The upcoming state legislative session is less than two months away.

It will begin on January 6th.

So what are some of the top priorities for state lawmakers?

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual legislative preview on Monday, and heard all about all kinds of topics, from the state income tax to child care and more.

Or at least it was there in Lexington.

We will face some questions this budget cycle that we haven't in the past.

House Speaker David Osborne called Kentucky's current economy and budget an anomaly.

And with the upcoming budget session less than a couple months away, lawmakers will be faced with several decisions that could impact Kentuckians.

One of those is the state income tax.

We've reduced our state income tax from 6 to 3.5%, and we've enacted a plan that we're going to get to zero.

The 3.5% income tax rate will take effect on January 1st.

Kentucky tax revenues were just shy of the benchmark needed to reduce that rate to 3% in 2027.

But legislators said the conversation is ongoing to see if any reduction at all can be made.

Senate Appropriations Chair Chris McDaniel wants to keep the purse strings tight.

However, after President Donald Trump's big, beautiful bill made cuts to some federal programs.

If you have a federal program currently that you think that the state is going to backfill, rethink your strategy.

The state is not going to backfill federal programs that get changed.

McDaniel did say the state government will likely have to pay tens of millions of dollars, if not more, for the administration of Snap benefits or food stamps.

The Senate leader also had a message about education after Kentucky's two largest school districts.

Fayette and Jefferson County announced they are both experiencing a multimillion dollar budget shortfall.

You're in Fayette County and you are demanding the resignation of your superintendent and your board chairman.

You are sorely mistaken.

State will not be coming in to bail out districts.

Period.

End of story.

And when it comes to child care, which is a topic the Kentucky Chamber has championed.

Lawmakers said they may need to look at lightning regulations or using resources to help open more facilities, especially in rural communities.

I love the adjective quality child care.

We actually just need child care.

And then maybe we can turn that into quality child care.

Our rural communities are really struggling with that.

A final priority of the legislators is building up eastern Kentucky.

As the region has experienced steady population decline, we really have to look at the signs of what's going on over there and how we can help that region of our state.

We have to get our east on its feet.

And if we do that, Kentucky will will be, the North Carolina of, of, you know, ten, 20 years from now.

McDaniel said he wants to find incentives to bring in more businesses and infrastructure to the region for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you Emily.

State lawmakers also discuss priorities related to housing and the administration of Medicaid.

House Speaker David Osborne said the General Assembly will rely on recommendations from the Kentucky Housing Task Force and the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board.