News

The 2024 General Assembly has eight days left in the session. Many pieces of legislation are starting to move quickly through the process. Below is an update on three specific pieces of legislation WKU is tracking.

House Bill 6 (HB6), the Executive Branch Biennial Budget   

The two-year Executive Branch Budget sets forth the funding for operations for Kentucky’s state government. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee released the Senate version of the budget this week. Included in the budget is a 4.5% increase to WKU’s base appropriation in the first year; the appropriation remains flat in the second year. The Senate more than doubled the performance funding pool to $200 million. The Gatton Academy budget received an additional 4% in funding in the first year and a 2% increase in the second year. The Senate kept the funding provided in the House version of the budget for the increase in the state fire and tornado insurance premium. The Kentucky Mesonet funding remained unchanged. In the capital portion of the budget, the Senate kept $160 million to construct a new Academic Complex and $28.5 million in each year in asset preservation funding without a University match. HB6 passed the Senate; however, the House did not concur with the changes. A conference committee has been appointed so that the House and Senate can negotiate on changes to the budget. You can view HB6 SCS here.

Senate Bill 6 (SB6), an Act relating to postsecondary education institutions

Senate Bill 6 was amended in the House Education Committee yesterday. The House Committee Substitute to SB6 wipes the original language and replaces it with most of House Bill 9 (HB9). SB6 HCS1 was heard on the House floor today, passed and was received in the Senate for concurrence or nonconcurrence. You can view SB6 HCS1 here.

Senate Joint Resolution 170 (SJR170), a Joint Resolution directing the Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a feasibility study on expanding postbaccalaureate program offerings at comprehensive universities

Senate Joint Resolution 170 directs the Council on Postsecondary Education to conduct a study on expanding postbaccalaureate program offerings at comprehensive universities, including consulting with each president of a comprehensive university to consider a regional economic development or workforce development need that may be met by a postbaccalaureate program. SJR 170 passed the Senate and has been referred to the House Education Committee. You can view SJR170 here.

To view all legislation WKU, is tracking please click here or visit www.wku.edu/govrelations for other helpful resources.