Access Hour | 2026 KY Conservation Committee Legislative Summit | Bills & Budget | 1-28-26

On this week's Access Hour, we bring you highlights from the first hour of the 2026 Kentucky Conservation Committee's Legislative Summit that was held online on Sunday afternoon, January 25th. You can learn more about it and find links to all the great materials referenced at https://kyconservation.org/legislative-summit-2026 The Summit includes a review of conservation legislation and trainings on key conservation and environmental issues in Kentucky to provide you with all the necessary advocacy tools you need during the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly and beyond. These sessions included a broad look at the anticipated topics of the 2026 General Assembly, related federal legislative issues, basic training on ways for citizens to engage as a “citizen lobbyist”, plus tips on how to be more effective with your legislative advocacy in a virtual world or in person. On today's show, you'll get an overview of bills that are already filed in the General Assembly, or anticipated to be filed, along with KCC’s analysis and recommendations for action, and a preview of the State Budget. Want the latest information on environmental issues impacting Kentucky? Want to be a more effective citizen advocate during the General Assembly? Want to know how the recent elections will impact state and federal policy on environmental issues? Tune in for the resources you will need to be an effective advocate for a wide range of environmental issues impacting Kentucky. After a brief welcome from KCC Director, Lane Boldman, KCC's Legislative Agent, Randy Strobo, provides highlights of House and Senate bills reviewed by KCC to date. And finally, Pam Thomas from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy will provide a State Budget Overview. Resource: KCC Citizens Guide to the General Assembly 2026: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R5bSKYXp6mEF1wM34kKha8pGdWCRJuqM/view?usp=sharing Resource: List of Lawmakers and Issues 2026: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JRMQ-qxz4hjXOvWeN_MjcGAIOX8fYqqW-JYTaCGaz04/edit?usp=sharing Resource: How a Bill Becomes a Law in Kentucky: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a0ZJSKw3os9UQivaW9VpS-S-bXWZ60tB/view?usp=sharing Presentation Slides: Bill Highlights to Date: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E806k-oxQ4h9aSP6lgha5KKq1LaXnhTN/view?usp=sharing Presentation Slides: Ky Policy Budget Preview: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N2g04vAJkvTiv1DoKAn2Cw0yKNRUFx-s/view?usp=sharing KyPolicy Budget Preview: https://kypolicy.org/preview-of-the-2026-2028-kentucky-state-budget/ Governor’s Budget Proposal: https://kypolicy.org/2026-governor-andy-beshear-budget-proposal/ The Access Hour airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Wednesday at 2pm and repeats Thursdays at 11am and Fridays at 1pm. Find us at https://forwardradio.org If you’ve got something you’d like to share on community radio through the Access Hour, whether it’s a recording you made or a show you’d like to do on a particular topic, community, artistic creation, or program that is under-represented in Louisville’s media landscape, just go to https://forwardradio.org, click on Participate and pitch us your idea. The Access Hour is your opportunity to take over the air waves to share your passion.