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HB650 • 2026

AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
A. Moore
Last action
2026-02-24
Official status
02/24/26: to State Government (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-24 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    to State Government (H)

  2. 2026-02-17 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1414
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 1/5/2026 8:49 AM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to designating the official state musical composition. 1
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky recognizes and values the arts as 2
essential to its cultural identity and historical legacy; and 3
WHEREAS, this Commonwealth, through codification in its statutes, has already 4
designated "My Old Kentucky Home," as the official state song, "Blue Moon of 5
Kentucky," as the state bluegrass song, and bluegrass music as the official state music; 6
and 7
WHEREAS, a compelling need exists to establish a symbolic musical work of a 8
symphonic nature that reflects the rich and complex history, present vitality, and 9
optimistic future of this Commonwealth; and 10
WHEREAS, Shawn E. Okpebholo is a distinguished American composer and proud 11
native of Lexington, Kentucky, whose works, including his orchestral suite "A Mighty 12
Long Way," have achieved national recognition; and 13
WHEREAS, "A Mighty Long Way" was commissioned specifically for th e 250th 14
anniversary of Lexington, Kentucky, and uses its four movements to tell the story of the 15
Commonwealth and its central city; 16
The "Hoofbeat Fanfare" pays tribute to this Commonwealth's unparalleled 17
equestrian history and heritage as the Horse Capital of the World; 18
"After Bourbon" celebrates this Commonwealth's global reputation and 19
communal joy associated with its iconic native spirit; 20
"Cheapside" offers a necessary and profound contemplation of the painful 21
legacy of racial violence and slavery that occurred in this Commonwealth, including at 22
the former slave market site in Lexington; and 23
"Beyond Bluegrass" looks to the future, weaving fragments of the state song 24
through new harmonies to symbolize renewal and hope rooted in a reconciled past; and 25
WHEREAS, the composition "A Mighty Long Way" serves as a powerful, moving, 26
and inclusive musical symbol of Kentucky's journey and aspiration for the future; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1414
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 1/5/2026 8:49 AM Jacketed
NOW, THEREFORE, 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
The musical composition "A Mighty Long Way," composed by Shawn E. Okpebholo, is 5
named and designated as the official state musical composition. 6