State mushroom, fishing & more: Here are KY bills on track to become law
There are only two days left in Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session, but the state already has a plethora of bills set to become law.
Ahead of the veto period, which takes place April 3 through April 13, the GOP-dominated General Assembly tries to pass all the legislation it predicts will be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
That way, lawmakers have the chance to override Beshear’s veto when they return for the last two days of session, April 14 and April 15.
The Herald-Leader identified some under-the-radar bills on track to become law.
State mushroom
In addition to having a state drink and state bird, Kentucky now has a state mushroom.
Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, designates the indigo milk cap as the official state mushroom of Kentucky. The bill passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support and became law without Beshear’s signature.
The indigo milk cap, also known as Lactarius indigo, has an intense blue color and grows scattered or in groups on soil in oak and pine woods, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Madon said in a press release that he filed the bill because students at Letcher County Central High School approached him with the idea.
“This really started with these students,” Madon said at a March Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee meeting. “They asked why Kentucky didn’t have a state mushroom and shared what they had learned about this one. I thought it was a great idea, but more importantly it gave them a chance to come here, see how the process works, and be part of it.”
The students testified during the bill’s committee hearing, and Madon said it was an opportunity for them to also have “a real-world civics lesson.”
“It’s not just about naming a mushroom,” Madon said. “It’s about giving these students the opportunity to see how an idea can move through the legislative process and become law.”
Autism Spectrum Disorder Trust Fund
Senate Bill 69, which was signed by Beshear, creates the Autism Spectrum Disorder Trust Fund to support research and services for Kentuckians affected by autism. The bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support and was sponsored by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville.
The fund will be administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and will receive money from “grants, contributions or appropriations or other moneys made available for the purposes of this fund.”
SB 69 also creates the Advisory Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders, which will be responsible for developing recommendations for increased participation for programs serving those on the autism spectrum, strengthen collaboration with advocacy and support groups and families and analyze data on the quality of current programs.
“I’m grateful to the families, advocates and professionals who helped bring attention to this issue,” Raque Adams said in a statement on Beshear’s signature. “Their voices matter, and I look forward to the benefit this new trust fund will have across the commonwealth.”
PGA Hope graduates and golf
Graduates of PGA Hope, a program to change veterans’ and active duty military service members lives’ through golf, will only have to pay for golf cart rental when playing at golf courses in state parks.
House Bill 436, sponsored by Tom Smith, R-Corbin, prohibits the Department of Parks from imposing “green fees or associated golf rates except fees for golf cart rental” for graduates of the PGA Hope program. PGA Hope, which stands for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere, “introduces and teaches golf to veterans and active duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being” at no cost, according to the program’s website.
For a PGA Hope graduate to claim the exemption, they will need to present their graduate card “at the time of purchase,” and it can also be applied for one guest.
The bill passed both chambers with bipartisan support and was signed by Beshear.
Fishing at home
Ahead of the summer weather, Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, filed a bill signed by Beshear into law that deals with fishing on your own property.
Senate Bill 39 would exempt private landowners from most statewide fishing regulations when fishing on their own property. According to the legislation, private landowners would not be subject to creel, size possession or method limits for fish in private lakes and ponds.
The bill would also let lake and pond owners extend those rights to anyone through a written form that includes when and where the person would be fishing.
“It establishes that fish in private lakes and ponds belong to the owner of the land, just like farm animals, fruit trees and vegetables in your garden,” Boswell said at a January committee meeting.
SB 39 passed with bipartisan support in both chambers.
Other bills signed by Beshear
- Unclaimed Property Week: House bill 456, sponsored by Rep. Chris Freeland, R-Benton, designates the fourth week of September as Unclaimed Property Week and increases civil penalties for holders that fail to report or remit unclaimed property.
- Local food in Kentucky schools: Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, allows a local school board or district in any U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrition program to purchase Kentucky-grown agricultural products in accordance with federal law. According to a press release, the legislation is supposed to “promote the use of fresh, locally sourced food to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term health care costs.”
- Intervention efforts and school attendance: Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, creates a Supporting Opportunities for Accountability and Restoration program to address school attendance issues in 10 districts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will select the districts, and the bill also requires annual data reporting for lawmakers to determine if court involvement improves attendance outcomes.
