Kentucky Kinship Care Families Still Await Promised Relief Two Years Later

State legislature approved law to provide financial assistance, but regulation implementation remains stalled due to funding debate.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:50am

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Two years after the Kentucky legislature passed a law to provide financial relief to grandparents and other family members caring for children who would otherwise be in state care, the proposed regulation to implement the law has been found deficient by a legislative committee. The Beshear administration says implementing the law requires legislative appropriation, which has not been provided, while lawmakers argue the funding is available. As a result, kinship care families in Kentucky continue to wait for the promised benefits.

Why it matters

The inability to implement this law is leaving kinship care families in Kentucky without the financial assistance they were promised. These families are taking on the responsibility of caring for children who would otherwise be in state custody, but without the same level of support provided to traditional foster families. The ongoing debate over funding is preventing these families from accessing critical resources.

The details

In 2024, the Kentucky legislature passed Senate Bill 151, which was intended to make it easier for kinship care families to qualify for foster care payments. However, the law was not funded at the time of passage. The Beshear administration has proposed a regulation to implement the law, but a legislative committee has found the regulation deficient, with all Republican members voting against it. The administration says implementing the law requires legislative appropriation, which has not been provided, while lawmakers argue the funding is available in the existing budget. As a result, kinship care families in Kentucky are still waiting for the financial relief promised by the law.

  • Senate Bill 151 was passed by the Kentucky legislature and signed by Gov. Andy Beshear in 2024.
  • The proposed regulation to implement the law was rejected by a legislative committee on March 11, 2026.

The players

Andy Beshear

The governor of Kentucky who signed Senate Bill 151 into law in 2024.

Mary Lou Marzian

A Democratic state representative who voted against the motion to find the proposed regulation deficient.

Cassie Chambers Armstrong

A Democratic state senator and minority whip who submitted a pass vote on the motion to find the proposed regulation deficient, citing her status as a new member of the committee.

Beth Fisher

A spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which proposed the regulation to implement Senate Bill 151.

Norma Hatfield

The president of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, who is raising two grandchildren and testified against the proposed regulation.

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What they’re saying

“I can't believe I'm here, and it's two years later, and I'm going to ask you not to pass this reg as it is.”

— Norma Hatfield, President, Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky

“There's never been any objection to the premise of this law. We hope there's money in the final budget that comes out of this session to do this.”

— Wesley Duke, General Counsel, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

“I'm frustrated that a bill that passed out with zero 'no' votes — that we've taken this path. Because, you know who loses out, it's the kids. The Kentucky kids are the ones losing out. I just want to express to the committee how frustrated I am (with) the political football that this has become, which is absolutely unnecessary to be taking this path.”

— Julie Raque Adams, State Senator, Kentucky

What’s next

The Beshear administration is currently reviewing the legislative committee's finding that the proposed regulation is deficient and determining the next steps. The administration and the legislature will continue to debate where the funding will come from to implement the law.

The takeaway

This ongoing dispute over funding and implementation of the kinship care law highlights the challenges of translating legislative intent into tangible support for vulnerable families. The inability to provide the promised financial assistance to kinship care providers is leaving these families without the resources they need to care for children who would otherwise be in state custody.