Kentucky ranks 21th of 50 in the 2026 Federalism Scorecard, with a score of 14.55.
Kentucky Rankings at a Glance
Rank: 21st of 50
Score: 14.55
2025: 34th, 7.47
Change: up 13 places, +7.08 points
National median: 12.88
Enacted a REINS-style legislative-oversight law in 2025, one of six states to newly cross that threshold this edition.
How Kentucky Compares to Its Neighbors
Kentucky's 7 bordering states are Illinois (45th, -3.70), Indiana (10th, 30.50), Missouri (35th, 3.70), Ohio (16th, 17.85), Tennessee (3rd, 53.95), Virginia (28th, 7.70), West Virginia (22nd, 14.10), averaging 17.73.
