Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1332
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 1/20/2026 11:22 AM Jacketed
AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating 1
to citizenship requirements for state and local elected officials. 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
Section 1. Are you in favor of amending the Constitution of Kentucky by 4
adding a new section to establish that a person shall not be eligible to be elected or serve 5
in certain state and local offices unless he or she is a citizen of the United States, and has 6
not been a citizen or national of any country other than the United States, at the time of 7
election or appointment and for the immediately preceding eighteen (18) years, as stated 8
below? 9
SECTION 2. IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO 10
THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 11
In addition to the requirements of Sections 32, 72, 91, 92, 100, and 122, and any 12
other Section of this Constitution, a person shall not be eligible to be elected or 13
appointed to any el ected office of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including but not 14
limited to the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of 15
State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, member of 16
the General Assembl y, justice or judge of any court of the Court of Justice, county 17
officer, or any other statewide, judicial, legislative, or local elected office established 18
under this Constitution or by law, unless that person, both at the time of election or 19
appointment and for the duration of his or her term of office: 20
1. Is a citizen of the United States; 21
2. Has been a citizen of the United States for at least eighteen (18) years 22
immediately preceding the election or appointment; and 23
3. Is not, and has not been for the eighteen (18) years immediately preceding 24
his or her election or appointment, a citizen or national of any foreign state or country. 25
This section shall not apply to offices of the United States government. 26
Section 3. This amendment shall be submitted to the voters of the 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1332
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 1/20/2026 11:22 AM Jacketed
Commonwealth for their ratification or rejection at the time and in the manner provided 1
for under Sections 256 and 257 of the Constitution, KRS 118.415, and Sections 4 an d 5 2
of this Act. 3
Section 4. Notwithstanding any provision of KRS 118.415 to the contrary, the 4
Secretary of State shall cause the entirety of the question in Section 1 of this Act and the 5
entirety of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky contained in Section 6
2 of this Act to be published at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation 7
published in this state, and shall also cause to be published at the same time and in the 8
same manner the fact that the amendment will be submitted to the voters for their 9
acceptance or rejection at the next regular election at which members of the General 10
Assembly are to be voted for. The publication required by this section and KRS 118.415 11
shall be made no later than the first Tuesday in August preceding the election at which 12
the amendment is to be voted on. 13
Section 5. Notwithstanding any provision of KRS 118.415 to the contrary, not 14
later than the second Monday after the second Tue sday in August preceding the next 15
regular election at which members of the General Assembly are to be chosen in a year in 16
which there is not an election for President and Vice President of the United States, or not 17
later than the Thursday after the first T uesday in September preceding a regular election 18
in a year in which there is an election for President and Vice President of the United 19
States, the Secretary of State shall certify the entirety of the question in Section 1 of this 20
Act and the entirety of t he proposed amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky 21
contained in Section 2 of this Act to the county clerk of each county, and the county clerk 22
shall have the entirety of the text and the amendment, as so certified, indicated on the 23
ballots provided to t he voters in paper or electronic form as applicable to the voting 24
machines in use in each county or precinct. 25