Governor Andy Beshear provided his “Team Kentucky” update Thursday afternoon, highlighting economic development, medical cannabis expansion, consumer protection efforts, flood mitigation projects and tax filing changes.
+ Per Site Selection Magazine, Beshear said Kentucky ranked among the top five states nationally for economic development projects per capita in 2025.
The state has placed in the top five every year during Beshear’s administration, with a Democrat-led executive branch and a GOP-led supermajority in the state House and Senate.
+ As for Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, Beshear said the state now has 19 licensed medical cannabis businesses operating statewide. Newly approved cultivators include operations in Jessamine, Lincoln and Hopkins counties, while Speakeasy Dispensary recently opened to serve patients.
So far, the state has approved eight cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, one processor and eight dispensaries.
More than 19,000 Kentuckians have been approved for medical cannabis cards, about 2,000 more than last month, and more than 500 in-state practitioners are registered to certify patients.
+ The governor also announced a new partnership between the state’s Stop Scams initiative and the Kentucky State Police to share scam-prevention resources with law enforcement agencies across Kentucky.
The website StopScams.ky.gov launched in 2025 to help residents identify and report fraud, and more than 30,000 people have signed up for scam alerts.
+ Through the voluntary buyout program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than $118 million has been used to purchase nearly 600 flood-prone homes in six counties, most of them in the eastern part of the state.
+ Beshear also noted national tax changes affecting the filing season.
Federal and state individual income tax returns are still due April 15. However, the United States Postal Service warns that recent operational changes may mean postmarks no longer reflect the exact day mail is dropped off. Because Kentucky uses the postmark date to determine whether returns are filed on time, delays could lead to penalties or interest.
Officials recommend filing electronically, requesting a manual postmark, mailing early, or using certified or registered mail to document when returns are sent.
Beginning April 1, the Kentucky Department of Revenue will also require the name on a tax return or refund request to exactly match the name on the taxpayer’s bank account to receive a direct deposit refund. If the names do not match, the refund will be issued by paper check.
Kentucky’s tax filing season began Jan. 26. Taxpayers can check refund status online using their Social Security number and expected refund amount.
The state also offers KY File, a free option for filing Kentucky individual income tax returns. Taxpayers needing assistance can contact the Department of Revenue or visit one of the state’s taxpayer service centers.
