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HB 428

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.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Osborne

HB 428 allocates funds to Kentucky’s Judicial Branch to cover core operations, staffing, facilities, technology, and related support for the fiscal period.

to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
#appropriations #budgetandfinancialadministration #court #supreme #courts #circuit #district #family #judgesandcourtcommissioners #judicialcircuits #judicialdistricts #stateagencies #stateemployees
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 428

Summary of HB 428 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and overall intent

HB 428 is a fiscal appropriations bill focused on funding the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning of Kentucky’s Judicial Branch. The measure provides the annual or biennial budgetary resources required to support the judiciary and its various officers, boards, commissions, subdivisions, and related state-supported activities. In short, it determines how much money the Judicial Branch can spend and on what purposes during the applicable fiscal period.

Key provisions and changes

  • Appropriations scope: The bill allocates funds to the Judicial Branch as a whole, covering core operations (courts, staffing, facilities), maintenance, security, technology, and other support functions necessary for court administration and judicial operations.
  • Distribution and line-item specifics: While the exact line items are not detailed in the provided summary, such appropriations typically specify budgets for:
    • Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Trial Courts, and circuit/district court operations
    • Administrative offices (administration, clerk’s offices, and budgeting divisions)
    • Judicial branch agencies and commissions (e.g., probation,裁定 services, court security, data/IT management)
    • Facilities and maintenance (courthouse upkeep, renovations, utilities)
    • Technology, modernization, and IT security
    • Personnel-related costs (salaries, benefits, retirement contributions, health insurance)
  • State-supported activities: The bill may cover non-judicial activities funded by the state that support judicial operations (training, court reporting, interpreter services, and programmatic initiatives).
  • Compliance and oversight: As with typical appropriations measures, HB 428 likely includes provisions related to fiscal accountability, reporting requirements, and adherence to state budgeting rules.

Who is affected

  • Judicial Branch entities: All courts and affiliated offices within Kentucky’s judiciary, including administrative agencies and commissions supporting judicial functions.
  • State agencies partnering with the judiciary: Agencies that provide services or infrastructure to the courts (e.g., IT, facilities management, security).
  • Public beneficiaries: Litigants, attorneys, and court users who rely on funded judicial services (courts, clerks, and support programs).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and referral: Introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives on January 16, 2026.
  • Committee referrals: Initially sent to the Committee on Committees (H) on January 16, 2026, with subsequent referral to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee (H) on January 27, 2026.
  • Process steps (typical for appropriations bills): After committee consideration, the bill would proceed to full House debate and vote, potentially move to the Senate for its version (including any amendments), and ultimately be reconciled in a conference committee if the chambers differ. Final passage would lead to enactment and implementation for the relevant fiscal period (often the upcoming state fiscal year or biennium).

Notes on details

  • The summary above reflects the bill’s stated scope as an appropriations measure for the Judicial Branch. Specific dollar amounts, percentage changes, or earmarked line items are not provided in the available information and would be found in the bill’s fiscal note and the detailed appropriation schedule attached to HB 428.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize particular sections (e.g., court security funding, technology modernization, or personnel costs) once the bill’s full text and fiscal notes are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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