SB 34 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to the transfer of property upon death.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 391 to establish the Kentucky Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act to codify provisions for the creation, administration, modification, termination, and validity of transfer on death deeds; define terms; specify that a transfer on death deed is not an inter vivos transfer and that the transfer occurs at the time of the transferor's death; specify that the transferor retains the power to revoke a transfer on death deed; establish that a transfer on death deed is nontestamentary; establish requirements for a transfer on death deed and specify the process of recording a transfer on death deed; specify that a transfer on death deed is effective without acceptance by the beneficiary during the transferor's lifetime; establish provisions for the revocation of a transfer on death deed by instrument or act; establish the effect of a transfer on death deed during the transferor's life; allow a beneficiary to disclaim the property interest in the deed; establish a form for creating at transfer on death deed; establish a form for revocation of a transfer on death deed; require the Department of Revenue to provide the established forms; specify the applicability of KRS Chapter 391; conform to federal requirements related to electronic signatures and records; amend KRS 64.012 to provide the recording fee for a transfer on death deed or revocation; require the Department of Medicaid Services to prescribe and provide a form requiring information related to any Medicaid lien; provide that Sections 1 to 14 of this Act may be cited as the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act; Amend KRS 381.280, 382.110, 382.135, 391.360, 392.020, 392.070, and 403.190 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 186A to define terms; establish requirements for a transfer of a vehicle's title to a named beneficiary upon the death of the owner; direct the Transportation Cabinet to develop a form for transfer; amend KRS 395.455 to dispense with administration of an estate and transfer property under certain circumstances relating to minors and payment of preferred claims.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to update the document's official title and page count, reflecting its progression from introduction to a final version. Substantively, the text reorganized the requirements for a 'transfer on death deed' to clarify that such deeds must contain specific sworn statements, including spousal consent regarding dower rights and notice to beneficiaries. Additionally, the rules for revoking these deeds were expanded to include various types of deeds and instruments, while explicitly stating that a recorded transfer on death deed cannot be overturned by a later will or codicil.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on real property transfer laws, but the specific mechanisms for creating and revoking transfer on death deeds were refined to include more explicit revocation methods and stronger protections against wills.
REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the list of required elements for a transfer on death deed to ensure clarity on sworn statements and beneficiary notice.

Expanded the conditions under which a transfer on death deed can be revoked to include deeds transferring the same interest and deeds of joint owners.

Added a specific provision stating that a recorded transfer on death deed cannot be revoked by a will or codicil.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header and page count to reflect the final version of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2026

How they voted

422
Passed
Total votes 44
Mar 12, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
36 Yea 2 Nay
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
to Local Government (H)
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 36-2 with Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Jan 6, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 6, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.