Kentucky Bills

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 329: AN ACT relating to child welfare investigations.

HB 329 requires mandated reporters (such as teachers, healthcare workers, and child-care staff) to immediately report suspected child dependency, neglect, or abuse to authorities via oral, written, or electronic means. It specifies the required details in reports, including child and caregiver information, nature of the alleged harm, and source of suspicion, and mandates a 24/7 statewide hotline operated by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The bill also clarifies that certain legal privileges (like doctor-patient confidentiality) do not block reporting, and expands reporting obligations for human trafficking and female genital mutilation cases involving children. These changes directly affect professionals working with children and the state’s child welfare agencies handling investigations.

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HR 58: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 6, 2026, as National Wear Red Day in Kentucky to raise awareness of heart disease and women's health.

HR 58 is a symbolic resolution designating February 6, 2026, as "National Wear Red Day" in Kentucky to raise awareness about heart disease and women's health. It directly affects Kentuckians by encouraging participation in the existing American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign, which promotes education on cardiovascular risks. The resolution has no new policy requirements or funding; it simply recognizes a national awareness day through state-level acknowledgment. It was introduced and adopted quickly by the Kentucky House of Representatives via voice vote. This is a procedural resolution with no binding legal effect, solely intended to support public health awareness efforts.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 171: AN ACT relating to certificate of need.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to establish that a certificate of need is not required to establish or operate a health facility or provide health services; establish that all existing certificates of need be deemed null and void.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HR 61: A RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.

HR 61 is a Kentucky House resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, which originated as Negro History Week in 1926. The resolution formally acknowledges the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history and Kentucky, encourages public awareness of Black history, and urges continued reflection on this history to address current challenges. It directs the Kentucky House to recognize this milestone through specific acknowledgments, including the significance of Black history to American identity and the need for ongoing education. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves to honor historical milestones.

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 12: AN ACT relating to medical provider coverage in Level IV trauma centers.

Amend KRS 211.492 to define "advanced practice provider"; amend KRS 211.494 to allow Level IV verified trauma centers to utilize physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses who are supervised by physicians to cover emergency departments; require the Department for Public Health to promulgate administrative regulations to conform.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 103: AN ACT relating to water fluoridation programs.

Amend KRS 211.190 to make water fluoridation programs optional; allow the governing bodies of water systems subject to regulation by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to decide whether they participate in water fluoridation programs; provide that a water fluoridation program in place on the effective date of the Act continues until action is taken by its governing body to end its participation; provide that any decision regarding participation in a water fluoridation program made by the governing body of a water system shall be binding on all water systems it supplies; provide that a governing body, a member or employee of a governing body, or any public or private entity that may be held liable for the actions of a governing body that makes any decision regarding its participation in an optional water fluoridation program shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for acts carried out reasonably and in good faith regarding its decision of whether to participate in the water fluoridation program.

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 276: AN ACT relating to keeping chickens on residential property.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to define "backyard chicken"; allow a person to keep 6 or fewer backyard chickens on residential property in cities and certain other local governments; establish requirements and restrictions on local regulatory authority.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 531: AN ACT relating to coordination of refugee assistance.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 194A to define "department"; require the Department for Community Based Services to administer funds received under the Refugee Act of 1980; implement a statewide strategy to ensure compliance with the Refugee Act; serve as the primary liaison between immigrant-serving organizations, refugee-serving organizations, and the federal government; advise the Governor, appropriate state agencies, cabinet members, and the General Assembly; submit an annual report to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and the Legislative Research; allow the department to promulgate administrative regulations; require information from the Kentucky Department of Education for the report; direct that the first report to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and the Legislative Research Commission be issued by July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Immigration

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 532: AN ACT relating to medicinal hemp products and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 260.850 to define terms; create a new section of KRS Chapter 260 to establish quality assurance and safety protocols for medicinal hemp cultivation, handling, processing, and marketing; amend KRS 260.862 to grant the Kentucky Department of Agriculture the authority to promulgate administrative regulations related to quality assurance and safety protocols of cultivation, handling, processing, or marketing of medicinal hemp products and to require medicinal hemp product cultivators and processors to follow federal good manufacturing, packaging, labeling, or holding practices.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 528: AN ACT relating to the governance of the Kentucky School for the Deaf.

Amend KRS 167.017 to set timelines for appointment of a search committee for the superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Deaf and appointment of the superintendent; specify superintendents duties; require prioritization of candidates that will be locally available and commit to full-time duties as superintendent; preclude Kentucky Department of Education employees or Kentucky Board of Education members from being appointed as superintendent within 1 year of employment or membership; amend KRS 167.037 to create the Kentucky School for the Deaf Board, set membership, structure, and duties; amend KRS 167.170 to permit the Kentucky Board of Education to delegate the power to expel a pupil of the Kentucky School for the Deaf to the Kentucky School for the Deaf Board; require members of the Kentucky School for the Deaf advisory board be appointed as the initial members of Kentucky School for the Deaf Board.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 165: AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.

Amend KRS 157.320 to define "eligible child" and "teaming partner"; amend KRS 157.3175 to require each local school district to provide preschool to 4 year olds who reside in a household with an income at or below 160% of the poverty level until the end of the 2033-2034 school year, and beginning with the 2034-2035 school year require each local school district to provide preschool to each eligible child; provide requirements for program guidelines; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish and maintain a statewide unified data system; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to require local school districts to maintain certification from the Head Start director that Head Start is fully utilized; provide penalties; require local school districts to prepare and submit preschool expansion plans to the deparment; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations regarding preschool expansion; require the department to submit a report the the Legislative Research Commission annually regarding preschool expansion.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 5, 2026

HR 55: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 5, 2026, as Kentucky Nurses Day in the Commonwealth.

This is a symbolic resolution (not a law) introduced by the Kentucky House of Representatives. It formally recognizes February 5, 2026, as "Kentucky Nurses Day" to honor nurses across the state. The resolution acknowledges nurses' long-standing contributions to healthcare, their trusted profession status, and their role in Kentucky since 1914. It has no policy impact beyond this ceremonial recognition and was adopted by the House via voice vote on February 5, 2026.

Bill results