Photo: legislature.ky.govKY · Officeholder
RState Senator · District 30
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Kentucky Senate District 30
Brandon Smith is a Republican state senator from Kentucky who has represented District 30 since 2008 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] Ballotpedia lists his profession as business owner.[1]
Smith served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008 and as a commissioner for the City of Hazard from 1993 to 1998.[1] His professional experience includes work as retail operations director for Perry Oil Company, vice president of Hazard Food Mart, Inc., and owner of Daniel Boone Investments.[1] For the 2025-2026 session, Ballotpedia lists him on the Senate Banking and Insurance, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection, Natural Resources and Energy (chair), and Transportation committees.[1] Smith and his wife, Jamie, have three children.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Brandon Smith is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Kentucky Senate District 30 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
AN ACT relating to regulated beverages and declaring an emergency.
Creates licenses to distribute and sell cannabis-infused beverages (up to 5 mg of intoxicating cannabinoids per 12 oz), sold by the package to people 21 and older under the Alcoholic Beverage Control department, and makes other changes to alcohol licensing.
Mar 13, 2025 · Passed 22–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to agritourism.
Bars cities, counties and other local governments from restricting or unduly burdening agritourism activities that meet health, safety and zoning rules, and adds activities involving working animals to the definition of agritourism.
Feb 12, 2026 · Passed 26–12 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to state personnel.
Bars state employees in all three branches from teleworking unless an emergency is declared, with exceptions and up to two telework days a month for some employees, and makes other changes to state personnel law.
Feb 20, 2025 · Passed 25–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Requires local boards to expel students in grades 6 to 12 for at least 12 months for assaulting school personnel without just cause, requires employees to report intentional assaults to law enforcement unless a disability interfered, and sets misdemeanor penalties for failing to report.
Feb 24, 2026 · Passed 27–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.
On the version voted Mar 16, 2026: Lets the Department of Corrections set execution protocols and procedures by internal policy or memorandum rather than through administrative regulations.
Apr 1, 2026 · Passed 27–9 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to concealed firearms and deadly weapons.
Requires State Police to issue provisional concealed-carry licenses, valid until age 21, to people aged 18 to 20 who meet set criteria, and sets how they convert to standard licenses.
Apr 14, 2026 · Passed 28–9 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
For the 2024-25 school year, lets districts meet 1,062 instructional hours instead of 170 attendance days, lets the education commissioner grant up to five disaster relief days or waive up to five attendance days, and caps virtual-program teacher loads.
Mar 6, 2025 · Passed 23–14 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Moves school-based decision making council duties to advisory councils and principals, has the advisory council give a nonbinding nomination for principal to the superintendent, requires principals to report annually to the local board, and lets local boards adopt a human sexuality curriculum.
Feb 19, 2026 · Passed 27–11 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Requires local boards to expel students in grades 6 to 12 for at least 12 months for assaulting school personnel without just cause, requires employees to report intentional assaults to law enforcement unless a disability interfered, and sets misdemeanor penalties for failing to report.
Feb 24, 2026 · Passed 27–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to deficient administrative regulations and declaring an emergency.
On the version voted Apr 14, 2026: Declares six proposed administrative regulations (Medicaid outpatient pharmacy, tobacco and vapor licensing, online insurance verification, controlled substance monitoring, relative caregiver services) null and void and bars agencies from reissuing similar ones through June 1, 2027. Takes effect immediately as an emergency.
Mar 11, 2026 · Passed 26–6 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets health care professionals and institutions refuse to participate in services that violate their conscience, bars discrimination and liability for doing so, limits sanctions by hiring and licensing authorities for First Amendment-protected speech, and creates a civil cause of action for those injured by violations.
Mar 7, 2025 · Passed 26–6 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to maternal health and declaring an emergency.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 31–7 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
On the version voted Mar 17, 2026: Deems a pesticide registered with the Department of Agriculture or EPA and bearing an EPA-approved master label to carry sufficient warning in civil actions over a duty to warn.
Mar 5, 2026 · Passed 23–13 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to fish and wildlife and declaring an emergency.
Exempts private landowners from state fishing limits (creel, possession, size and method of take) and most stocking requirements for their own private lakes and ponds, defined as those not connected to or accessible by fish from public waters.
Feb 20, 2026 · Passed 29–8 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to environmental protection and declaring an emergency.
Narrows the state definition of "waters of the Commonwealth" to federally defined navigable waters, open-throat sinkholes, certain springs and wellhead protection areas, and adds long-term water treatment financial assurance to coal mining bonds where required.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 29–8 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Raises the weekly personal injury protection work-loss limit from $200 to $500, sets rules for paying medical expenses, gives the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction over insurance fraud, and requires prosecutors to refer fraud reports to the insurance commissioner.
Mar 27, 2026 · Passed 24–8 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to pedestrians.
