RAWLINGS BILL TO ENFORCE BAN ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED BALLOT ADVOCACY PASSES HOUSE
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 26, 2026) — The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 59 (SB 59), legislation sponsored by Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, to strengthen enforcement of Kentucky’s existing ban on the use of taxpayer funds to influence ballot questions.
Kentucky law already prohibits public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot questions, but the statute currently lacks clear enforcement mechanisms. SB 59 addresses that gap by establishing civil and criminal penalties to ensure public institutions that violate the law can be held accountable.
“Taxpayer dollars belong to the people, not the government,” Rawlings said. “Citizens should never be forced to fund political messaging they may disagree with, especially when it comes from government entities.”
Rawlings said the legislation reinforces the principle that government institutions must remain neutral in elections and ballot campaigns.
“This bill ensures the rules we already have in place actually mean something,” Rawlings said. “When public resources are used for political advocacy, it erodes trust and undermines the integrity of the democratic process. SB 59 creates real consequences and helps restore confidence that the government will play by the rules.”
Rep. TJ Roberts, R-Burlington, who carried the bill on the House floor, said the legislation is a commonsense step to protect taxpayers and preserve trust in the electoral process.
“SB 59 is about making sure taxpayer dollars are used the way they’re meant to be,” Roberts said. “This bill strengthens the rules that already bar public funds from being used to sway ballot questions, including constitutional amendments and constitutional convention issues. By tightening up how those rules are enforced, SB 59 helps ensure that Kentuckians can make up their own minds at the ballot box without publicly funded influence. I appreciate Sen. Rawlings’s attention to this matter.”
SB 59 strengthens protections for taxpayers by ensuring public funds are used only for legitimate public purposes and not for political campaigning related to ballot questions.
For more information on SB 59 and other legislative updates, visit Legislature.ky.gov.