Last night, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear delivered his state of the Commonwealth and Budget address at the Thomas de Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort.

He revealed his top priorities, including teacher salaries, Medicaid, and universal pre-K.

Our Emily Sisk has the details.

The single most effective way we succeed in this next budget is by funding pre-K for all.

Governor Andy Beshear proclaimed his top priority for the 2026 state budget to be universal pre-K.

The governor made the announcement during his 40 minute long state of the Commonwealth and Budget address last night.

The pre-K for all initiative has been foundational to the Beshear administration.

This summer, the governor established an advisory committee, which hosted town halls across the state to gain support.

During last night's address, Beshear tied universal pre-K to economic success.

Pre-K saves parents thousands of dollars every year, and one study shows it boosts parents earnings by nearly $9,000 per year for at least six years.

Over time, pre-K is projected to grow Kentucky's workforce by up to 70,000 people, and studies show that for every $1 invested in pre-K, we get $10 cycle through our economy.

But one detail not included in the governor's address how much will universal pre-K cost?

Instead, Beshear spoke directly to state lawmakers, suggesting they can work together to make the pre-K initiative a reality.

And a members of the General Assembly.

We're able to work together on medical marijuana to make sports betting legal, to protect horse racing and gaming and our horse industry.

Surely we can come together for four year olds.

The Republican supermajority in the General Assembly has yet to express any interest in adopting universal pre-K.

In response to the governor's address, Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne released a joint statement saying in part, quote, Kentucky is well positioned because of the sound, fiscally responsible policies enacted by Republican supermajorities often overriding gubernatorial vetoes to do so.

Our legislative focus will remain on protecting core investments, ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and avoiding commitments the Commonwealth cannot sustain and quote.

The governor gave additional proposals, including fully funding Medicaid, even with increased costs, and proposing mandatory raises for public school educators.

Beshear was also certain to include affordable housing in his budget proposal, as Kentucky faces a shortage of some 200,000 housing units.

I'm proposing a game changing $150 million investment in our affordable housing trust fund, combined with private dollars that create $1 billion of new housing.

We must tackle the shortage in housing, and we must do it now.

At the end of his address, Beshear listed two final priorities.

In addition to investments and jobs health care and housing.

He proposed $50 million for Kentucky food banks, as the state government may be forced to take on more of the cost of Snap benefits or food stamps.

The governor also recommended $75 million to help At-Risk Kentuckians pay their Utility bills.

In response to these priorities, Kentucky Youth Advocates released a statement saying, quote, there was good news in last night's address by Governor Andy Beshear as he joined with Republican legislative leaders and prioritizing basic needs like housing stability and food security for our kids and families.

Those two arenas are clearly common ground and are ripe for legislative action as this session unfolds.

Quote for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you Emily.

Last night's budget address was the last for Beshear, whose term as governor will wrap up at the end of 2027.

He joked it was his final budget address in this job and quote, and he is rumored to be a potential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 2028 presidential election.

Today, we caught up with Speaker David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers to hear from them in person about the governor's speech.

Because we still really have a dock to go on.

And his speeches are great, but speeches are also just High-Level talking points.

So we don't always know the details yet.

This is the start of his seventh year, and I would ask you all to ask him what bill he has proposed to the General Assembly that has changed the economic dynamics of this step.

I asked David Osborne the other day and he said, I can't remember why.

So there's been no legislative or directional change.

This is what we've said from 16 on the economic dynamics, where you start thinking about the ability to work, the infrastructure, the roads, getting our taxes and our fiscal house in order.

We've done that.

And he's just written a way.

Last night, the Republican Party of Kentucky issued its own response to the governor's address, says, quote, since Andy Beshear first entered public office, kept afloat by his family name and low voter turnout, he has done little more than campaign for his next political ambition.

And tonight was no exception.

He has spent his time riding the coattails of Republican Supermajorities, whose conservative, pro-growth policies built the economic foundation.

He now tries to take credit for end quote.