Lawmakers’ priority bill aims to bring more oversight to how KY schools spend money
Two pieces of legislation filed Wednesday in the Kentucky Senate aim to strengthen fiscal oversight and governance for public schools amid criticism of the state’s two largest school districts, which are experiencing budget problems.
Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 3, which increases public access to a school district’s financial information. Under the legislation, key financial documents, including budget proposals, monthly financial reports, vendor payments and credit card statements would be required to be published on a school district’s websites.
“It’s about good stewardship, and it’s common-sense measures that our taxpayers want to know that their tax dollars that they work hard for are being utilized in the most responsible way to educate the students of Kentucky,” Tichenor told reporters Wednesday afternoon.
Since May 2025, Fayette County Public Schools has been grappling with budget problems, prompting stark criticism from state lawmakers and the community. While the working budget won’t get voted on until September, officials have also said at a January school board meeting that further cuts are expected for the 2027 fiscal year.
Superintendent Demetrus Liggins has also said plans are underway to review further program cuts and possible redistricting.
Jefferson County Public Schools, which is Kentucky’s largest school district, meanwhile has to grapple with a $188 million budget deficit.
Tichenor said the bill was filed to address fiscal accountability for both school districts, but she has not yet spoken with FCPS officials on her legislation.
The bill also provides a clear timeline for budget development and financial reporting.
According to the bill’s language, the superintendent would be required to present drafts of the budget to the local board at least two weeks in advance of publicly presenting it through the budget process, which starts in January and ends in September.
This bill doesn’t come as a surprise, as legislative leaders have been critical and keeping an eye on FCPS’ budget situation. Senate President Robert Stivers said in early January that state leaders were contemplating legislation dealing with oversight of FCPS, indicating it would be a “high likelihood” something could pass this session.
Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens also filed a bill dealing with education governance for JCPS. His bill, Senate Bill 1, mirrors legislation filed in 2022.
Givens’ bill would delegate long-term strategy, fiscal oversight and performance monitoring to school boards while superintendents would oversee day-to-day operations, personnel, transportation and administrative management.
He said the bill is similar to one filed during the 2022 session. Recently, the Kentucky Supreme Court reheard the case about the legislation and ruled it as unconstitutional because it targeted one specific school district. Given said the Kentucky Supreme Court didn’t find the merits of the bill unconstitutional; rather, he added, what the court found unconstitutional was that the legislature was not giving sufficient reasoning to target JCPS.
“As you look at SB 1, we open with 42 reasons, very specifically of why ... the largest school district in the state, impacting the largest number of students and receiving the highest level of state general fund money of any district in the state, should be treated differently,” Givens said.
Both pieces of legislation are numbered among the first 10 bills, indicating they are a Republican priority and have a strong chance of passing the Senate.
“Fayette County Public Schools respects the legislative process and the work of the Kentucky General Assembly, district spokesperson Miranda Scully said Thursday. “We will continue to monitor all proposed legislation closely to understand its potential impact on our students and staff, and we remain committed to following all guidelines and mandates established at the state level.”
Givens said the bills won’t be the last pieces of legislation addressing education operations.
“Under the theme of education governance, we’re going to have some education operations pieces of legislation that will still be in the top 10,” Givens said.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 4:45 AM.
