PRIA Logo™
KentuckySB 1852026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT relating to Kentucky State University and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Christian McDaniel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Budget And Financial AdministrationCourtsActuarial Analysis

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 2 mixed.

KSU can cut staff during emergency

During the financial emergency, the KSU president can terminate any employee, including tenured faculty, with 30 days’ notice. KSU keeps only the staff needed to support at least 1,000 in‑person students and the approved programs. Employees in closed programs are terminated but may apply for other KSU jobs.

Stricter KSU debt collection and holds

If you owe KSU more than $1,000 and it is over 60 days late, you cannot enroll or stay enrolled. Debts over $1,000 and more than 90 days late are sent to the Department of Revenue for collection. Your state and federal tax refunds can be used to pay these debts. The Department of Revenue must accept KSU referrals and not refuse to withhold refunds for these debts.

KSU under five-year financial oversight

The law declares a financial emergency at KSU for five years. KSU cannot make or sign any obligation of $20,000 or more without prior approval from the Council on Postsecondary Education. KSU may not run a budget deficit. KSU must send monthly financial reports to the Council, and the Council sends quarterly updates to state leaders. By July 1, 2027, KSU must report and reconcile all transactions in the state EMARS system every month.

KSU shifts to polytechnic, trims programs

KSU is now a four‑year residential polytechnic and remains Kentucky’s public HBCU, with a focus on applied, workforce‑aligned learning. The board must, by June 1, 2026, list programs to keep and programs to close or change, with teach‑out plans. Substantive accreditation changes must be sent to SACSCOC by July 1, 2026. If SACSCOC approves a program closure, KSU must close it and follow the teach‑out plan. Starting in 2026–27 and for five academic years, KSU may offer no more than 10 academic areas of study, excluding only‑online programs, college of education programs, and those the Council deems needed for the polytechnic mission. KSU must follow SACSCOC instructions needed to keep accreditation.

Tighter KSU admissions with discretion

KSU admits new undergraduates only if they have at least a 2.5 unweighted high school GPA and an ACT of 18 (or an equivalent test score). There are alternative paths for some transfers, veterans, some nonpublic-school graduates, nontraditional students with experience, and dual‑credit students. While the financial emergency lasts, the KSU president has sole discretion over admission, readmission, and enrollment decisions for those who meet the criteria.

Ban on contracts with KSU lessees

Any organization, or its members or officers, that entered a public‑private lease with KSU cannot do business with KSU or other Kentucky state agencies after the law takes effect. Any such contract signed or renewed after that date is void.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Christian McDaniel

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Danny Carroll

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 165 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 90 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

passed

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 120)

    4/13/2026

  2. delivered to Governor

    4/1/2026

  3. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

    4/1/2026Senate

  4. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

    4/1/2026Senate

  5. passed 37-0

    4/1/2026Senate

  6. Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1)

    4/1/2026Senate

  7. posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1)

    4/1/2026House

  8. to Rules (S)

    4/1/2026Senate

  9. received in Senate

    4/1/2026Senate

  10. 3rd reading, passed 90-1 with Committee Substitute (1)

    4/1/2026House

  11. floor amendment (14) filed to Committee Substitute

    4/1/2026House

  12. placed in the Orders of the Day

    4/1/2026House

  13. taken from Rules

    4/1/2026House

  14. reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1)

    4/1/2026House

  15. floor amendments (1), (2-title), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (13) filed

    3/31/2026House

  16. returned to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

    3/31/2026House

  17. 2nd reading

    3/31/2026House

  18. taken from Appropriations & Revenue (H)

    3/31/2026House

  19. to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

    3/26/2026House

  20. returned to Committee on Committees (H)

    3/26/2026House

  21. 1st reading

    3/26/2026House

  22. taken from Committee on Committees (H)

    3/26/2026House

  23. to Committee on Committees (H)

    3/26/2026House

  24. received in House

    3/26/2026House

  25. 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)

    3/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/11/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation