Summary of HB 44 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)
Title: AN ACT relating to robotics
Session: 2026RS
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Purpose and core goal
- Establishes a framework to promote Advanced Manufacturing through student-focused robotics education.
- Creates a dedicated funding mechanism and governance structure to support Kentucky-based robotics teams and robotics competitions.
- Aims to broaden participation, enhance STEM skills (emphasizing advanced manufacturing), and connect students to workforce and postsecondary opportunities.
Key provisions and changes
1) Definitions and scope
- Defines terms essential to the program, including:
- Advanced manufacturing: Student-driven robot design and fabrication for robotics competitions.
- Eligible robotics team: Kentucky-based team with middle/high school students (grades 7–12), enrolled in an eligible school or part of a qualified robotics organization, and with at least two team coaches.
- Eligible school: Kentucky public or public charter schools, or nonpublic schools certified by the Kentucky Board of Education.
- Qualified robotics organization: Nonprofit with tax-exempt status, registered with the Secretary of State, a focus on STEM/robotics, and historically involved with robotics competitions.
- Robotics competition: An event in Kentucky that integrates advanced manufacturing, fosters team-to-team competition, and is facilitated by a competition sponsor.
- Team coach: An adult affiliated with an eligible school or qualified robotics organization, screened through background checks (KSP/FBI) and cleared per KRS 160.380.
2) Establishment of the Robotics Competition Fund
- A trust/agency fund in the State Treasury to be known as the robotics competition fund.
- Fund sources: State appropriations, gifts, grants, federal funds, and other public/private funds.
- Investment and administrative linkage: Fund investments managed by the State Treasurer; administration/reporting aligned with the Kentucky Department of Education.
- Use of funds (as available):
- Grants to eligible robotics teams:
- Cover stipends for coaches, kits/supplies, competition attendance, and other necessary expenses.
- Grants to competition sponsors:
- Cover infrastructure, operational costs, and other competition-related expenses.
- Administrative costs for the Department of Education (up to 5% of available funds or $75,000 per fiscal year, whichever is less).
3) Governance: Robotics Funding Selection Committee
- Purpose: Award grants and establish requirements to expand opportunities and improve STEM skills via robotics competitions.
- Composition (five voting members):
- Representative from the Council on Postsecondary Education (appointed by the Council’s president)
- Representative from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (appointed by its president)
- Representative from the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (appointed by its chair)
- Representative from the Office of Career and Technical Education (appointed by the Commissioner of Education)
- Representative from the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (appointed by its president)
- Leadership and terms:
- Chair and vice-chair elected annually.
- Initial terms: staggered (three-year and two-year terms for each seat).
- Subsequent terms: three-year terms.
- Administrative regulations: By April 1, 2027, the Department, with committee input, must promulgate regulations (KRS Chapter 13A) outlining:
- Procedures to receive/review grant applications and criteria for awards.
- Approved list of robotics competitions (posted on the Department website at least 30 days before application period).
- Grant application forms for teams and sponsors.
- Maximum grant amounts and annual timelines (see details below).
- Safety policy requirements (including risk controls, emergency action plans, liability insurance requirements, and insurance sufficiency).
- Grant award agreements and conditions; disbursement contingent on signed agreements.
4) Grant criteria and award specifics
- For eligible robotics teams:
- Application must include membership details, need statement, history, budget, competition registration, and commitment to participate in registered competitions.
- Must show at least 25% match (monetary or in-kind).
- Must commit to designing an original robot incorporating advanced manufacturing practices.
- Requires a school/organization endorsement and safety compliance attestation.
- For competition sponsors:
- Application must show need, hosting history, emphasis on advanced manufacturing, budget, 25% match, ADA-compliant accommodations, and safety attestation.
- Safety and liability:
- Sponsors must implement a comprehensive safety policy, including prevention of unreasonable risks, event-day safety safeguards, facility emergency plans, and adequate liability insurance (policy must be from a Kentucky-authorized insurer and cover potential final judgments up to policy limits).
5) Funding governance and prioritization
- Grants prioritized to maximize the number of eligible robotics teams, with a focus on high school participation and geographic distribution.
- Administrative linkage: The committee’s activities are attached to the Kentucky Department of Education for admin/reporting purposes.
6) Reporting
- Beginning August 1, 2027 (and annually thereafter), the Department must report to the Legislative Research Commission (for interim joint committees) on:
- Fund income and expenditures for the prior fiscal year.
- Number of eligible robotics teams awarded (including student grade levels).
- Number of competition sponsors awarded.
- Robotics competitions facilitated and participant reach (total students/teams, and attendance per competition).
6) Implementation and timelines
- Initial committee appointments due by September 1, 2026.
- First committee meeting by October 15, 2026 (to elect leadership).
- Administrative regulations to implement grant processes and safety requirements by April 1, 2027.
- By August 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, mandatory reporting to the legislature.
Impact and who is affected
- Eligible robotics teams (Kentucky middle/high school students) and their coaches/organizations stand to gain funding for team development, competition participation, and related expenses.
- Competition sponsors can obtain funds to host and operate robotics events that emphasize advanced manufacturing.
- School districts, nonpublic eligible schools, and qualified robotics organizations gain a structured funding pipeline and governance framework.
- Local communities could benefit from expanded access to STEM education and heightened workforce development aligned with manufacturing sectors.
Notes
- The act is titled the Advanced Manufacturing Through Robotics Education Act.
- It creates ongoing program administration within the Kentucky Department of Education and a cross-agency advisory/oversight committee.
- It sets caps on certain grant amounts and requires matching funds, safety compliance, and ADA accommodations.
