SENATOR BRANDON SMITH'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Week four of the legislative session had a tough start for a lot of folks back home. Eastern Kentucky got hammered by winter weather last weekend. At one point, more than 80,000 Kentuckians were without power, and many are still without water. Roads were slick, trees were down and it was cold. Real cold.

A thanks to utility crews, first responders and road workers

But in true Kentucky fashion, folks stepped up. I want to personally thank the contractors, local responders and utility crews who worked through ice, wind and long nights to get people back online and able to travel safer if they needed to. Within just a couple days, power outages were down to around 10,000 and dropping. That kind of commitment reminds us what service looks like. These men and women left their own families to protect ours, and I’m proud to stand with them.

When we talk about infrastructure and reliability, this is what we mean. It’s not just numbers in a budget or lines on a map. It’s real people with real needs who count on things working, under all circumstances.

I’ll keep pushing to make sure eastern Kentucky isn’t overlooked when it comes to emergency response and long-term investment. Energy reliability and costs will also remain a part of my work as Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee chair. 

A key to having reliable energy is having reliable housing. We are all aware of the negative impacts of inflation and the availability of affordable homes, as well as the lack of supply of housing to meet the demand. On Friday, I proposed one thing we can do to help, and that is address abandoned homes and how we can better repair and prepare them for families to call them theirs. 

Senate Bill (SB) 142 filed

In week four I filed SB 142, which takes a strategic swing at Kentucky’s affordable housing shortage. In many of our communities, homes sit vacant and falling apart while working families struggle to find safe, affordable places to live. This bill establishes the Abandoned Home Pool Fund to help convert long-empty houses into livable rental homes. 

My proposal would partner with the trusted non-profit housing partners who know how to get things done. The bill would require that any home fixed up with these dollars stay affordable for at least 20 years. Rent would be capped based on actual rehab costs—not whatever the market says—and folks who keep up with payments could eventually earn the chance to own it.

SB 142 is about giving families a fair shot, not fueling profits. It’s about rehabilitation and the effective and efficient production of housing through public and private partners. 

I believe this is a smart, targeted solution that lifts up our neighborhoods and uses tax dollars wisely. I’ve been endlessly frustrated at the price tags and slow pace of rebuilding we have seen here in our region following tragic flooding. While documents sit on bureaucrats' tables awaiting approval, those in our non-profit sector are on the ground doing the work free from the red tape holding others back. It’s time to move and offer housing options that are affordable to families who need it.  

Moving legislation forward

While the Capitol was delayed a day, the Senate picked up steam once we got back. We continued making progress on priority legislation and passed a handful of strong bills that I supported.

• SB 181 improves student safety by tightening communication rules between students and adults in schools. It’s part of the Senate’s larger focus on education reform, with six of the first 10 Senate bills filed this year dealing with school governance, leadership or student protection.
• SB 17 makes helpful updates to the CASA program, which helps look out for kids involved in the court system. It streamlines governance so volunteers can stay focused on the mission.
• SB 20 gives cities more flexibility to manage training incentives for their local officials. It’s a practical bill that helps communities tailor programs to fit their needs.
• Senate Joint Resolution 23 recognizes the value of using nutrition to fight disease and sets Kentucky up as a “Food is Medicine” state. It supports smarter, community-based approaches to health care and food access.

These are practical bills with real impact. No frills. No politics. Just responsible governing.

Cancer awareness in the Senate

This week also brought an important opportunity to stand with fellow legislators in support of cancer patients, survivors and families across Kentucky. It was “Suits and Sneakers Day” in the Senate on Thursday. I’ve supported this cause for years, both at home and in Frankfort, because it’s personal. 

My Nanny battled breast cancer in 1977, and I still remember praying for her to be OK That experience left a mark. It’s why I continue to fight for awareness, research and funding to beat this disease. When you see lawmakers wearing sneakers at the Capitol for what we call “Suits and Sneakers Day,” it’s in partnership with the American Cancer Society’s campaign to raise awareness. Know that behind every pair of sneakers is a promise that we will continue to run beside those who can’t afford to stop.

Looking ahead

The House filed its first draft of the state budget this week, known as House Bill 500. That document will now come over to the Senate, where we’ll take a close look and get to work shaping the final plan. As always, I’ll be focused on making sure eastern Kentucky gets its fair share, especially when it comes to infrastructure, education and health care.

This is the part of the session where things start to move fast. I’ll keep you updated as we go, and I’ll keep bringing your voice to the table in Frankfort.

Stay connected

Legislation often changes through amendments or substitutions as it moves through the process. You can follow the General Assembly’s work live on KET or YouTube (@KYLRCCommitteeMeetings), and track bills at legislature.ky.gov. If you have thoughts or concerns, you can always reach me at 502-564-8100 or Brandon.Smith@kylegislature.gov. 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you.

Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, represents the 30th Senate District, which includes Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, and Wolfe Counties. Smith serves as chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Transportation, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection, and Banking and Insurance. Additionally, Smith serves on the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection. During the 2025 interim, he served on the Kentucky Housing Task Force.