QKY Explainer graphic: the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort at dusk with the headline State Representatives and State Senators

What do state representatives and state senators do in Kentucky?

October 30, 2026/in Gov & Politics/by Terrance Sullivan

Love it or hate it, in Kentucky, your State Representatives and State Senators write all legislation. Together, they form the legislative branch of state government and serve as the Commonwealth’s primary policymakers.

Sidenote: Kentucky is a Commonwealth, but no one really knows what it means when you ask them how that differs from other states. The reason is simply that upon the drafting of state constitutions, the authors emphasized a government founded for the common good of the people and not a king. There is, however, no legal or political difference from other states.

When working out of the Capitol in Frankfort, elected officials craft, debate, and vote on legislation that directly impacts daily life, ranging from state tax policy and public school funding, or lack thereof, to criminal justice, healthcare access, and infrastructure. Beyond passing laws, their most crucial legislative role is drafting and passing the state’s budget every two years, which dictates how billions in public tax dollars are allocated across state agencies, local projects, and community programs. The legislature performs oversight of executive branch cabinet agencies and administrative regulations to dictate that state operations align with its purported legislative intent.

Structure and Terms

The Kentucky General Assembly operates as a bicameral (two houses, but not in the rich people way) legislature:

House of Representatives: Composed of 100 members who serve two-year terms. Each representative represents a specific geographic district scaled to population size.
Senate: Composed of 38 members who serve staggered four-year terms, with half of the Senate elected every two years. Senate districts are geographically larger than House districts and represent more constituents.

How Do We Talk to Them

Any Kentuckian can contact their representative or senator to express positions on active bills, advocate for policy changes, or request legislative action on local community issues. Information about legislators can be found here, and you can reach out to them(likely their staff) about your thoughts on issues.

Additionally, state legislators may provide crucial constituent services. If you face systemic roadblocks or delays with state agencies—such as unemployment insurance, transportation permits, or Medicaid processing—your legislator’s office can often intervene or inquire on your behalf.

In many more rural counties, the state legislator is a bit of a celebrity, often seen as the connection between them and the “big time” in Frankfort. This may or may not go to their heads, but this is how it works. Kentucky legislators are part-time workers, and most have regular day jobs on top of the service they provide as elected officials.