Rep. Meredith brings county jail proposal to interim committee
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Edmonson, presented a proposal Tuesday aimed at addressing challenges facing Kentucky’s county jails, according to the Kentucky House Majority Caucus.
Proposal revives House Bill 557
The proposal is based on House Bill 557, legislation Meredith sponsored during the 2026 Regular Session that would change how Kentucky funds and shares responsibility for county jails. The bill had more than 50 co-sponsors but did not receive a committee hearing during the budget session.
“We are at a crisis point amongst the county governments related to county jails,” Meredith told the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary. “We are open to listening to any ideas.”
According to the Kentucky Association of Counties, local governments transferred nearly $170 million from their general funds to support county jails in fiscal year 2025, a 76% increase over six years.
Counties face growing jail costs
The association said the average cost to operate a county jail is about $64 per inmate per day, while counties receive $35 per day for housing state inmates.
Meredith said simply increasing the state’s per diem payment would not be enough to address the problem.
“We have to be willing to look at the entire system and ask what makes the most sense for taxpayers and for public safety,” Meredith said. “We cannot continue to put more and more pressure on county governments and expect them to absorb those costs without consequences for other services.”
Regional jail systems part of proposal
Under the proposal, counties would be encouraged to create or participate in regional jail systems. It would also change how counties are reimbursed for certain felony pretrial detainees and establish a new model for housing state inmates in county facilities.
Lawmakers also discussed jail medical costs, regional jail operations, pretrial detention, state responsibility for inmates and the role of elected jailers.
The House Majority Caucus said the discussion is part of lawmakers’ work ahead of the 2027 Regular Session to consider possible changes to Kentucky’s county jail system.
