FRANKFORT — Kentucky House lawmakers issued subpoenas Monday seeking budget and employee health plan information from the Beshear administration, escalating a months-long dispute over data legislators say is necessary to complete the state’s next two-year spending plan.
The subpoenas were authorized by the co-chairs of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and directed to the state budget director, the secretary of the Personnel Cabinet and the cabinet’s deputy secretary, according to the .
House leaders say the information is needed to refine House Bill 500, the chamber’s budget proposal, which they have repeatedly described as a preliminary framework rather than a final product.
“HB 500 was filed as a starting point and was written the way it was because we lacked the necessary data and information to craft a responsible, informed spending plan for the Commonwealth,” said , the Republican speaker of the House. “The time has come to elevate our requests and take necessary corrective action.”
Specifically, lawmakers are seeking actuarial reports, studies and recommendations related to the Kentucky Employee Health Plan for plan years 2023 through 2028. The request includes documents addressing benefits, enrollment rules and premium rates, as well as claims trends, enrollment data and related consultant communications for the 2026–2028 plan years.
House Republicans say the materials are essential to evaluating long-term costs and obligations associated with employee health insurance, a major component of the state budget, and to ensuring lawmakers have sufficient information to make policy decisions before final budget votes.
The administration has not publicly responded to the subpoenas as of Monday afternoon. Legislative leaders did not specify a deadline for compliance but indicated the information is needed to continue budget negotiations during the 2026 General Assembly session.
The subpoenas mark a significant escalation in tensions between the Republican-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration over transparency and the flow of budget data as lawmakers work to finalize spending plans for state agencies and programs over the next two fiscal years.
