All Roll Calls
Yes: 348 • No: 44
KentuckyHB 5042026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
AN ACT making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of the Judicial Branch of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its various officers, boards, commissions, subdivisions, and other state-supported activities.
Sponsored By: Jason Petrie (Republican)
Became Law
AppropriationsBudget And Financial AdministrationCourt, SupremeCourtsCourts, CircuitCourts, DistrictCourts, FamilyJudges And Court CommissionersJudicial CircuitsJudicial DistrictsState AgenciesState Employees
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 4 costs, 2 mixed.
Two pay raises for court employees
Eligible Kentucky Judicial Branch employees get a 2% base-pay increase on July 1, 2026. They get another 2% increase on July 1, 2027. Each worker's dollar increase depends on their base pay. The raises apply to eligible employees, not necessarily every court worker.
Kentucky funds courthouse services and flood repairs
The Local Facilities Fund receives $136.303 million in General Fund money for 2026-27 and $149.2052 million for 2027-28. Restricted funds total $8.9104 million for 2025-26, $8.38 million for 2026-27, and $380,000 for 2027-28. The law includes $1 million each fiscal year from 2025-26 through 2027-28 for ongoing local courthouse services. The 2025-26 restricted funding pays for flood-damaged file restoration, cleanup, and repairs in Franklin and Hardin Counties. Unspent flood-recovery money carries forward instead of expiring.
Kentucky funds courts and additional judges
Judicial Branch funding is $22.54 million for 2025-26, $548.8214 million for 2026-27, and $557.9539 million for 2027-28. The law includes $5 million each fiscal year for additional judgeships created in 2022. Required services receive $7.561 million in 2026-27 and $7.2 million in 2027-28 for technology and contractor costs. Court administration also receives $13.6296 million in restricted funds for 2025-26, partly replacing lost Master Commissioner's Fund revenue. Unspent portions of that amount carry into each of the next two fiscal years. Court spending remains under judicial control, with quarterly legislative expenditure reports and a 2024-25 E399 expense report due October 1, 2026.
Boyle and Bell courthouse projects authorized
The law authorizes $2 million for Boyle County's courthouse roof replacement and $20.91 million for Bell County's courthouse renovation. These authorizations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Court capital projects require feasibility studies by a certified architect who is independent of the project. The studies compare new buildings with additions or renovations to determine which better meets community needs.
Boyle and Bell receive court-space funding
Boyle County gets $5.26 million in restricted funds for 2026-27 and $260,000 for 2027-28 for leased court and clerk space. Boyle also receives $192,300 each fiscal year in payments for court use of its facility. Bell County gets $3.12 million in restricted funds for 2026-27 and $120,000 for 2027-28 for leased court and clerk space. Bell's General Fund support is $2.8061 million in 2026-27 for equipment and facility-use payments. Bell receives $2.0561 million in 2027-28 for facility-use payments.
Civil filing revenue supports court operations
This law does not itself raise civil filing fees or require an increase. If the Kentucky Supreme Court raises them, up to $20.4681 million in extra annual revenue supports court operations and non-elected staff salaries. Extra revenue above that annual cap goes to the General Fund. By October 1, 2027, court administration must report recommended fee changes, revenue estimates, proposed uses, past filing counts, and future adjustments.
Courthouse upkeep funded with easier approvals
A courthouse maintenance pool receives $3 million each fiscal year from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. For debt-free facilities authorized before 2000, annual county compensation equals 2% of capital costs; court administration retains another 2% for maintenance. Maintenance projects estimated at $3 million or less can proceed without General Assembly approval as capital projects. Projects estimated between $1 million and $3 million must be reported to the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee. Asset-preservation pools and renovation programs require quarterly reports beginning November 1, 2026.
Courts must use available video arraignments
Kentucky courts must use the designated video arraignment system when it is available. When a court does not use it, the Administrative Office of the Courts must pay prisoner transportation costs. That responsibility covers trips to and from arraignments. Court administration must report use by courtroom and judge, along with barriers, by October 1, 2027.
