How is Kentucky's biennial executive-branch budget HB 500 shaping spending, Medicaid and pension funding?

HB 500, the $32 billion biennial executive-branch budget, cleared the House 81-18 on February 27 and was adopted by the free conference committee in late March; the Senate and House gave final approval on April 2 alongside companion judicial (HB 504) and tax-code (HB 757) measures. The package restrains spending growth to about 2%, sets aside $290 million for Medicaid, fully funds the Teachers' Retirement System first-year payoff and directs $1.7 billion into one-time investments.

AI-generated summary compiled from Citizen Portal's coverage of the bill. Officials' positions below are sourced from their own words in indexed meetings and press events.