Kentucky lawmakers return to Frankfort as this year’s legislative interim begins on June 1. The interim – the period between legislative sessions – is when we lay the groundwork for the year ahead. In fact, if you want to know what will be on our agenda for 2027, look no further than the committee meetings that will take place between now and December.
Planning for the next session
During the months between legislative sessions, individual lawmakers use this time to dig more deeply into the issues they care about. We meet with stakeholders, including community groups, industry representatives, local officials, and subject matter experts, to understand how current laws are working and where problems still exist. These conversations help us hear directly from the people affected by policy decisions, giving us a clearer picture of what needs to change.
Because we are a part-time legislature, the interim gives us valuable time to review data, study how other states handle similar issues, and consult with nonpartisan staff to understand the legal and financial impacts of different approaches. It is a lot like doing our homework and studying for the big test that comes when we convene in January. This behind-the-scenes work helps us refine ideas and make sure any proposal we bring forward is practical, effective, and financially responsible.
Monitoring implementation of new laws
The interim is also when we closely monitor how the laws we have already passed are being implemented. Oversight is one of the most important responsibilities of the General Assembly. We must ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used as intended, that agencies are following legislative direction, and that programs are still serving the purpose for which they were created. That means asking necessary questions: Is this program still effective? Has it outlived its original need? Is it duplicating services already offered by another agency or the private sector? And if a program is working, how do we strengthen it? If it is not, how do we responsibly wind it down or redirect resources to something that delivers better results?
One area where this kind of scrutiny is especially important is Medicaid, the state’s second-largest budget category. Medicaid now provides health coverage to nearly one-third of Kentucky’s population, yet we continue to see little improvement in overall health outcomes or access to care. That is not sustainable for taxpayers or for the people who genuinely rely on the program. We have begun laying the groundwork for making Medicaid more effective and more accountable. The next steps will involve determining how to ensure the program remains available for those who truly need it, while preventing it from becoming a long-term crutch for those who have other options. The goal is to strengthen the program, protect it, and make sure it works as intended.
Throughout the interim, we will also continue examining major issues affecting Kentucky families, including housing availability and affordability, as well as efforts to protect law-abiding and vulnerable Kentuckians, and strengthen our economy. These are complex challenges that require coordination across agencies, communities, and sometimes even across state lines. The interim gives us the time and space to study these issues in depth and develop meaningful solutions rather than quick fixes.
Interim and statutory committees
Interim joint committees help lawmakers keep working on issues between regular legislative sessions. These committees are made up of members from the matching committees in both the House and Senate. For example, the Senate Agriculture Committee and the House Agriculture Committee come together to form the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture once the session ends.
In addition to interim joint committees, statutory committees continue to meet and work on their subject matter. Statutory committees are permanent committees created by the legislature to handle specific ongoing responsibilities. Because they are established in state law, they continue to exist and operate whether or not we are in session.
Several key interim joint committees will meet during the first week, including Appropriations and Revenue, Education, Agriculture, Transportation, and Natural Resources. Members of the Public Pension Oversight Board, a statutory committee, will also meet.
Committee meetings are open to the public and generally held in the Capitol Annex. Meeting agendas, presentation materials, and minutes from previous meetings are available under the committee section of the legislature’s website.
Follow along
For those who cannot travel to Frankfort, there are several ways to stay informed:
Updates on social media: I use my official Facebook page –@RepresentativeAmyNeighbors– to update constituents regularly. The House Majority Caucus also maintains a presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X with the handle @KYHouseGOP.
Livestreaming: The Kentucky General Assembly livestreams all committee meetings on the LRC’s YouTube channel, @KYLRCCommitteeMeetings. KET also offers livestream coverage and maintains an archive of past meetings.
Legislative website: legislature.ky.gov provides access to legislation, schedules, statutes, and information about individual legislators.
Interim calendar: The official interim schedule is available under Schedules and Calendars.
Committee information: Details on interim joint committees, statutory committees, task forces, and working groups are available online.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at amy.neighbors@kylegislature.gov.
(HD21 – News from the Office of Rep. Neighbors)