RANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky state lawmakers issued subpoenas to the Beshear administration for information they deemed necessary for crafting the next two-year state budget.

According to a press release from the House Majority Caucus, subpoenas were issued by the co-chairs of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee to the Kentucky state budget director, secretary of the Personnel Cabinet and deputy secretary of the Personnel Cabinet.

A spokesperson for Gov. Andy Beshear said the subpoenas “are a stunt with no merit.”

Sen. Greg Elkins, R-Winchester, and Rep. Scott Sharp, R-Ashland, are listed as the co-chairs of the committee on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission website.

House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said in the press release the 2026-28 executive branch budget proposal from House Republicans was filed as a starting point because “they lacked the necessary data and information to craft a responsible, informed spending plan.”

“We are still committed to using whatever information we have at our disposal to move the budget through the process, but the time has come to elevate our requests and take necessary corrective action,” Osborne continued.

The subpoenas weren’t included in the press release.

However, it listed “Kentucky Employee Health Plan actuarial reports, studies, and recommendations pertaining to the development and implementation of the plan years 2023-2028, including without limitation benefits, enrollment rules, and premium rates, as well as claim trends, enrollment data, and related consultant communications for 2026–2028 plan years” as what lawmakers are seeking.

Scottie Ellis, a spokesperson for Beshear, said “legislators have had all necessary information for weeks.”

“Tuesday of last week, for the first time, they requested new information that had to be compiled by actuaries, and it was delivered today at 3:22 p.m. ET by the state budget director,” Ellis said. “The Beshear administration has provided every piece of information the General Assembly has requested, in addition to a nearly 390-page report delivered on Jan. 7.

“These political games distract from what should be an easy choice for the General Assembly — which is to not increase health insurance costs for 310,000 hardworking state employees.”

The 2026-28 executive branch budget proposal was filed as House Bill 500 in a “preliminary” form and is expected to change through the legislative process, Republican lawmakers have said.

But House Appropriations and Revenue Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, previously said the “major theme” of the budget will be reduced spending.

The data as part of the request is necessary, according to lawmakers, to evaluate its bare-bones budget which could lead to spikes in public employee insurance premiums.

The back and forth between Petrie and Kentucky State Budget Director Hicks began in November when the representative asked the budget director for spending recommendations from cabinet secretaries for their departments. Hicks refused to hand over the documents, saying the reports were preliminary and even then, were intended for the governor’s use to put forth a proposal.

Just after the committee meeting, the governor set forth a budget reduction plan that asked his executive branch — including his office and cabinets for economic development, transportation, energy and other sectors — to reduce their appropriations from the general fund by approximately $77.7 million.

“I find it atrocious, abhorrent that the executive branch can’t share information about potential plans on how to deal with budgets that affect Kentuckians in unbelievable ways,” Petrie said to Hicks Nov. 5 during last year’s final meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue. “‘Wait for the budget address, wait for it, wait for it.’ How about collaboration? Put us under an NDA, put us under a whatever you need. Collaboration.”

A little more than a month after the committee meeting, the governor set forth a budget reduction plan that asked his executive branch — including his office and cabinets for economic development, transportation, energy and other sectors — to reduce their appropriations from the general fund by approximately $77.7 million.

The reduction plan came just days after a group of economists forecasted the state would soon see a revenue shortfall of roughly $156 million.

Laura Leigh Goins, spokesperson for the House Majority Caucus, said she believes this is the first time such subpoenas have been filed in modern history.

Osborne told reporters Tuesday lawmakers have been requesting information needed finish putting some touches on the budget and verify some numbers in regard to the state health insurance plan.

“The very first piece of information that we got that we had requested was didn’t come to us,” Osborne said. “It went out in a letter to state employees and retirees. We have no idea if that information is accurate or not because they won’t provide us with the information.”

When asked what happens if lawmakers don’t receive that information in a certain time frame, Osborne said “we won’t have to cross that bridge, but there are some options that we have available to us.”

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