Kentucky Congressional Bills

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 12, 2025

HR 1241: SAFE for America Act of 2025

Security And Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2025 or SAFE for America Act of 2025 This bill eliminates the diversity visa program. This program provides up to 55,000 visas annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Mike Collins (R) · 59 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1192: To ensure that Big Cypress National Preserve may not be designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

This bill prohibits the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida from being designated as wilderness or as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The National Park Service currently manages Big Cypress National Preserve, which is a freshwater swamp ecosystem of 729,000 acres. In general, development activities, commercial activities, permanent structures, and roads are prohibited in wilderness areas. In contrast, natural preserves typically allow some development activities, such as hunting or oil and gas exploration.

Topics ✗ Environment

Scott Franklin (R) · 18 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1189: National Plan for Epilepsy Act

HR 1189, the National Plan for Epilepsy Act, creates a coordinated federal strategy to address epilepsy through a National Plan for Epilepsy. The plan requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an annual assessment, maintain a diverse Advisory Council (including people with epilepsy, caregivers, and experts), and coordinate research and care across federal agencies. Key provisions include annual progress reports to Congress, data sharing between agencies, and recommendations to improve diagnosis, treatment access, and reduce epilepsy-related disparities. The plan expires December 31, 2035, and directly affects the estimated 3.4 million people in the U.S. living with epilepsy and their caregivers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Jim Costa (D) · 98 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1195: Protect Medicaid Act

HR 1195, the Protect Medicaid Act, prohibits federal Medicaid funds from covering administrative costs related to health benefits provided to unauthorized immigrants who lack lawful immigration status and are ineligible for Medicaid. This directly affects states that currently provide such benefits, requiring them to separate these administrative costs from general Medicaid program expenses. The bill adds a new provision to the Social Security Act clarifying that federal funds cannot be used for these specific administrative costs, while allowing funds for systems designed to enforce this rule. It also mandates an Inspector General report detailing how states separate costs, ensure compliance, finance these programs (e.g., through provider taxes), and the impact on drug pricing for this population.

Topics ✗ Healthcare ✗ Immigration

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1101: Taxpayer Data Protection Act

This bill restricts access to Treasury payment systems (including the Bureau of the Fiscal Service) to only Treasury employees with a "fully successful" performance rating and at least one year of civil service, or contractors/outsiders with security clearances, required privacy/cybersecurity training, ethics agreements, and no conflicts of interest. It treats non-government users accessing these systems as government employees for ethics rules and defines specific actions (like stopping payments) as "personal and substantial participation" in government matters. The Treasury Inspector General must investigate any unauthorized access within 30 days and report to Congress, detailing the breach, security risks, and any halted payments. The bill directly affects Treasury staff, contractors, and any external entities accessing federal payment systems.

Topics ✓ Technology

Haley M. Stevens (D) · 205 co-sponsors

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 736: Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025

This bill extends the deadline for small businesses to file certain financial reports from a variable timeline tied to regulatory dates to a fixed date of January 1, 2026. It modifies Section 5336(b)(1)(B) of Title 31, U.S. Code, directly affecting small businesses already required to submit specific financial disclosures under existing law. The key change simplifies compliance by replacing flexible regulatory deadlines with a single, clear cutoff date. This adjustment provides additional time for affected businesses without altering the underlying reporting requirements.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 220: Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025

This proposed bill (HR 220) would expand VA healthcare benefits to cover infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation services for veterans with infertility or at risk of infertility (e.g., due to medical treatments), and their partners. It limits VA coverage to three successful IVF cycles or ten attempts, requires consent from veterans, partners, and donors, and allows use of donated eggs or embryos. Partners would receive travel reimbursement as if they were veterans, and temporary rules during implementation will immediately allow partners to access care without marriage requirements. The bill clarifies VA isn’t required to cover maternity care beyond existing rules and defers full implementation until VA issues final regulations within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Julia Brownley (D) · 82 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 219: Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025

This bill requires the Comptroller General to study and report on menopause care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to women veterans experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The study will examine current VA protocols for diagnosis, treatment, provider training, veteran access to care, outreach efforts, and quality of care, including veteran feedback. The VA Secretary must then develop a strategic plan within six months of the report's release to improve menopause care access and quality for women veterans under VA healthcare programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Julia Brownley (D) · 38 co-sponsors

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 499: Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025

This bill automatically prevents government shutdowns by funding federal programs at 94% of the previous fiscal year's level if Congress fails to pass a regular budget on time. For 90 days, funding starts at 94% and decreases by 1% every 90 days until a new budget is enacted, with special rules maintaining full funding for mandatory programs like food assistance. It applies to most government operations but excludes programs with specific legal requirements or those already funded by other laws. The bill ensures continuous service for agencies without requiring new congressional action during funding gaps.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 10, 2025

S 500: CAREER Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes and updates the CAREER Act, focusing on supporting individuals with substance use disorders through employment and recovery services. It increases annual funding for treatment, recovery, and workforce support grants from $5 million to $12 million (2026-2030), prioritizing areas with the highest 2018-2022 drug overdose deaths, unemployment, and low job market participation. The bill allows up to 5% of grant funds for transportation to work, job training, or recovery services, and extends the Recovery Housing Pilot Program through 2030. It directly affects communities and individuals impacted by substance use disorders by linking federal funding to measurable local needs.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 10, 2025

HR 1177: Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act

HR 1177, the "Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act," increases tax credits for employers hiring from targeted groups. It raises the credit rate from 40% to 50% for qualified first-year wages up to $6,000, plus 50% for wages between $6,000 and $12,000. The bill also creates higher credit limits for veterans (up to $24,000/$48,000), removes an age cap for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, and adjusts rules for summer youth workers and long-term family assistance recipients. These changes apply to employees hired after December 31, 2024, directly benefiting employers who hire from these eligible groups.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Lloyd Smucker (R) · 17 co-sponsors

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 10, 2025

HR 29: Laken Riley Act

The Laken Riley Act expands mandatory detention for immigrants convicted of certain property crimes like burglary, theft, or shoplifting by adding these offenses to existing immigration detention criteria. It requires the federal government to issue detainers for such individuals and take custody if not detained by local authorities. The bill also grants state attorneys general standing to sue federal officials in federal court if they believe immigration enforcement actions (like releasing detained immigrants) cause the state financial harm exceeding $100. This creates new legal pathways for states to challenge federal immigration decisions through expedited lawsuits.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Mike Collins (R) · 54 co-sponsors

Kentucky Congressional Bills

Bill results