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Kentucky Senate adopts new rules for 2026 session, including removal of 12-member committee cap and mandatory hard-copy bill printing
Summary
On opening day the Kentucky Senate adopted Senate Resolution 2 to set procedural rules for 2026, removing a 12-member limit on standing committees, ending a 200-copy paper-print requirement for bills in favor of electronic distribution, and striking the COVID-era remote-voting paragraph.
The Kentucky State Senate on its opening day adopted Senate Resolution 2, setting the chamber’s rules for the 2026 regular session and approving several notable procedural changes.
Senator from Taylor, who presented the resolution and explained the revisions, said the package “are the proposals found underneath senate resolution number 2 for the rules changes.” The changes the body adopted remove the 12-member cap on standing committees, shift administrative-regulation jurisdiction into licensing and occupations, remove the requirement to post hard-copy orders in the chamber, and eliminate a provision that had allowed members to vote from their offices during the COVID period.
The resolution also updates the handling of conference-committee reports to permit reporting, adoption and final passage on the same day; requires floor leader approval before adopting certain resolutions on the floor; prohibits motioning to make all members cosponsors of a resolution; and replaces a longstanding requirement to print 200 copies of each bill with an electronic distribution standard.
Supporters framed several edits as technical updates to reflect current practice and to streamline budget-related conference committee work. The rule package passed by voice vote after the senator from Taylor moved its adoption and the presiding officer called for the ayes.
The action resets several administrative and procedural expectations for how the Senate will process legislation and committee work over the next 60 business days. The chamber proceeded to other organizational business following the vote.
