Beshear says the state could very well hit the $100 million cap by the end of the year, which could trigger the need for a special legislative session to authorize more spending.
The governor has repeatedly criticized the limits as impractical amid the increasing number and severity of weather-related disasters.
"This is the first time ever that our state legislature has said we're going to cap the amount of money to save people's lives during a natural disaster or that immediate response," Beshear said last Thursday. "I don't think that's right, especially when we have so much money in what we call a rainy day fund, and we're dealing with rainy days."
The Senate's leading Republican, Robert Stivers, said Tuesday that he believes the amount allocated by the General Assembly is appropriate and that extra funds exist.
"We also gave him $25 million to do match money to FEMA obligations. So if he needs something and it is apparent, we can be here in one day with four hours notice to take care of an appropriation to do whatever we need to do," the Manchester Republican said.
Stivers noted the legislature will be back in eight months for the 2026 regular session and could act swiftly — as early as January — to appropriate more emergency funds, But so far, he says they are not needed.