HIGDON SPONSORS RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH KENTUCKY VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION TASK FORCE

Measure approved by committee on Thursday

FRANKFORT, KY (March 5, 2025)—The Kentucky Senate has approved Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon. The bill addresses rising costs in the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), standardizes benefits across districts, and improves transparency in how sick leave impacts pensions.

Key provisions of SB 9 include

  • requires all districts to provide at least 30 days of maternity leave annually by 2030,

  • limiting sick leave for pension calculations at 12 days per year (10 sick days, 2 personal days) while preserving previously accrued benefits,

  • ensuring districts, not the state, cover additional pension liabilities if they offer more sick leave, and

  • increasing transparency by requiring TRS to report sick leave liabilities in actuarial valuations and mandating audits of school district policies.

Two Senate floor amendments were adopted into the bill. 

An amendment from Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe clarified that districts such as Fayette County Public Schools, which may already offer more maternity or paternity leave above 30 days, will not be capped at 30 days. An addition by Higdon adds a provision to allow the state auditor of public accounts to audit TRS to better determine actual state costs required to support teacher pension solvency. 

SB 9 follows a review by the Public Pension Oversight Board, which found TRS’ sick leave liability exceeded $800 million, more than double prior estimates. Since 2017, the General Assembly has provided $6.3 billion in additional funding to TRS beyond statutory requirements, yet unfunded liabilities persist, though have improved under supermajority leadership. 

SB 9 now moves to the House for consideration.

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Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. Higdon serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, overseeing efforts to craft biennial road plans, advance Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure, and improve public safety. He also serves as Senate co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, focusing on stabilizing and strengthening Kentucky’s pension systems through reform and surplus investment. Additionally, Higdon is a member of the Senate Committees on Education; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and Licensing and Occupations. During the 2024 interim, he served as a Kentucky Housing Task Force member.

Visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate114.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Higdon. 

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