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HB 826 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to education.

Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 151B to require no less than 85% of general fund appropriations to the Office of Adult Education to be used for programs fulfilling the adult education mission and goals of the office; amend KRS 151B.403 to require a qualifying test to obtain a High School Equivalency Diploma to offer a written or paper test administration.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates 85% of general fund appropriations to adult education be used for core programs, protecting and strengthening funding allocation for essential public services.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates 85% of adult education funding be used for core programs and adds testing requirements for high school equivalency, strengthening educational access and accountability.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Mar 3, 2026 Signed Apr 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renamed from 'adult education' to 'education' and its scope was significantly expanded to include mandatory civics curriculum requirements for higher education institutions. The text was updated to repeal a previous Senate bill and to mandate that specific universities develop and distribute a three-semester-hour course on American government and history.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from focusing on adult education to establishing a new degree program requirement for public institutions of higher education.
SCOPE

The title of the act was changed from 'relating to adult education' to 'relating to education', broadening the bill's general subject matter.

REQUIREMENT

New sections were added to repeal a previous Senate bill and to require the McConnell Center and the Center of American Civics to develop a mandatory three-semester-hour course on American government and history.

The new course curriculum must include comprehensive coverage of the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and documents related to the Civil Rights movement.

TECHNICAL

Header information was updated to reflect the bill number (HB 826/EN), page count (Page 1 of 3), and a new date (4/15/2026).

Floor votes · House Mar 19, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
14
Committee
13
Apr 23, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 197)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 89-4
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) as a consent bill
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Education (S)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
returned to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
taken from Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
returned to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
taken from Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 94-0
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
to Postsecondary Education (H)
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.