BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Next month, state lawmakers will go in for the next legislative session, during which they will craft a two-year state budget. This week, Senate Republicans met in Bardstown to discuss their priorities for the year beyond crafting that document.

Education and artificial intelligence will be top of mind for 2026. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, made it clear the legislature is keeping a close eye on the state’s two largest school districts in Louisville and Lexington.

Jefferson County Public Schools and Fayette County Public Schools make up roughly a fifth of the state’s students and are both facing multimillion dollar budget shortfalls.

“They’ve got some real problems, and they have some real confidence problems by the general public in both Fayette Count

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