AN ACT relating to the establishment of minimum wages by local governments.

Amend KRS 65.016 and 337.275 to allow a local government to adopt and enforce an ordinance that requires a minimum wage at a rate higher than that found in KRS 337.275 for employers located within that government's jurisdiction.

Introduced: January 13, 2026

Last action: January 21, 2026

To Local Government (H)

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This bill would allow cities and counties in Kentucky to set a minimum wage higher than the statewide minimum wage for businesses operating within their borders. Currently, local governments cannot set their own minimum wage rates, so this change would give them that authority. It does not change the statewide minimum wage itself. Who it may affect: workers earning minimum wage, local employers, and residents of cities or counties that might choose to adopt a higher local minimum wage.

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