FRANKFORT, Ky. — As the 2026 Kentucky legislative session enters its final weeks, several key bills could soon end up on the governor’s desk.
On day 50 of the legislative session, the Kentucky House passed a measure further regulating sports betting in the state. House Bill 904 makes several changes, including raising the age to place a wager from 18 to 21. Kentucky legalized sports betting in 2023.
“Also, would ban certain prop betting on in-state collegiate athletes. So collegiate athletes that play for Kentucky teams, you could not have a negative prop bet on those, so you couldn’t bet the under, taking away any incentive for bribery or harassing a player for not meeting that goal,” said state Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland.
The bill taxes online prediction markets at the same rate that sports bets are currently taxed.
“We restrict in this bill anyone betting in our online betting system, who has child support of over $1,000 from being able to bet in the future,” Meredith said.
On education, the chamber passed Senate Bill 2. It prevents school administrators from receiving larger pay increases than teachers.
A late addition to the bill allows superintendents to fire principals of constantly underperforming schools.
“And what this would allow the superintendent to do is basically remove those principals that they didn’t feel like they had the capacity to lead those schools,” said state Rep. Scott Lewis, R-Hartford.
The bill includes language requiring superintendent pay and contract documents to be posted on school district websites.
Lexington Democrat Adrielle Camuel was among the few lawmakers to oppose the bill, citing issues with the language added by the House.
“The original bill, when it came from the Senate, did exactly what the Senate sponsor intended it to do, and sadly, I had to be a no today,” Camuel said.
In an expected move, the House did not agree with the Senate’s version of the state budget.
Friday lawmakers from the House and Senate will meet to compare the two spending plans. A final budget will be sent to the governor in the next few legislative days.