Kentucky legislature overrides Beshear's first veto of 2026 session

Veto override means the bill will become law, it takes effect immediately.

FRANKFORT, Ky.  – The Kentucky House and Senate have both overridden a gubernatorial veto of House Bill 314, which was the first veto of the 2026 General Assembly.

HB 314, sponsored by Rep. Matt Lockett, R-Nicholasville, removes the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) from the Governor’s office and places oversight with the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT).

The KCNA oversees Kentucky Wired, the Commonwealth’s open-access broadband fiber optic network, which remains incomplete despite massive investment. According to supporters, HB 314 comes in response to years of questionable management that include wasteful spending, delayed implementation and the proposed purchase of outdated equipment.

“Despite spending billions of state and federal tax dollars over more than a decade, Kentucky still lags behind other states in providing high-speed internet access,” Lockett said.

“Kentucky Wired has had every opportunity and every resource to serve our Commonwealth, and it has repeatedly failed Kentuckians. The legislature acted when the governor would not, and with this override, we make it clear that accountability matters. By transferring oversight away from the governor’s office, the bill ensures KCNA is managed by agencies with the expertise and focus to get the job done. The money wasted here could have been put to far better use, whether invested in our classrooms, repairing roads and bridges, or equipping the men and women who keep our communities safe.”

In his veto message, Gov. Andy Beshear termed the bill another unconstitutional power grab by the General Assembly, taking appointment power away from a Democratic Governor and putting it into the hands of Republican office holders.

“It removes from the Board the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, the secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development, and the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, along with the commissioner of the Department for Local Government. The bill then directly appoints the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, and the Treasurer, each Republican officeholders, none of whose offices are served by the Authority's network."

The veto override means the bill will become law. Since it had an emergency provision, it takes effect immediately.