Gov. Beshear: Judge Dismisses Auditor's Unfounded Challenge Against Administration's Implementation of Senate Bill 151
Court ruled in favor of state, noting that cabinet has complied with Auditor’s requests; Governor plans to include funding for Senate Bill 151 implementation in next budget
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate has dismissed State Auditor Allison Ball’s lawsuit against the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) regarding her office’s investigation into the implementation of Senate Bill 151 relating to kinship and foster care. The judge noted that CHFS has willingly complied with all requests made by the auditor’s office and that the auditor had no standing to bring her case.
“My administration has always prioritized the safety and wellbeing of Kentucky’s children, and we’re committed to working with any office to see that goal through,” said Gov. Beshear. “The dismissal of this unfounded lawsuit proves that Team Kentucky isn’t letting politics get in the way of doing what’s right. Implementing Senate Bill 151 requires more funding, yet the General Assembly failed to do so in both the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions. It’s disappointing the auditor would file a taxpayer-funded lawsuit without attempting to speak with the administration about the issues of implementing Senate Bill 151 first.”
The governor and his administration support the policy changes in Senate Bill 151, which would support more stability for children in foster care through placement with relative and fictive kin caregivers. However, implementation of the new policies requires proper funding.
Prior to signing S.B. 151, the governor and his administration repeatedly shared the fiscal impacts the legislation would have on the cabinet. The administration sent letters to the bill sponsor, committee members and the entire body during the 2024 legislative session and the 2024 interim requesting funding for implementation. The Governor plans to include the necessary funding in his next budget proposal.
“It is simple: The state cannot implement programs and policies if we don’t have the funding needed to do so – and the Kentucky Supreme Court agrees,” said the Governor. “I plan to include this in my next budget so we can get these policies moving forward to help these children.”
The auditor filed the lawsuit in May 2025. Prior to dismissing the cabinet on Sept. 15, the judge dismissed the governor from the lawsuit on Aug. 4.
Click here to read the full ruling.
###
Gov. Beshear: TrinDocs To Expand Lexington Operation With $636,000 Investment, Creating 20 Kentucky Jobs
Project will help the software company meet growing consumer demand
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted continued momentum within the state’s technology sector as TrinDocs, a software company specializing in accounts payable automation and procurement solutions, will expand its Lexington operation with a $636,000 investment, creating 20 Kentucky jobs.
“Companies like TrinDocs are reinvesting across Kentucky, creating new jobs for our people and showing that our commonwealth is a place where businesses succeed and grow,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our economy is red-hot, and announcements like this are helping us continue to create a brighter future for all our people. I want to thank TrinDocs’ leaders for their belief in the commonwealth and congratulate them on this exciting next step as a company.”
As a result of continued growth and increased customer demand, TrinDocs will lease a new office building that will nearly quadruple the operating space of the company’s current facility. The added room will allow the company to keep its headquarters in Lexington while supporting 20 new employees. Construction is expected to begin and be completed before the end of the year.
“Now in our sixth consecutive year of record growth, with 2025 being our fourth straight year of at least 20% increases in revenue year over year, it is exciting to see our team’s hard work make this new corporate headquarters a reality,” said Jeremy Prichard, senior director of sales and marketing at TrinDocs.
TrinDocs is a software company specializing in accounts payable automation and document management solutions. The company helps businesses streamline invoice processing, reduce manual workloads and improve operational efficiency. At the end of 2024, TrinDocs was certified by MSDynamicsWorld following a rigorous evaluation by multiple independent Microsoft MVP experts. Looking ahead, the company’s 10-year strategic plan includes development of new products that will allow it to expand into additional markets.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is looking forward to the company growing its presence in the community: “We are excited TrinDocs is expanding its Lexington footprint with the creation of new career opportunities. TrinDocs is helping build Lexington’s tech sector, and we are proud to be the home of their growing headquarters.”
Commerce Lexington President and CEO Bob Quick highlighted the company’s work in the technology field: “Businesses are always looking for ways to be more efficient in their operations, both for speed and to reduce cost. Local software company TrinDocs has helped a multitude of companies achieve things like faster invoice processing, company-wide document visibility and fully automated solutions. We are pleased to have TrinDocs as part of our technology community and congratulate them on this wonderful expansion. We appreciate TrinDocs’ investment and confidence in the Greater Lexington region.”
