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HB 924KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead

Did Not Advance

Kentucky creates Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program and appropriates $60 million

Original title: AN ACT relating to the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.

Last action · March 11, 2026: to Appropriations & Revenue (H)Sponsors: Joshua Watkins and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky establishes a student loan forgiveness program for state and local public service employees, funded by $60 million across two fiscal years, taking effect July 1, 2026. Eligible full-time workers can receive between $5,000 and $7,500 annually (or up to $10,000 for enhanced awards) for up to five years, capped at $40,000 total.

Why it matters

Qualifying public employees with federal student loans can receive up to $40,000 in repayment assistance over five years, contingent on maintaining full-time service and available program funding.

Background

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the state legislature responsible for enacting laws and state appropriations. context
The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority is the state agency that administers student financial aid and scholarship programs. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Kentucky public service employees

Eligible employees may receive annual loan repayment benefits between $5,000 and $10,000, up to a $40,000 lifetime cap, subject to maintaining full-time service and fund availability.

Directly affected

Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority

The authority is tasked with administering the program fund, developing award and selection criteria, promulgating administrative regulations, and submitting annual reports to the Legislative Research Commission.

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

Who is eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under this program?

Individuals who reside in Kentucky, maintain full-time employment in a public service position (excluding elected offices) located in the state, are not in default on Title IV or authority student loans, and submit an annual application with employment and loan verification.

How much financial assistance can a participant receive?

Participants can receive between $5,000 and $7,500 annually for standard awards, or up to $10,000 annually for enhanced awards, for a maximum of five consecutive years. The lifetime total is capped at $40,000 or the total outstanding balance, whichever is less.

What constitutes qualifying public service employment?

Employment with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, any county, city, political subdivision, department, board, agency, commission, or authority, a public school district, a public university, or a qualifying nonprofit organization exempt under 26 U.S.C. sec. 501(c)(3) that provides direct public services.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Mar 11, 2026HouseCommittee
to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
Mar 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

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.

Related Legislation

State Bill

Maryland Senate Bill 989 establishes civil liability for online platforms hosting unlawful child exploitation material and broadens criminal statutes

Online platforms in Maryland can be sued for damages by parents or legal guardians if they knowingly and intentionally distribute, create, or host unl

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection99% confidence

Substantial Biennial Appropriation

The measure allocates identical $30,000,000 appropriations across two consecutive fiscal years (2026-2027 and 2027-2028) drawn from the budget reserve trust fund.

Kentucky Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program fund Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority

Connected Entities

Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program fund, Commonwealth of Kentucky and 2 more

OrganizationLegislative Research Commission“Receives annual reports on program participation and fund status”Map →

otherKentucky Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program fund“State Treasury fund established to provide assistance in student loan repayment”Map →

locationCommonwealth of Kentucky“Jurisdiction establishing the program and employing eligible public service work”Map →

OrganizationKentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority“Administers the Kentucky Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program and fun”Map →

OrganizationInterim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue“Receives annual reports referred by the Legislative Research Commission”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
Controversy25
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz60
Current news / social attention level

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