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DState Representative · District 42
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Kentucky House District 42
Joshua Watkins is a Democratic state representative from Kentucky House District 42 who has served since January 1, 2025, and is running unopposed for re-election on November 3, 2026. He is a government administrator.[1] In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, he said he serves as House Minority Whip.[2]
Joshua Watkins was born in Miami, Florida.[1] He attended Murray State University, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in 2010 and a graduate degree from Northcentral University in 2022.[1] His career experience includes working as a government administrator, community advocate and grassroots organization advisor, and he has been affiliated with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, the Waterfront Development Corporation and the Kentucky College of Art & Design.[1]
Watkins succeeded Democrat Keturah Herron in District 42.[1] In the 2025-2026 session he was assigned to the House Agriculture, House State Government, House Natural Resources and Energy, and Small Business & Information Technology committees.[1] In his 2026 survey he said he spent more than a decade in community development, local government, project management and public-sector performance, and that his legislative work has focused on housing affordability, healthcare, public safety and economic opportunity.[2]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Joshua Watkins is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Kentucky House District 42 as D. 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 Democrats 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to worker benefits.
Mar 24, 2026 · Failed 22–42 · with most DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to first responders.
Mar 25, 2026 · Failed 21–56 · with most DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Mar 14, 2025 · Failed 20–46 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to postsecondary tuition waivers.
Feb 25, 2026 · Passed 57–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to road projects and declaring an emergency.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 80–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Mar 27, 2026: 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 31, 2026 · Passed 75–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial 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.
Apr 1, 2026 · Passed 56–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial 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 DemocratsOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to data centers.
Mar 4, 2026 · Passed 90–8 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Mar 11, 2025 · Passed 63–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Mar 14, 2025 · Passed 76–12 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
AN ACT relating to the rights of real property owners.
Mar 4, 2025 · Passed 93–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 10 of 204 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Health & care (3), Transportation (3), Jobs & cost of living (2)
AN ACT relating to veterinarians and declaring an emergency.
What it does: Adds one livestock veterinarian and one equine veterinarian to the Controlled Substances Prescribing Council, removing one physician and one nurse, and exempts veterinarians from reporting controlled-substance prescri…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 3–16, Republicans 80–0
Apr 14, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to government agencies, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–13, Republicans 79–0
Mar 10, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to cigar bars.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 7–13, Republicans 62–11
Feb 3, 2026Official record ↗
AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 4–13, Republicans 80–0
Mar 28, 2025Official record ↗
A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to road projects and declaring an emergency.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–7, Republicans 74–0
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 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 pesticide labeling.
With most of their party · Passed 56–32 · Yes 56–No 32 · Democrats 0–19, Republicans 56–13
Apr 1, 2026Official 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.