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RState Representative · District 53
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Kentucky House District 53
James Tipton is a Republican state representative from Kentucky who has represented District 53 since 2015 and is seeking re-election to the Kentucky House of Representatives in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] Tipton is a farmer and chairs the Postsecondary Education Committee.[1]
James Tipton was born in Taylorsville, Kentucky, and graduated from Taylorsville High School in 1977.[1] He earned a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Kentucky in 1981 and a master's degree in vocational education there in 1985.[1] His career experience includes working as a realtor and a farmer, and he has been a member of the Spencer County Farm Bureau, the Anderson County and Spencer County chambers of commerce, the Kentucky Cattleman's Association, the Louisville Area Agricultural Club, and the Kentucky Association of Realtors.[1]
Tipton assumed office on January 1, 2015.[1] In the 2025-2026 session he chaired the Postsecondary Education Committee and also served on the House Agriculture, State Government, and Primary and Secondary Education committees.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
James Tipton is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Kentucky House District 53 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 Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
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, bars coverage of weight-loss drugs, and limits Medicaid benefits to those the legislature authorizes or federal law requires.
Feb 27, 2026 · Failed 25–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to worker benefits.
Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 22–42 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to occupational safety and health.
On the version voted Mar 27, 2025: Bars Kentucky's workplace safety regulators from adopting or enforcing rules that are stricter than federal OSHA standards or not issued by federal regulators, sets deadlines for complaints and citations, bars citations more than six months after a violation, and bars fines for de minimis (minor) violations.
Feb 26, 2025 · Failed 47–48 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Requires courts to send election officials a list of people convicted of felonies, including cases on appeal, and removal of those found ineligible from voter rolls by August 4, 2026; lets the elections board work with federal agencies to remove noncitizens; lets judicial candidates disclose party affiliation; and changes campaign finance rules.
Mar 5, 2026 · Passed 53–40 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to first responders.
Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 21–56 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to police department members.
On the version voted Mar 27, 2025: Lets local police departments set, in their personnel policies, the one-year period over which officers covered by state law earn their annual leave.
Mar 14, 2025 · Failed 37–41 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to choking prevention in schools.
As introduced, requires schools that obtain an anti-choking device to train cafeteria staff and other expected users, and shields people from civil liability when giving emergency care with such a device or the Heimlich maneuver at public or private schools.
Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 25–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Mar 14, 2025 · Failed 20–46 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to postsecondary tuition waivers.
Feb 25, 2026 · Passed 57–21 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
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, bars coverage of weight-loss drugs, and limits Medicaid benefits to those the legislature authorizes or federal law requires.
Feb 27, 2026 · Failed 25–25 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to choking prevention in schools.
As introduced, requires schools that obtain an anti-choking device to train cafeteria staff and other expected users, and shields people from civil liability when giving emergency care with such a device or the Heimlich maneuver at public or private schools.
Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 25–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to healthcare services and declaring an emergency.
Bars Medicaid funds, unless federal law requires, for cross-sex hormones above amounts a healthy person of the same age and sex normally produces, and for gender reassignment surgery; voids Executive Order 2024-632 (on conversion therapy) and similar orders or regulations through January 1, 2028.
Mar 14, 2025 · Passed 67–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to road projects and declaring an emergency.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 80–20 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to transportation, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
Creates a Local Assistance Road Program for rehabilitating local roads, capping state funding at $500,000 per project with a local match based on county population, and requires a memorandum with Indiana to use tolling revenue for the I-69 Ohio River Crossing.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 77–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
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 17, 2026 · Passed 53–37 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to sanitation districts.
Sets controls on fees and charges sanitation districts may impose, lets people sue if charged for a service not provided within a five-year plan, and limits stormwater charges to properties within 1,000 feet of the stormwater improvement and inside a city under a co-permittee agreement.
Mar 12, 2025 · Passed 68–23 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to solid waste management service companies.
