Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 5 D cosponsors

HB 522 — AN ACT relating to the provision of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and declaring an emergency.

Last action — to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 24% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Amend KRS 48.705 to allow the Governor to authorize limited use of moneys in the budget reserve trust fund to provide for the continuity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a lapse in federal appropriations; require repayment of the moneys within 90 days of restoration of federal appropriations; require reporting to the Legislative Research Commission and the State Budget Director; require prior approval of the General Assembly if more than 5% of the total balance of the budget reserve trust fund is used; EMERGENCY.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows the Governor to utilize funds from the budget reserve trust fund during federal funding lapses for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with specific conditions for repayment.

  • KRS 48.705

    (b) 1. If a lapse in federal appropriations occurs due to a shutdown of the federal government or a temporary suspension in federal funding, the Governor may authorize the limited use of the moneys in the budget reserve trust fund to provide for the continuity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 2. Any moneys used under this paragraph shall be considered a temporary loan and be repaid to the budget reserve trust fund from the affected federal funding source within ninety (90) days of the restoration of federal appropriations. 3. The Governor shall, within ten (10) days of authorizing the use of moneys under this paragraph, notify the Legislative Research Commission and the State Budget Director in a statement that includes: a. The amount of funds advanced; b. The programs to which the funds were allocated; and c. The anticipated source and timeline for repayment. 4. The Governor shall not authorize the use of more than five percent (5%) of the total balance of the budget reserve trust fund without the prior approval of the General Assembly.

    This addition permits the Governor to use budget reserve funds to maintain SNAP during federal funding interruptions, establishing a framework for loans and repayment.

Action History

  1. to Appropriations & Revenue (H)

  2. to Committee on Committees (H)

  3. introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 133 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (133)

133 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety finance agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 522 do?
Amend KRS 48.705 to allow the Governor to authorize limited use of moneys in the budget reserve trust fund to provide for the continuity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a lapse in federal appropriations; require repayment of the moneys within 90 days of restoration of federal appropriations; require reporting to the Legislative Research Commission and the State Budget Director; require prior approval of the General Assembly if more than 5% of the total balance of the budget reserve trust fund is used; EMERGENCY.
Who sponsors HB 522?
HB 522 is sponsored by Joshua Watkins (Democrat), Pamela Stevenson (Democrat), Sarah Stalker (Democrat), Rachel Roarx (Democrat), and Anne Gay Donworth (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 522?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 29, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 522?
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Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

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