Kentucky Legislature easily overrides first Beshear veto, bill on fiber internet network

Austin Horn, Lexington Herald-Leader on Mar 10, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Same story, different year.

As has been the case with virtually all other bills vetoed by Andy Beshear, a Democrat, since his first legislative session as governor in 2020, the Republican-led state legislature overrode the veto and gave final passage on a bill related to a state fiber internet network Tuesday.

House Bill 314 will replace the board and remove the executive director of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority, which runs the state’s high-speed fiber optic cable network, KentuckyWired.

The final passage of the bill, which got approval from all Republicans in a 32-6 Senate vote, comes despite Beshear’s claims it is an “unconstitutional power grab.” The House also overrode the veto on a partisan line, 78-19, with all present Democrats voting no and all present Republicans voting yes Monday.

Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, said in a floor speech Tuesday that the move was necessary to get spending on KentuckyWired, a project that is expected to cost the state about $1.5 billion, under control. The project was initiated by Beshear’s father, former Gov. Steve Beshear, and advocated for by GOP U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers.

Under HB 314, the network would be run by the Commonwealth Office of Technology. The network authority board, currently chaired by the governor’s cabinet secretary, would instead be chaired by the chief information officer of the Department of Education, a role currently held by David Couch, a 30-plus-year department veteran.

“We gave the users of the network a seat on the board. Eighty percent of the traffic on KentuckyWired network currently comes from Kentucky schools. That’s why teachers and students are represented by the chief information officer of the Kentucky Department of Education as the board chair. He’s very concerned about those students,” Williams said.

The secretaries of the Transportation Cabinet, Cabinet for Economic Development and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, as well as the commissioner of the Department for Local Government, would also be removed. Instead, the secretary of state, state treasurer and agriculture commissioner would be appointed to the board.

Andy Beshear noted in his veto message that all the new officeholders with appointing authority are Republican, and none of their offices are served by the network.

The governor would be able to choose two board appointees, one from a list of nominees submitted by the Kentucky League of Cities and another from a list submitted by the Kentucky Association of Counties.

“By stripping the Governor’s appointment authority, House Bill 314 prevents him from carrying out the powers and duties the Kentucky Constitution delegates only to him,” Beshear wrote. “Under House Bill 314, neither the Governor nor any member of his Cabinet will have representation on the Board.”

Former KentuckyWired executive director Doug Hendrix retired during this year’s legislative session, according to the Kentucky Lantern.

Williams emphasized the need for new leadership given the rising costs of the project.

“Saying that the structure set up by Gov. Beshear’s father is costing more than planned while delivering less than expected is a severe understatement,” Williams said.