‘Needs, not wants’: GOP-controlled KY House passes ‘restrained’ state spending plan

By: Liam Niemeyer

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: February 27, 2026

Words: 1,172

Last Updated: 1 week, 6 days ago

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FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House on Thursday approved a two-year state spending plan described by budget chair Jason Petrie as “restrained” and fulfilling “needs, not wants.”

House Bill 500, approved on a mostly party line vote, allocates more than $30 billion in General Fund revenues and adds $617 million to the $3.7 billion already filling the Budget Reserve Trust Fund or ‘rainy day’ fund.

The minority of House Democrats and other critics said the budget …

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