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HB 424 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to social work.

Summary
Amend KRS 335.010 to exempt student interns or trainees from social work licensure requirements; direct the Kentucky Board of Social Work to promulgate administrative regulations to define standards for student involvement in clinical social work; amend KRS 335.020 to define terms; amend KRS 335.030, 335.070, 335.080, 335.090, 335.100, 335.150, and 335.158 to establish licensure standards, including use of a multistate license, criminal background checks, and telehealth; amend KRS 335.050 to require that at least 1 licensee member of the board is a teacher actively engaged in social work education; amend KRS 387.610 and 457.090 to conform.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill exempts social work students from licensure during training, sets clinical standards, and includes telehealth - improving access to mental health services and healthcare workforce development.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill significantly updates Kentucky's social work regulations by replacing a section-by-section amendment approach with a comprehensive new chapter (KRS 335.010 to 335.160). The most critical change is the new mandatory criminal background check requirement for all applicants, license reinstaters, and out-of-state compact applicants, which must include both state and federal fingerprint checks. Additionally, the bill clarifies exemptions for public education employees and tax-exempt organization staff, while removing an expired amnesty period for unlicensed practice.
Scope change
The bill expands the regulatory scope by creating a new chapter covering social work licensure, background checks, and multistate practice compacts, replacing the previous fragmented statutory structure.
REQUIREMENT

Mandatory national and state criminal background investigations with fingerprint checks for all initial license applicants, reinstaters, and those seeking out-of-state compact privileges.

Background check results are now restricted; they cannot be distributed to the public but can be used as sealed evidence in legal proceedings challenging board disciplinary actions.

TIMELINE

Eliminated an expired amnesty period (July 2012 to December 2016) that previously exempted certain unlicensed individuals from disciplinary action.

DEFINITION

Established a new statutory framework (KRS 335.010 to 335.160) to organize social work regulations, including provisions for student internships and grievance procedures.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that employees of the State Department of Education, local school boards, and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from licensure requirements for their specific roles.

Floor votes · House Feb 18, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
11
Committee
9
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 77)
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 90-0
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
to Licensing & Occupations (S)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.