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Senate committee advances Stivers' research endowment bill to Senate floor
Summary
The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee voted 12-0 to report Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create multiyear endowed research consortia to seed university partnerships and private-sector leverage; supporters said the endowments could attract high‑paying research jobs and outside grant funding.
Senate President Robert Stivers told the Appropriations and Revenue Committee that Senate Bill 6 would establish a competitive program of endowed research grants meant to encourage university consortia and private partnerships across Kentucky.
"We want our athletic teams to have great competitions on the field or on the court, but in the realm of academics and research ... I think it is better that they collaborate and work together than it is to be in competition," Stivers said, describing a model of five research tranches and proposing a total endowment goal of roughly $150 million with a $30 million tranche concept to generate seed interest.
Supporters told the committee the grants are intended both to fund cutting‑edge projects and to position Kentucky to win larger federal and private grants. Stivers cited prior state seed funding that helped consortia pursue National Institutes of Health and other national grants and said an initial interest stream could be leveraged to attract private partners.
Senator Funke Frommeyer asked whether the Economic Development Cabinet has been engaged. Stivers replied that the cabinet has “not been engaged in this except to say they believe this is a good idea,” and added the program could be structured to protect intellectual property so outside companies would partner with universities.
Other senators emphasized regional participation. Senator Boswell urged that research dollars reach western Kentucky and cited local laboratory capacity in Owensboro; Stivers and members discussed partnerships involving Morehead State University, Murray and other institutions and private partners such as Space Tango.
After discussion, Senator Mays Bledsoe moved and Senator Maiden seconded a motion to report SB6 favorably with a recommendation to pass. Members who explained their votes praised the bill’s potential to create well‑paid research jobs and attract investment; Senator Richardson described conversations with private‑sector colleagues eager to participate in pharmacogenomics and AI‑driven cancer research.
The committee roll call recorded 12 yes votes, zero nays. Chair McDaniel announced, “There being 12 I votes, no nay votes, the measure passes with favorable expression onto the Senate floor.” The committee did not amend the bill on the floor of this meeting.
What happens next: SB6 is scheduled to be reported to the full Senate; committee action does not itself appropriate funding. The bill’s backers said the proposal is a multi‑year funding strategy that would require subsequent budget decisions and possible coordination with the Council on Postsecondary Education and the Economic Development Cabinet to finalize program regulations and administration.
Details extracted from the committee record: Stivers described five research grant tranches, proposed an overall endowment target of about $150 million, and estimated about $1.5 million annual interest from a $30 million tranche to seed additional leveraging. Committee members repeatedly said the goal is to use seed endowment dollars to attract federal grants and private partners, but final appropriations and administrative rules remain to be specified.
