Sign Up
SJR 116 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders.

Summary
Direct the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders; require a report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY, EFFECTIVE July 1, 2026.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects universities to address physician shortages and expand healthcare access in underserved areas via appropriation and report mandate, explicitly advancing healthcare delivery solutions.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2026 Signed Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from a House Bill (BR 2226) to a Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 116) and reorganized to remove a declaration of emergency and an immediate effective date. Instead, the focus shifted to directing three state universities to conduct a comprehensive study on physician shortages and submit a report by January 1, 2027. The specific funding of $250,000 for this study was removed, and the scope was narrowed to focus on actionable solutions, workforce diversification, and technological options rather than declaring a state of emergency.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from a broad emergency declaration with immediate implementation to a targeted study and report requirement focused on specific universities and a defined set of healthcare access issues.
TIMELINE

Removed the declaration of an emergency and the provision stating the Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

FISCAL

Deleted the specific appropriation of $250,000 for the administration and production of the report.

REQUIREMENT

Added a specific directive for the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for solutions and submit a report by January 1, 2027.

SCOPE

Refined the scope of the required study to explicitly focus on primary/specialty shortages, access barriers, retention strategies, and workforce/technology opportunities.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document type from a House Bill to a Senate Joint Resolution and updated page headers and dates.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2026

How they voted

43–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 44
Apr 15, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
37 Yea 1
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
9
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Apr 17, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 186)
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 37-0
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
adopted with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
to Postsecondary Education (H)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
to Health Services (S)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.