TrinDocs investment and job creation build on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,200 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $43 billion in announced investments, creating more than 63,200 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $18 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville; and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Earlier this year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor’s Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) last month preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $420,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $636,000 and annual targets of:
- Creation and maintenance of 20 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years; and
- Paying an average hourly wage of $46, including benefits, across those jobs.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, TrinDocs can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
For more information on TrinDocs, visit trindocs.com.
A detailed community profile for Fayette County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
###
Gov. Beshear: In a Win for Individual Privacy, Judge Grants Temporary Stay Blocking USDA From Accessing Personal Information About SNAP Beneficiaries
Governor joined 21 attorneys general in July to fight unwarranted data requests
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that a U.S. District Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from unlawfully accessing the personal data of people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“I joined this lawsuit because no Kentuckian – and no American – should have to worry about their confidential and personal information being shared unlawfully,” Gov. Beshear said. “Millions of Americans, and more than half a million Kentuckians, receive SNAP benefits, and their privacy rights are just as important as everyone else’s.”
In late July, the Governor joined a lawsuit brought by 21 attorneys general challenging the USDA’s demand that states turn over sensitive personal information of SNAP beneficiaries.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney temporarily enjoined the USDA from continuing to seek the data and set further hearings on the matter for October.
Click here to read the order.
###
During National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, Kentucky’s First Lady Recognizes Providers and the Success of Adult Education Services
Enrollment in Kentucky adult education and literacy programs surges 19%
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2025) – Today, First Lady Britainy Beshear recognized recent enrollment gains in Kentucky adult education programs and celebrated top-performing service providers during a National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week celebration in Frankfort.
Enrollment in Kentucky’s adult education and family literacy programs – including GED instruction, workforce preparation, workplace training, integrated education and training, English language acquisition and postsecondary education preparation – increased by 19% during the 2025 state fiscal year. Adult education in Kentucky also achieved significant improvement in its statewide measurable skills rate – from 55.89% in program year 2023 to 63.75% in program year 2024.
“Education opens doors for Kentuckians of all ages, and thanks to the hard work of Team Kentucky and the dedicated providers we’re celebrating today, more of our people are on the pathway to a brighter future,” said Mrs. Beshear. “Congratulations to everyone who is being recognized today – and to all those who have taken positive steps in their own education journey.”
“The numbers reflect notable improvements in instruction, learner engagement and program effectiveness across all adult education providers,” said John Gregory, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Adult Education. “We remain dedicated in providing services that empower Kentuckians to achieve their educational and career goals.”
Gov. Andy Beshear proclaimed this week as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week to recognize achievements and raise awareness of the importance of adult education and family literacy. The following Kentucky adult education providers were honored at today’s event:
- No. 1 Local Educational Agency – Jessamine County Board of Education
- No. 1 Institution of Higher Education – Madisonville Community College
- No. 1 Nonprofit Agency – Laurel County Literacy Council Inc.
- No. 1 Consortium – Kentucky Educational Development Corp.
Family Literacy Champion
- Kentucky Educational Development Corp. and Thorn Hill Education Center
Program of Excellence
- Jessamine County Board of Education
- Newport Independent Schools
- Owensboro Community & Technical College
- Kentucky Educational Development Corp.
- West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Since Gov. Beshear made GED testing free in 2020, more than 26,000 Kentuckians have taken advantage of the free initiative, with 15,375 certificates issued. In fiscal year 2025, Kentucky issued 3,108 GED certificates, an increase of approximately 2% over the previous year. The commonwealth’s GED pass rate of 79% eclipses the national rate by 5%.
From waiving the GED testing fee to increasing access to the tests in more than two dozen communities throughout the commonwealth through a mobile testing unit, the Beshear-Coleman administration has demonstrated its commitment to helping Kentuckians obtain their high school equivalency certification.
Adult education services are available in all 120 counties of the commonwealth. Learn more about Kentucky adult education opportunities at kyae.ky.gov.
###
|
