful for Superintendent Ralph Hamilton’s partnership in making this happen.

06/10/2026

Exciting day in West Liberty on Friday with Dr. Ryan Quarles, President of KCTCS, at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. 20 students graduated and received their Associate Degrees from Maysville Community and Technical College, and some with trade pathways with DOC.

Education opens doors, and I’m incredibly proud of these men and women who have put in the hard work to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Congratulations to all the graduates.

06/06/2026

Back in Frankfort yesterday for the Natural Resources & Energy Interim Committee meeting. We received an update on PFAS and the ongoing efforts to better understand and address their impact on Kentucky’s water, environment, and public health. We also reviewed proposed regulations affecting wildlife management areas, outdoor recreation, waterway safety, and wildlife-related issues that impact landowners and sportsmen across the Commonwealth.

It was especially meaningful to have my cousin Tammy, who is visiting from California, join me for the day. I enjoyed showing her the important work I have the honor of doing on behalf of District 99.

06/03/2026

Yesterday, I joined local leaders and community members in Elliott County for the groundbreaking of the new Emergency Operations Center, 911 Dispatch, and Fire Department. This $4.6 million project was funded through an AMLER Grant. Once completed, the facility will dramatically strengthen emergency response capabilities in Elliott County and provide vital support to neighboring communities throughout the region.

I appreciate the leadership of Judge Executive Myron Lewis, the Elliott County Fiscal Court, Congressman Hal Rogers, and everyone whose hard work helped make this project a reality.

06/01/2026

Happy Birthday, Kentucky! Daniel Boone once said, ‘Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place,’ and I wholeheartedly agree. There is nowhere else I would rather be than my old Kentucky home.

06/01/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Richard White
Commencement: A new chapter for Kentucky’s future

As the academic term comes to an end, thousands of Kentuckians will experience one of life’s most meaningful milestones: walking across the stage to receive a college degree. It is a moment that represents years of perseverance, sacrifice, and determination. With proud parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends looking on, graduates will be celebrated not only for earning a diploma, but for demonstrating the discipline and resilience required to reach this extraordinary achievement.

Graduation is more than a ceremony. It is a testament to countless late nights, difficult exams, financial challenges, and personal sacrifices. For many students, it is the fulfillment of a dream that began years ago. For others, it is the culmination of hard work while balancing jobs, raising families, or overcoming obstacles that at times may have seemed insurmountable. Regardless of the path taken, every graduate has earned the right to feel immense pride in what they have accomplished.

This year’s graduating class enters a broad and dynamic workforce filled with opportunity. They will begin careers in classrooms, hospitals, factories, farms, law offices, laboratories, and businesses across the Commonwealth and beyond. Yet the value of their education extends far beyond a profession or paycheck. These graduates possess the tools to improve their communities, strengthen our economy, and shape Kentucky’s future for generations to come.

Among this class are students who earned technical and vocational degrees to fill critical positions in advanced manufacturing, information technology, welding, and the skilled trades. These graduates will help keep Kentucky’s industries competitive and ensure our state remains an attractive destination for business investment and job creation. We also celebrate future nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and therapists who have devoted years of study to caring for others. Their work will save lives, provide comfort to families, and improve access to quality healthcare in every corner of our state, from our largest cities to our most rural communities.

Likewise, our law school graduates will go on to serve as attorneys, judges, prosecutors, and public servants dedicated to upholding justice and defending the rule of law. Future teachers will inspire the next generation of Kentuckians. Engineers will design the infrastructure that supports our economy. Entrepreneurs will create new businesses and innovative solutions that move our Commonwealth forward.

The world our graduates inherit presents significant challenges. Our nation faces economic uncertainty, technological change, and important debates about the future of our communities and our country. But history has shown that Kentucky’s greatest strength has always been the character of its people. Time and again, Kentuckians have met adversity with determination, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to one another.

To the Class of 2026, my advice is simple: remain grounded in your values, work diligently, and never forget where you came from. Success is not measured solely by titles or salaries, but by the integrity with which you conduct yourself and the positive impact you make on the lives of others.

Use your education as a tool for service. Seek opportunities to mentor, volunteer, and lead. Invest in your hometowns and neighborhoods. Participate in civic life. Whether you stay in Kentucky or pursue opportunities elsewhere, remember that your talents and character can make a lasting difference. I also encourage you to keep faith at the center of your journey. There may be moments of uncertainty and setbacks along the way. During those times, trust that God has a purpose for your life and that perseverance, guided by humility and gratitude, will lead you forward.

To the families, professors, and mentors who supported these graduates, thank you. Your encouragement, sacrifice, and belief in their potential made this achievement possible. Graduation is a celebration of individual accomplishment, but it is also a reflection of the communities that helped shape each student’s success.

Kentucky’s future is bright because of the men and women receiving diplomas this spring. They are prepared to lead with knowledge, conviction, and compassion. They carry with them the hopes of their families and the promise of a stronger Commonwealth.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. May your lives be marked by purpose, your work by excellence, and your service by a commitment to improving the communities you call home. Wherever your path leads, know that Kentucky is proud of you, and we look forward to the many ways you will help build a better future for our Commonwealth and our nation.

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.

05/25/2026