KENTUCKY
Implemented by Law or Executive Action
In 2026, Governor Andy Beshear signed HB 577, which made several changes to the state's entrepreneurship and innovation framework. The bill renames the state's innovation hub program to the Kentucky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub Program, adds "early-stage" and "high-growth" company definitions to the Kentucky Innovation Act, expands the Kentucky enterprise fund to support business expansion work and to attract early-stage and high-growth companies to the state, and amends the Angel Investor Program to allow qualified investments to be made through pass-through entities.
Governor Beshear also signed an executive order creating the Team Kentucky Council on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. This council will serve as the voice and resource for the small business community at the highest levels of Kentucky state government. It will be made up of entrepreneurs, economic and workforce development leaders, and government officials. The Governor will serve as chair. The council will address many things, some of which include, identifying specific barriers facing entrepreneurs, identifying methods to increase new businesses, connecting resources, mentors, programs, and networks, and advising on workforce training initiatives for small businesses. Additionally, the council will submit recommendations to the Governor and propose legislative or executive actions for the year 2027.
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Right to Start shares best practices to help policymakers support entrepreneurs. We are a leading, national nonpartisan civic organization working to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all throughout the United States by changing minds, changing policies and changing communities. Our policy recommendations are pro-growth measures, which will remove barriers and streamline processes to starting, cut red tape, advance homegrown job creation, and build a stronger connection between entrepreneurs and government.
Disclaimer - For Informational Purposes