Senate Bills 57 and 157   FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 8, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bills 57 and 157 to potentially lower utility costs through a nuclear energy development pilot program and to make homes more affordable for Kentuckians by lowering mortgage rates. “Decisions at t he federal level are causing costs to rise, and Americans across the country are feeling it at the grocery, gas pump and when their bills come at the end of the month. In Kentucky, we’re doing what we can to help our families,” said Gov. Beshear. “These two pieces of legislation will help more families achieve homeownership by lowering mortgage rates and potentially lower utility rates for Kentuckians over the long term. Every step makes a difference when it comes to helping our people save their hard-earned dollars.”  Senate Bill 57 creates the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program, which will award grant funding for site development and licensing to accelerate nuclear energy development in Kentucky with the goal of lowering utility costs for Kentuckians over the long term.    Senate Bill 157 will allow Kentuckians to buy down their interest rates on their mortgages through discount points and better protect families from abusive lending practices.   Other 2026 Bill SigningsEarlier this week, Gov. Beshear signed legislation supporting different areas of health care including House Bill 393, which supports progress on the state’s Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias plan; House Bill 510, which establishes safeguards for organ donation; and Senate Bill 97, which requires that health benefit plans cover prosthetics and orthotics. The Governor also signed House Bill 307 to create a proactive admissions program to streamline the application process for students seeking postsecondary and House Bill 642 to increase the amount a retired teacher can earn during reemployment. On Good Friday, Gov. Beshear signed several bills to better support Kentuckians with special needs and their families: Senate Bill 69, Senate Bill 85 and House Bill 562. In March, Gov. Beshear signed several bills to support education and safety for Kentuckians. These pieces of legislation included Senate Bill 2, directing school districts to not increase administrator pay greater than the percentage pay increase provided to classroom teachers; Senate Bill 5 encouraging schools to purchase locally grown food; Senate Bill 46, which makes changes to student transportation for increased safety; and House Bill 657, which protects consumers by requiring national and state background checks for specialty providers. He also signed Senate Bill 145 related to regulations for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and signed Senate Bill 11 into law, establishing a residential safe room rebate program and fund to protect eligible Kentuckians from severe weather. In February, Gov. Beshear signed Senate Bill 172, which helped lower the cost of utilities for Kentucky families. The Governor also stood with Kentucky public schools in March and vetoed House Bill 1. Click here for the full veto message. ### The post Gov. Beshear Signs Legislation To Lower Utility and Mortgage Costs appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less