State Director Tom Underwood recently hosted a teleforum where he briefed NFIB members on this year’s session of the General Assembly, highlighting big wins for Kentucky’s small businesses.

Underwood said about 1,300 bills were filed but only 180 became law in the 60-day session, which ended on April 15.

He said the state’s new two-year, $32 billion budget as “generally a very conservative” with broad spending cuts outside of education and Medicaid as lawmakers adjust to the loss of federal pandemic funds.

One of the biggest victories for small business was House Bill 518, a long-sought measure to simplify local tax filing. Underwood said the bill will create a uniform, online system for payroll and business taxes across jurisdictions, reducing paperwork for employers.

Another victory was House Bill 542, which strengthens property rights by increasing transparency and fairness in eminent domain cases.

Underwood said lawmakers made few changes to major taxes this year, with no increases to income or sales tax rates, though the state did expand sales tax collection to data brokers.

Looking ahead to 2027, he urged members to stay involved and build relationships with their elected officials. “They don’t understand your business and the challenges you face” unless you tell them, he said.

Watch the replay of the teleforum below: