Kentucky House Bill 44: Advancing Robotics Education Across the Commonwealth
Legislative Update: HB44 Passes Unanimously Out of House Education Committee
This week, House Bill 44 passed unanimously out of the House Education Committee, marking the first major step forward for this legislation.
Students from Kentucky FTC Team 4444 presented to lawmakers in the committee room, demonstrating firsthand just how impactful these programs are for students across the state.
The bill will now continue moving through the House before heading to the Senate.
We are incredibly proud of the students who represented their teams and grateful to the legislators who took the time to listen.
What HB44 Does
House Bill 44 would create a funding opportunity for Kentucky robotics programs through stipends and grants that support educator time and program costs tied to more technically intensive competitive robotics participation.
What the funding can be used for:
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Stipends for educators who coach or mentor robotics teams
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Competition registration fees
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Program materials and supplies
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Event and competition costs that schools or teams often struggle to fund
The focus of HB44 is on reducing financial barriers so that more students can participate in technically intensive robotics programs across KY.
Why this Matters
Many robotics programs depend on unpaid educator time and fundraising just to stay active. HB44 recognizes the time, effort, and resources required to run a competitive robotics team and creates a pathway for direct support to the people and programs doing the work.
This legislation has the potential to:
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Support sustainability for existing teams
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Make it easier for new teams to launch
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Expand access to robotics education statewide
Hear directly from Representative Lewis
A video from the Kentucky State Capitol highlighting the introduction of House Bill 44 and its focus on supporting competitive robotics programs across the Commonwealth.
More Information:
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