Bars counties, waste management districts and those acting for them from compelling, requesting, acquiring, reviewing or possessing solid waste companies' confidential business information; exempts it from open records disclosure; and requires securing and returning or destroying it if obtained in violation.
Mar 9, 2026 · Passed 71–23 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency.
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 9, 2026 · Passed 78–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to personally identifiable information.
Bars government agencies from disclosing judges' and their families' personal information on written request, requires removal within 72 hours, creates a lawsuit for violations, and ends requirements that insurance denial letters include a name, license number or medical director signature.
Mar 28, 2025 · Passed 77–17 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to privacy protection.
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed 70–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Most contested
AN ACT relating to housing districts.
Apr 1, 2026 · Passed 71–21 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Mar 11, 2025 · Passed 63–18 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Mar 14, 2025 · Passed 76–12 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 2 of 222 party-divided votes on file.
AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.
What it does: 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.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 68–5
Mar 31, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to education.
Amends the bill to let at-home private school students take part in interscholastic athletics at the public school they would be assigned to, and sets conditions and procedures for participation. (AI-written)
What it does: Requires school athletics consent forms and coach training to cover reporting of child abuse and neglect, bars seventh and eighth graders from boys' and coed high school varsity lacrosse, and requires schools with gra…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–14, Republicans 25–18
Mar 14, 2025Official 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 Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
With most of their party · Failed 25–25 · Yes 25–No 25 · Democrats 20–0, Republicans 5–25
Feb 27, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to choking prevention in schools.
With most of their party · Failed 25–36 · Yes 25–No 36 · Democrats 20–0, Republicans 5–36
Mar 24, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to worker benefits.
With most of their party · Failed 22–42 · Yes 22–No 42 · Democrats 20–0, Republicans 2–42
Mar 24, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 53–40 · Yes 53–No 40 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 53–21
Mar 5, 2026Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 20–46 · Yes 20–No 46 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 2–46
Mar 14, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to pesticide labeling.
With most of their party · Passed 53–37 · Yes 53–No 37 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 53–19
Mar 17, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to occupational safety and health.
With most of their party · Failed 47–48 · Yes 47–No 48 · Democrats 17–1, Republicans 30–47
Feb 26, 2025Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to first responders.
With most of their party · Failed 21–56 · Yes 21–No 56 · Democrats 20–0, Republicans 1–56
Mar 25, 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
As passed by the Senate, creates a refundable economic development credit for approved incentive projects based on a four-tier county ranking, raises skills training credit caps to $5,000 or $4,000 per trainee, and creates a heritage community revolving fund.
Motion: Passage
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: Adopt House Floor Amendment 3
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: Suspend the Rules (House Floor Amendment 1)
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
Requires at least 85% of Office of Adult Education general funds to go to adult education programs, requires a paper-test option for the high school equivalency exam, and removes the McConnell Center from developing a required American civics course.
Motion: Passage
Amends the state budget bills to add supplemental appropriations for various programs and projects, with conditions attached.
Motion: Final passage
On the version voted Mar 31, 2026: Changes many education statutes, including class-size and caseload rules for exceptional children and school board training topics; lets a legislative subcommittee temporarily authorize new state education reports; repeals the summer learning camp and teacher computer purchase laws.
Motion: Passage
On the version voted Mar 12, 2026: Allows fiscal courts and cities to spend public funds to care for and maintain pedestrian swinging bridges open for recreation, and limits liability for owners of land leased to a local government that maintains such a bridge.
Motion: Passage
Lets unused portions of the $75 million annual film tax credit cap carry into the next year, adds video games, music videos and commercials to eligible productions, and raises minimum qualifying spending for some productions.
Motion: Passage
As passed by the Senate, requires structural steel welding on projects whose specifications cite AWS D1.1 or D1.5 to use welders certified by an accredited testing facility and meet those standards, effective January 1, 2027. Exempts homeowner or farmer welding on their own premises.
Showing 10 of 414 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.