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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky legislature enacts education omnibus measure modifying school board districts, establishing principal training, and creating university civic centers over gubernatorial veto
Last action · April 14, 2026: received in Senate to Rules (S) posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 30-8 received in House to Rules (H) taken from Rules (H) posted for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 78-19 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 154)Sponsors: Steve West and 8 others
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 4 amends state statutes relating to education, public school administration, and school board governance, establishing a new four-year , restructuring divisions, creating new academic centers at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville, and taking effect partly upon passage through a legislative veto override on April 14, 2026.
The measure restructures elections and governance for s like Jefferson County, alters local board eligibility requirements, mandates leadership training and annual instruction hours for school administrators and counselors, and appropriates or establishes programs at state universities.
- Senate Bill 4 was enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2026 regular session and became law following a legislative override of the Governor's veto on April 14, 2026. context
- The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky serves as the state legislature responsible for enacting statutes governing public education and local school districts. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Public school principals
New principals within their first four years of experience must participate in the newly established leadership development practicum and complete annual training hours.
School board members
Members in large school districts face termination of terms on December 31, 2026, and new election terms and eligibility requirements apply.
University of Kentucky
The institution is tasked with establishing the Center of American Civics and developing statewide American history and government curricula.
University of Louisville
The institution is tasked with operating the redesignated McConnell Center and developing statewide American history and government curricula.
School counselors
Counselors serving grades seven through twelve may complete building and construction trade training programs that count toward annual professional development requirements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the new principal leadership development practicum begin?
What changes are made to school board governance in large school districts?
What new university academic centers are established by the act?
How many annual training hours are required for public school instructional leaders?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law over the governor's veto.
Procedural history
15 actions- Apr 14, 2026Housereceived in Senate to Rules (S) posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 30-8 received in House to Rules (H) taken from Rules (H) posted for consideration of Governor's veto veto overridden passed 78-19 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 154)
- Apr 13, 2026SenateVetoed
- Apr 1, 2026HouseEnrolledConference Committee report filed in House and Senate Conference Committee report adopted in House and Senate Free Conference Committee appointed in House and Senate Free Conference Committee report filed in House and Senate posted for passage for consideration of Free Conference Committee Report Free Conference Committee report adopted in House passed 72-21 received in Senate to Rules (S) taken from Rules posted for passage for consideration of Free Conference Committee Report Free Conference Committee report adopted in Senate passed 28-7 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House delivered to Governor
- Mar 25, 2026Housetaken from Rules placed in the Orders of the Day House refused to recede from Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) Conference Committee appointed in House and Senate
- Mar 24, 2026HouseCommitteereceived in Senate to Rules (S) taken from Rules posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) Senate refused to concur in House Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) received in House to Rules (H)
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloor3rd reading, passed 74-15 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
Show 9 earlier actions
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor2nd reading, to Rules floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026
- Mar 18, 2026Senatereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
- Mar 5, 2026HouseCommitteeto Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroducedreceived in House to Committee on Committees (H)
- Feb 9, 2026SenateFloor3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
- Feb 6, 2026SenateFloor2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 09 2026
- Feb 5, 2026Senatereported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- Jan 28, 2026SenateCommitteeto Education (S)
- Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroducedintroduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Restructuring of Large School District Governance
The measure shifts large school districts from seven-member boards to five-member boards elected from newly mapped precinct-based divisions.
Establishment of Dedicated Civic and Leadership Centers
The legislation creates new statutory academic centers at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville dedicated to civics and leadership development.
Connected Entities
Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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