HB 526 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to members of the bar.

Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 21A to establish parameters for compulsory dues for members of the bar; define who is a member of the bar for purposes of the section; amend KRS 21A.300 and 21A.310 to conform; repeal KRS 21A.160, relating to organization and control of State bar being vested in the Supreme Court.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was completely rewritten to shift its focus from regulating specific attorney solicitation tactics to protecting individual rights against compelled association. The new version adds a preamble citing constitutional protections for speech and association, explicitly stating that licensing cannot force attorneys to join or financially support private organizations. It retains the prohibition on soliciting accident victims but removes the specific 30-day waiting period for that prohibition to take effect. The bill also adds a new effective date of July 1, 2027.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a narrow set of solicitation rules to a broader policy statement on compelled association and financial support of private groups as a condition of licensure.
SCOPE

Added a detailed preamble referencing Kentucky and US Constitutions to establish that requiring membership or dues for a license violates rights to free speech and voluntary association.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific 30-day waiting period requirement before an attorney can solicit accident victims, leaving the solicitation ban in effect immediately.

Deleted the specific 30-day delay provision that previously governed when solicitation restrictions apply after an accident.

TIMELINE

Added a new Section 5 specifying that the Act takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Floor votes · House Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

7521
Passed · 9 other
Total votes 105
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic21
1 Yea 17 Nay 3
80% Nay
R Republican84
74 Yea 4 Nay 6
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Amendments
3
Feb 17, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 70-21 with Floor Amendment (3)
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (4) filed
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (3) filed to bill
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.