Local lawmakers share their priorities for the upcoming legislative session

To start 2026, legislators will be returning to Frankfort for the budget session of the Kentucky General Assembly, and at Thursday’s town hall, local lawmakers shared their plans and priorities for the upcoming session.

District Three Senator Craig Richardson, District Nine Representative Myron Dossett and District Eight Representative Walker Thomas discussed topics such as agriculture, healthcare, workforce challenges and much more.

Richardson says a couple of his priorities are to refile a bill focused on supporting the 340B Program, which allows patients to receive medication at a cheaper price, and he also plans to redefine the language concerning aggravated drug trafficking charges to include fentanyl in its pill form.

As the chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Dossett says he plans to focus on agriculture industrial developments as well as review the government’s eminent domain laws. Dossett says he has witnessed occurrences where property owners have not been treated fairly by government entities.

Turning toward the youth, Dossett says he also plans to propose legislation to keep vaping devices out of the hands of children. Dossett says he would like to establish a law where people ordering vaping products online will have to sign off when those packages arrive to confirm they are at least 21 years old.

After talking with Caldwell County Judge Executive Kota Young, Thomas says he plans to propose legislation raising the spending cap for ambulance boards. He says that due to inflation, ambulance boards are hitting their caps, which results in audits having to be performed.

The 2026 legislative session begins on January 6.