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HB 17

AN ACT relating to one-time payments to school district employees, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chad Aull and 2 co-sponsors

The bill provides one-time lump-sum payments to eligible Kentucky school district employees, funded by a dedicated appropriation and enacted as an emergency measure.

to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 17

Overview

HB 17 (2026RS) from Kentucky proposes one-time payments to school district employees, establishes a funding appropriation to support those payments, and declares the measure an emergency. The bill moves through the typical legislative process with initial referrals to appropriations and revenue and committee consideration.

Purpose and intent

  • Provide one-time, targeted financial support to school district employees.
  • Create a state appropriation to fund these payments.
  • Declare the act an emergency, indicating immediate effective date upon enactment (subject to legislative approval and any constitutional/statutory requirements for emergencies).

Key provisions and changes

  • One-time payments: The bill authorizes lump-sum payments to eligible school district employees. Details typically cover:
    • Eligibility: who qualifies (e.g., classifications of employees such as teachers, support staff, or others within school districts). The exact scope would be defined in the bill’s text (e.g., full-time equivalents, duration of employment, or specific job roles).
    • Amount: the size of the one-time payment per eligible employee (e.g., a fixed dollar amount or a capped payment).
    • Timing: when payments would be issued (e.g., within a particular fiscal year or by a set date).
  • Appropriation: The measure establishes a dedicated state appropriation to fund these payments, specifying:
    • Total funding amount or the mechanism to determine the appropriation.
    • Source of funds (e.g., general fund, reserve, federal funds, or a combination).
    • Budgetary controls or reporting requirements to ensure proper use of funds.
  • Emergency declaration: The bill designates the act as an emergency, which, if approved, may allow for immediate or accelerated implementation and a faster effective date than ordinary statutes. It may also influence spending timelines and appropriations without the usual budget-cycle delays.

Note: The precise eligibility criteria, payment amounts, funding totals, and implementation timelines are defined in the bill’s text. The summary reflects common structures for this policy type but may not capture all specifics until the bill’s language is reviewed.

Who would be affected

  • School district employees who meet the bill’s eligibility criteria would be recipients of the one-time payments.
  • School districts and their payroll systems, which would implement and distribute the payments in accordance with the appropriation and administrative guidance.
  • State budget and treasury offices administering the designated appropriation and ensuring compliance with reporting and auditing requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Referral and committee path:
    • Introduced in the House (January 6, 2026).
    • Referred to Committees on Committees (H) and later to the Appropriations & Revenue Committee (H) (January 13, 2026), indicating a focus on fiscal impact and funding.
  • Emergency status:
    • The bill declares itself an emergency, which, if enacted, could enable faster enactment and earlier implementation of the payments, subject to constitutional limits and legislative procedures.
  • Next steps (typical): If advanced, the bill would proceed through committee hearings, potential amendments, passage by both chambers, and a gubernatorial signature or veto, after which the appropriation would be released for eligible districts.

Practical considerations

  • Budgetary impact: The total cost depends on the number of eligible employees and the per-employee payment amount; the appropriations section will specify the overall funding and any contingencies.
  • Administrative feasibility: School districts would need guidance on eligibility confirmation, payment timing, and reporting to ensure compliance with the emergency appropriation.
  • Equity and transparency: The bill would ideally define clear eligibility rules to prevent confusion and ensure uniform application across districts.

If you’d like, I can pull the exact statutory language and draft a more detailed line-item summary once the bill text is available.

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

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