HB 659 streamlines environmental permitting for coal energy facilities and surface coal mining operations in Kentucky. It requires the Energy and Environment Cabinet to establish specific, time-bound review periods for permit applications, with a "one-stop shopping" process to simplify approvals. If the cabinet misses these deadlines, applicants can pursue legal action in court or request an administrative hearing. The bill directly affects coal plant operators and mining companies seeking permits, but does not change energy policy or environmental standards.
HB 671 amends Kentucky law (KRS 67.410) to replace gendered language like "His or her" with gender-neutral terms when describing the role of a county Building Inspector. The bill directly affects county fiscal courts and building inspectors by updating official titles and references in existing regulations to be inclusive. The key mechanism is a simple textual change to the statute, maintaining all existing duties, fees, and procedures for building permits. This is a procedural update with no new policy requirements or financial impact.
HB 629 prohibits health facilities and providers in Kentucky from refusing to provide health services to a person solely because they have not received a specific vaccine. The bill directly affects unvaccinated patients seeking care and healthcare providers who must comply with this requirement. Key provisions require compliance under KRS Chapter 216, explicitly stating that vaccination status cannot be the sole reason for denying services. This policy change aims to ensure equal access to care regardless of individual vaccination choices.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to define terms; establish payment and response requirements for third-party payors; amend KRS 205.623 to require third-party payors to respond within 60 days of certain health care claim inquiries from the Department for Medicaid Services; create a new section of KRS Chapter 18A, and amend KRS 205.532 and 304.12-255, to require the state employee health plan, affiliated and associated entities of Medicaid managed care organizations, and health insurers to comply with third-party payor requirements.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 311.530 to 311.620 to permit an international medical graduate to apply for a provisional license that may lead to a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in Kentucky notwithstanding KRS 311.571; require the Board of Medical Licensure to promulgate administrative regulations to establish provisional licensure pathway requirements, applicant requirements, eligibility for obtaining a full and unrestricted license after completing the provisional period, establish a data collection process to evaluate the provisional license option, and require an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission.
Establish Subtitle 13 of KRS Chapter 286, the Kentucky Financial Services Code, and create new sections thereof to regulate earned income access transactions; define terms; establish licensing requirements for certain earned income access providers; establish requirements for the change of control of a licensee; establish records requirements for licensees; require annual and other reports by licensees; permit the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions to conduct examinations and investigations of licensees and other persons; establish trade practice requirements for licensees; require the commissioner to establish a database for use by the department and licensees and establish requirements relating to the use of the database; require the nonrenewal, revocation, or suspension of licenses if certain conditions are met; authorize the commissioner to promulgate administrative regulations and to levy civil penalties for certain conduct; provide that certain transactions are void; amend KRS 286.4-410 and 371.150 to conform; provide that Sections 1 to 11 of this Act may be cited as the Kentucky Earned Wage Access Act; provide that the Act applies to earned income access transactions offered or provided on or after January 1, 2026.
HB 620 amends Kentucky's criminal code (KRS 501.060) to replace gendered terms like "his or her" with gender-neutral language in definitions related to criminal causation. The bill specifically updates legal phrases in sections about intentional, wanton, or reckless conduct that causes a result, ensuring the statute applies equally regardless of gender. This is a procedural update to modernize the language of existing law without changing the substance of criminal liability rules. The change directly affects how courts interpret criminal statutes involving causation in Kentucky.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 29A to provide that a person present at any part of a grand jury proceeding shall not knowingly record the proceeding or disclose any information they gather while present during a proceeding; amend KRS 29A.990 to establish the penalty for knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding as a Class A misdemeanor unless the defendant is a public servant as defined in KRS 519.010, in which case it is a Class D felony; amend KRS 500.050 to provide that a misdemeanor violation of knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding shall be prosecuted within 10 years after the act is committed.
Amend KRS 216B.020, relating to certificates of need, to reformat the list of facilities and services exempt from certificate of need provisions; amend KRS 216B.095 to require rather than permit the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to grant a nonsubstantive review to listed health facilities and services; add a presumption of need and state health plan consistency to health facilities and services granted a nonsubstantive review; amend KRS 216B.062 to prohibit the cabinet from batching applications for certificate of need applications that propose the same or similar types of services, facilities, or equipment; create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to require the cabinet to establish a four-year pilot program for urban health care markets with modified certificate of need exemptions and nonsubstantive review requirements beginning January 1, 2026; define "health care system," "pilot program," and "urban health care market"; list health facilities and services exempt from certificate of need for purposes of the pilot program; list nonsubstantive review requirements and conditions for the pilot program; require that a certificate of need and all related investments be retained after the completion of the pilot program; require a report to the Legislative Research Commission on the pilot program by November 1 each year; permit the cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the pilot program.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to define terms; allow two or more local governments to form a regional industrial taxing district; establish requirements for an economic development project in a regional industrial taxing district; allow the district to levy a special ad valorem tax; allow local governments to impose an occupational license fee on businesses, trades, and professions performed, rendered, or conducted within a regional industrial taxing district; establish requirements for the occupational license fee and the revenues collected; require the establishment of a board as part of the interlocal agreement.
Amend KRS 189.292 to define "operating a motor vehicle" and "use" or "uses"; prohibit the use of a personal communication device while operating a motor vehicle; establish exceptions; amend KRS 189.294 to prohibit persons under 18 years of age from using a personal communication device while operating a motor vehicle; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalties for violation of KRS 189.292 and 189.294; amend KRS 186.560 to set forth a 90-day revocation period for a violation of KRS 189.294; amend KRS 189.2327 to conform.
Amend KRS 158.442, 39G.010, and 158.4443 to require that administration of the School Mapping Data Program be the responsibility of the Office of Homeland Security instead of the Center for School Safety.
