SENATOR JIMMY HIGDON'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Interim meetings continue, activity in Washington and how it may impact Kentucky
Before I begin, I want to comment on Tuesday’s verdict in the Crystal Rogers case. The verdict brings some long-awaited justice for a family and community that’ve carried the weight of Crystal’s disappearance for years. Folks in Bardstown have been through a lot, and this step forward means a great deal to so many.
I’m grateful to prosecutor Shane Young and everyone who stayed committed to finding justice for Crystal and her loved ones. Their persistence made this possible.
While the verdict brings a sense of closure, I know there are still questions and pain that can’t be addressed in the courtroom. I hope that the road ahead brings truth, healing, and peace.
To Sherry, Crystal’s children, Mr. and Mrs. Till Ballard, and all who this tragedy has touched, please know that I stand with you today and always.
Legislative Update
We’re in the middle of our interim session—a time between regular legislative sessions when lawmakers gather for committee meetings, dig into the details, and prepare for what’s ahead. I’ve already shared a couple of legislative updates earlier this summer. This is the latest to keep you in the loop on what’s happening both here in Kentucky and, when necessary, at the federal level.
Even though we’re not in regular session, plenty is happening around the Capitol. Here are updates from some of our most recent committee meetings.
Information Technology Oversight Committee
Launched in 2015 to expand broadband access across Kentucky, KentuckyWired was designed to build a 3,393-mile “middle mile” fiber network connecting government facilities. The project experienced years of delays—largely due to challenges with pole attachments—and incurred significant costs through availability payments on bonds issued before the network was operational.
During the committee meeting, lawmakers delved into longstanding issues with the initiative, focusing on delays, financial burdens, and management disputes. Concerns were raised over contract oversight, procurement practices, and the long-term cost to taxpayers.
The Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) defended its decision to terminate a contract with Accelecom by citing multiple defaults and unauthorized network use. Accelecom disputed those claims and attributed problems to leadership changes at KCNA and expressed a willingness to renegotiate. The committee emphasized the need for greater transparency and fiscal accountability as the state remains responsible for bond payments through 2045.
Lawmakers questioned whether state agencies should manage such complex tech initiatives directly or rely more heavily on private-sector expertise.
An audit, funded by $1.5 million from Senate Bill 25 from the 2025 Legislative Session, is now underway to determine why the project remains incomplete and what is required to complete it.
Interim Joint Committee (IJC) on Agriculture
In the second meeting of the IJC on Agriculture, lawmakers reviewed two initiatives focused on strengthening Kentucky’s farm economy through infrastructure and local processing investment. Don Pemberton of Agri-Chem, LLC presented a $1.76 million proposal to modernize the Eddyville Agri-Port Terminal, which distributes 100,000 tons of fertilizer annually across 500,000 acres of Kentucky farmland and contributes to roughly $500 million in crop production. Agri-Chem, a farmer-owned cooperative affiliated with Hopkinsville Elevator, also offers seed, crop protection, and precision application services, with profits reinvested into the farming community.
John Edwards of Trackside Butcher Shoppe emphasized the importance of expanding small-scale, USDA-inspected meat processing. Trackside’s Campbellsburg facility processes cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats, employs over 30 people, and serves farmers across a 50-mile radius. Edwards is an example of the role these processors play in supporting local livestock producers, enhancing food security, and generating jobs in rural Kentucky. Together, both presentations emphasized the importance of strategic agricultural investments that maintain a regional supply chain and a strong farm economy.
MAHA Kentucky Task Force
The task force discussed growing concerns around Kentucky’s health outcomes, food insecurity, and the long-term sustainability of the SNAP program. These issues affect families across the commonwealth—both urban and rural—and lawmakers heard from a range of experts, including public health officials, food access advocates, and industry leaders.
Kentucky continues to rank 41st in national health outcomes with especially low marks for senior health and chronic disease. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky emphasized several troubling trends. Nearly 14 percent of adults have diabetes, and access to care remains a challenge in 43 counties with a shortage of primary care providers. Almost half of the state’s physicians are concentrated in just two counties.
Lawmakers also dug into the structure of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which now serves over 562,000 Kentuckians. Officials with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented data showing that SNAP is linked to better child welfare outcomes and lower health care costs, especially among low-income families with chronic conditions. The program also supports more than 3,600 jobs in the grocery sector and generates nearly $1.80 in economic activity for every federal dollar spent.
The Kentucky Grocers and Convenience Store Association shared industry concerns about proposed SNAP purchase restrictions, cautioning that overly complex or patchwork policies could raise costs for both retailers and state agencies. Instead, grocers and food banks alike recommended expanding incentive-based programs that reward healthier choices, such as Double Dollars and produce prescription partnerships with health providers.
One Big Beautiful Bill approved in Washington
One of the significant developments to come out of Washington is a wide-reaching federal law that is known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” While this didn’t come from our state legislature, it’s something that will affect Kentucky’s families, hospitals, and budget planning for years to come. It’s a massive package, and we’re still working to understand all the ways it might play out. Here’s what we know so far.
Work and responsibility
This bill clarifies who is eligible for Medicaid and food assistance. If you’re a healthy adult without kids, you’ll now have to show proof of work or job activities to keep those benefits. The goal is to encourage individuals to re-enter the workforce and help reduce long-term dependency on government assistance. That’s something many of us support in the General Assembly. Safety net programs, such as Medicare and SNAP, must be managed in a way that genuinely supports those most in need and for whom the program was initially intended. Over the years, these programs have been expanded in ways that are not financially viable.
Tax relief that hits home
Another big part of the bill is making the Trump-era tax cuts permanent. Additionally, new deductions and credits are available to help Kentucky families, including larger child tax credits, breaks for seniors, and exemption from taxes on tips or overtime pay up to a certain amount. These changes will allow more people to keep what they earn.
Pressures on rural health care
For years, Kentucky has relied on what is known as “provider taxes” to help fund Medicaid and support its rural hospitals. This bill will cap the amount we can raise through those taxes, starting in a few years. A new $50 billion rural health grant fund was established in the bill.
A shift in energy priorities
The bill rolls back a lot of clean-energy subsidies and adds new support for coal, gas, and oil. That’s a win for our coal counties and could bring new investment back into those regions.
Stronger borders, no major state costs
Another part of the bill puts billions toward border security, new immigration enforcement, and a fee system for asylum seekers. The biggest impact this would have on Kentucky is further restricting the ability for drugs such as fentanyl to flow into our communities.
Kentucky preparedness
Here’s the good news. Because of the careful and conservative way we’ve handled Kentucky’s finances over the last several years, we’re better positioned than most states to handle these changes. We’ve cut taxes, paid down debt, and built our rainy day fund up to a record $5.2 billion. That strong foundation gives us some breathing room to make thoughtful, deliberate decisions without being forced into a corner.
Thanks for staying informed. It’s an honor to serve you in Frankfort.
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Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. He serves as co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation and the Public Pension Oversight Board. He also serves on the Interim Joint Committees on Education; Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. He is a member of the Kentucky Housing Task Force.