Bars sitting, standing or remaining stationary on state-maintained rights-of-way not designated for pedestrians, with emergency and utility-worker exceptions; lets local governments authorize limited exceptions and the Transportation Cabinet set minimum standards.
Mar 24, 2026 · Passed 31–6 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Gives applicants for building permits, development plans or subdivision plats a vested right to local development standards in effect on the application date, for set periods (up to 10 years, 15 if phased), with exceptions such as safety hazards.
Mar 13, 2026 · Passed 27–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to manufactured housing.
Mar 13, 2025 · Passed 32–5 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Mar 25, 2026 · Passed 34–4 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency.
On the version voted Mar 9, 2026: Attaches the Kentucky Communications Network Authority to the Finance Cabinet under the Commonwealth Office of Technology's executive director, abolishes its advisory group and executive director position, and replaces most of its board members.
Mar 10, 2026 · Passed 32–6 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to protection of information and declaring an emergency.
Feb 28, 2025 · Passed 30–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to privacy protection.
Mar 24, 2026 · Passed 34–3 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 14 of 149 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Education & families (9), Jobs & cost of living (4), Health & care (1)
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
What it does: On the version voted Apr 1, 2026: Creates a four-year leadership program for new principals, cuts the Jefferson County school board from seven to five members with new election divisions, creates a Center of American…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 30–2
Apr 14, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to education.
What it does: On the version voted Apr 1, 2026: Changes duties of school boards and superintendents in the Jefferson County district: sets five-year strategic plans, requires board approval of three-year revenue and expense project…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 31–1
Apr 14, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
What it does: Creates a four-year leadership program for new principals, cuts the Jefferson County school board from seven to five members with new election divisions, creates a Center of American Civics at UK, and makes UofL's McC…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–5, Republicans 28–2
Apr 1, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to education.
What it does: Changes duties of school boards and superintendents in the Jefferson County district: sets five-year strategic plans, requires board approval of three-year revenue and expense projections, caps superintendent transfer…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 29–2
Apr 1, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
What it does: On the version voted Apr 14, 2026: Adds federally set community engagement requirements and cost-sharing to Medicaid, requires eligibility checks every six months, extends current managed care contracts through 2028,…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 2–4, Republicans 30–1
Apr 1, 2026Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
AN ACT relating to regulated beverages and declaring an emergency.
With most of their party · Passed 22–13 · Yes 22–No 13 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 22–7
Mar 13, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.
Against most of their party · Passed 23–14 · Yes 23–No 14 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 23–8
Mar 6, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
With most of their party · Passed 23–13 · Yes 23–No 13 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 23–7
Mar 5, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to agritourism.
With most of their party · Passed 26–12 · Yes 26–No 12 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 26–6
Feb 12, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to public library district boards of trustees.
Against most of their party · Passed 21–11 · Yes 21–No 11 · Democrats 0–4, Republicans 21–7
Feb 28, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to state personnel.
With most of their party · Passed 25–10 · Yes 25–No 10 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 25–4
Feb 20, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 24–8 · Yes 24–No 8 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 24–2
Mar 27, 2026Official record ↗
Against most of their party · Passed 27–11 · Yes 27–No 11 · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 27–5
Feb 19, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: Final passage (with House Floor Amendment 1, House Floor Amendment 3, House Floor Amendment 2)
Names the Treeing Walker Coonhound state dog, cats and dogs adopted from or living in Kentucky shelters or rescues official state pets, the eastern spotted skunk state nongame mammal, and the eastern hellbender state amphibian.
Motion: Final passage (with House Committee Substitute 2, House Committee Amendment 2)
Amends the state budget bills to add supplemental appropriations for various programs and projects, with conditions attached.
Motion: Override veto: final passage
On the version voted Apr 1, 2026: Requires online gaming operators to deny accounts to people on a child support arrearage registry, sets licensing and fee rules for fantasy contest providers and an age-18 minimum for participants, and lets lottery and racing regulators issue regulations without the Governor's signature.
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Overrides the Governor's line-item vetoes of the Judicial Branch budget, which appropriates money for the Judicial Branch's operating and capital projects and sets general provisions and a budget reduction or surplus expenditure plan.
Motion: Consent passage (with Senate Committee Substitute 1, Senate Committee Amendment 1)
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Updates the sales tax standard for remote retailers, sunsets state tax increment financing programs, conforms to the federal tax code with exceptions, taxes fantasy contest providers and data brokering services, and sets cash rounding rules.
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Sets the Legislative Branch budget, including its operating budget, general provisions, and plans for budget reductions or spending of any surplus.
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Sets the executive branch budget, including operating and capital project spending, state employee pay and benefit policy, fund transfers, General Fund and Road Fund budget reduction and surplus spending plans, and tobacco settlement spending.
Motion: Override veto: final passage
Directs the Auditor of Public Accounts to hire a vendor to study laws, regulations and agency policies affecting opening and operating licensed child care, with findings due to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2027.
Showing 10 of 241 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.