State desk
Ranks 24th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Kentucky stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 10 Kentucky outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Kentucky in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required to carry a concealed handgun since 2019; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
Kentucky is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Kentucky taxes individual income at a single flat rate of 3.50 percent, ranking 35 of 41 among the states that tax income. Fifteen states use a single-rate structure.
Kentucky is 1 of 15 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only26 · Graduated Brackets
Kentucky charges 26.40 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 33 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 44.80 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 23.40 cents.
Kentucky is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
Kentucky is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work by statute since 2017.
Kentucky is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25.
Kentucky is 1 of 12 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters are asked for photo ID; those without one can still cast a counted ballot via affidavit or poll-worker verification.
Kentucky is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
No active program; courts struck down prior efforts and voters rejected an enabling amendment in 2024.
Kentucky is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
NCSL lists Kentucky among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages.
Kentucky is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Voters must cite a qualifying excuse, such as illness or absence, to vote absentee by mail.
Kentucky is 1 of 13 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail29 · No-Excuse Absentee
Kentucky's unemployment rate was 4.7% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 42nd lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 40th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 4.5%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Kentucky is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court