SEN. AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, left, was awarded this year’s “Friend of Kentucky Cities Award.” KLC’s Director of Government Affairs Gracie Kelly, right, presented the award. (Photo submitted)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for America corps member
Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, was presented the 2026 Friend of Kentucky Cities Award by the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) in recognition of her sponsoring Senate Bill 192 during the 2026 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. “Sen. Bledsoe has been a tremendous partner to Kentucky cities and understands the
importance of providing local governments with practical, efficient solutions while maintaining
transparency and accountability,” KLC Executive Director and CEO J.D. Chaney said in a press release. “Her leadership on SB 192 reflects a collaborative approach to policymaking that will benefit
cities across the commonwealth.” As lead sponsor, Chaney said Bledsoe “led legislation that modernizes financial reporting requirements for Kentucky cities.”
The bill was a result of collaboration among KLC, the Kentucky Society of CPAs and the Office of the Auditor of Public Accounts. The legislation allows eligible cities that receive and expend less than $15 million annually to satisfy auditing requirements through agreed-upon procedures engagements. “Sen. Bledsoe worked closely with KLC and our partners to advance legislation that
improves efficiency for Kentucky cities,” KLC Director of Government Affairs Gracie Kelly said in the release. “We appreciate her leadership and commitment to ensuring state law reflects the operational needs of local governments.” KLC bestows the “Friend of Kentucky Cities” award on legislators who perform outstanding work in the legislature, advocating for issues that impact cities across the state, according to the release.
“As a former local official, I’m grateful to the KLC for this recognition and, more importantly, for the partnership that led to SB 192. Our cities have a responsibility to taxpayers to be transparent and accountable, but accountability does not require a one-size-fits-all approach,” Bledsoe told the Sun in an email. “We can maintain strong oversight while recognizing the practical realities facing smaller communities. That balance allows local leaders to spend less time and money navigating unnecessary administrative burdens and more resources serving the people who call their communities home.”