Funding supports Kentucky judicial retirement system
The Judicial Form Retirement System receives $645,500 in restricted funds for 2026-27 and $652,300 for 2027-28. These appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. Restricted-fund funding can increase as needed to keep the system sufficiently funded. This funding provision does not increase individual pension amounts.
Judicial retirement recipients miss pension increases
Recipients of retirement allowances under KRS 21.345 to 21.580 get no pension increase on July 1, 2026. The law also blocks increases on July 1, 2027. It does not state the dollar amount of the blocked increases.
Trial commissioners face annual pay cap
Trial commissioner compensation cannot exceed $2,000 per year. The law provides no funding for trial commissioners in counties where a District Judge lives. It does not state prior pay levels or each commissioner's income change.
Counties face limits on courthouse payments
For courthouse projects authorized in 2000 or later, facility-use payments cannot exceed the court's share of annual debt payments. Payments also cannot exceed the authorized annual use allowance. County debt restructuring during July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, cannot change these payments. Hardin County must accept title to its specified court facility within six months after court administration announces project completion. Missing that deadline bars facility-use payments and triggers applicable rules under KRS Chapter 26A.
Court staffing and budget cuts constrained
Beginning July 1, 2026, Judicial Branch budget units cannot fill more positions than their approved staffing limits. Additional positions require a request to the Chief Justice and approval by the Administrative Office of the Courts. During the 2026-28 budget period, a shortfall identified by the Chief Justice requires cuts to functions not explicitly authorized by statute or the Kentucky Constitution. The Chief Justice must prioritize current service levels for constitutional court functions. The law does not identify which remaining services face cuts.
Five judicial centers funded, some costs delayed
Five judicial centers authorized in 2024 receive $13.6522 million in 2027-28 for facility-use costs. The law delays $1.911 million in operating support and $3 million for one-time equipment and furniture costs. That support is deferred to the July 1, 2028, through June 30, 2030, budget period.
Court savings carry forward or enter reserves
Unspent Local Facilities Use Allowance Contingency Fund money carries from 2025-26 into 2026-27 and then into 2027-28. It can cover authorized project cost overruns up to 15% of the use allowance. Unspent General Fund money for project expenses or facility-use payments in 2026-27 and 2027-28 goes to state budget reserves. Unspent General Fund amounts specified in Judicial Branch budget language also go to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund Account.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jason Petrie
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Adam Bowling
Republican • House
Josh Bray
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2026
passed
Yes: 76 • No: 16
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
passed
Yes: 27 • No: 6
Senate vote • 4/1/2026
passed
Yes: 38 • No: 0
House vote • 4/1/2026
passed
Yes: 75 • No: 18
Senate vote • 3/18/2026
3rd reading, passed
Yes: 38 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
3rd reading, passed
Yes: 94 • No: 4
Actions Timeline
delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 183)
4/14/2026enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
4/14/2026Houseenrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
4/14/2026Housereceived in House
4/14/2026Houseto Rules (H)
4/14/2026Housereceived in House
4/14/2026Housepassed 27-6
4/14/2026Senatevetoes overridden
4/14/2026Senateposted for consideration of Governor's line vetoes
4/14/2026to Rules (S)
4/14/2026Senatereceived in Senate
4/14/2026Senatepassed 76-16
4/14/2026Housevetoes overridden
4/14/2026Houseposted for consideration of Governor's line vetoes
4/14/2026taken from Rules
4/14/2026Houseline items vetoed
4/13/2026delivered to Governor
4/1/2026enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
4/1/2026Houseenrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
4/1/2026Housepassed 75-18
4/1/2026HouseFree Conference Committee report adopted in House
4/1/2026Houseposted for passage for consideration of Free Conference Committee Report
4/1/2026Housetaken from Rules
4/1/2026Houseto Rules (H)
4/1/2026Housereceived in House
4/1/2026House
Bill Text
Current
4/14/2026
Introduced
1/20/2026
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