Kentucky Bills

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 61 to allow a law enforcement officer to enter vacant and abandoned property to remove any person unlawfully occupying the property; specify when property shall be presumed vacant and abandoned; provide criminal and civil immunity to a law enforcement officer acting in good faith.

Create a new section of KRS 262.900 to 262.920 to prohibit the taking of property subject to an agricultural conservation easement by eminent domain; allow public hearing on a proposed taking of property subject to an agricultural conservation easement before the local soil and water conservation district board of supervisors; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to allow an owner of property adjoining a property condemned by eminent domain to bring a civil action against the condemnor for damages to property; create a new section of KRS Chapter 413 to establish a five-year statute of limitations for actions by adjoining property owners against condemnors; create a new section of KRS Chapter 416 to prohibit land condemned by eminent domain from being used for the construction of solar energy facilities; amend KRS 262.850 to prohibit the taking of property within the boundaries of an agricultural district by eminent domain; require condemnors to provide a written report at public hearing justifying condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; amend KRS 382.850 to prohibit the taking of property subject to a conservation easement by eminent domain; allow an owner of property subject to a conservation easement who has been served with a summons of condemnation proceedings to request a public hearing before the local soil and water conservation district board of supervisors; require condemnors to provide a written report at public hearing justifying condemnation due to lack of feasible alternative locations; amend KRS 416.550 to require that prior to filing a petition to initiate condemnation proceedings with regard to private property, the condemnor shall engage in good-faith negotiations with the property owner, seek written consent from the property owner to make an audio or video recording of the good-faith negotiations and to submit the recording to the Attorney General, refrain from making any materially false or misleading statements, and not enter into any legally binding agreement with the property owner until a survey of the property has been completed at the expense of the condemnor; provide that the recording of negotiations is subject to public inspection under the Kentucky Open Records Act; amend KRS 416.560 to specify requirements for contents of notice of entry to owners of property; establish penalty for failure to give notice; amend KRS 416.570 to require a petition for condemnation proceedings to contain statements that the property is not subject to an easement that prohibits taking by eminent domain, that there are no reasonable alternate locations or routes for the proposed project, that good-faith negotiations have occurred as prescribed, that no materially false or misleading statements were made to a property owner, and that an audio or video recording of the negotiations has been taken and submitted to the Attorney General or waived by the property owner; amend KRS 416.580 to require the appointment of a certified independent real estate appraiser to the group of commissioners who establish the value of condemned property; amend KRS 416.610 to require the condemnor to pay expenses and reasonable attorney's fees in a condemnation proceeding; amend KRS 416.620 to require the condemnor to pay expenses and reasonable attorney's fees in a condemnation proceeding; amend KRS 416.660 to establish a highest and best use valuation for condemned property; establish the payment of a premium of 125% for any condemned property used for conservation, farm, or agricultural purposes; amend KRS 416.675 to define "private owner."

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 337 to require employers with 50 or more employees to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for an employee who has been employed for at least one year; allow an employee to waive the paid parental leave; provide for the promulgation of administrative regulations.

Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for FDA-approved prescription drugs for the treatment of postpartum mood disorders; allow the suspension of the coverage requirement for FDA-approved prescription drugs for the treatment of postpartum mood disorders under qualified health plans if cost defrayment required by the state; amend KRS 205.522, 205.6485, 18A.225, and 164.2871 to require Medicaid, Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program, the state health employee health plan, and a self-insured employer group health plan provided by a state postsecondary education institution to its employees to comply; direct that provisions apply to health benefit plans issued on or after January 1, 2026; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2026.

Amend KRS 42.722 to define terms relating to artificial intelligence; amend KRS 42.726 to require the Commonwealth Office of Technology to establish and implement policy standards for the use of artificial intelligence; create a new section of KRS 42.720 to 42.742to create the Artificial Intelligence Governance Committee; task the committee with the establishment of responsible, ethical, and transparent procedures for the allowable use, development, and approval of artificial intelligence for any department, program, cabinet, agency, and administrative body that uses and accesses the Commonwealth's information technology and technology infrastructure; require public disclosure of any use of artificial intelligence; provide employee education and training; prioritize personal privacy and protection of the data of individuals and businesses; require the Commonwealth Office of Technology to promulgate administrative regulations; amend KRS 117.001 to define "electioneering communication," "information content provider," "interactive computer service," "sponsor," and "synthetic media"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 117 to establish a cause of action for the use of synthetic media in an electioneering communication; establish an affirmative defense that the electioneering communication includes a conspicuous disclosure; provide that the sponsor of the electioneering communication may be held liable, but the medium and its advertising sales representative are not liable, except in certain circumstances; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 214.452 to add receipt of a COVID -19 vaccine to the blood donor risk factor statement collected by a blood establishment; amend KRS 214.458 to add donor receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine to the donor identification information affixed to a unit of donated blood; add that except in an emergency, a patient be informed if the donor of the blood to be transfused had received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Amend KRS 158.200 to detail process by which local boards of education may permit pupils to attend moral instruction; permit individuals or groups offering moral instruction to submit a request to a board and set requirements to be included in request; require superintendents to submit individuals providing transportation or moral instruction for criminal history and CA/N background checks; provide that students attending moral instruction are counted in average daily attendance for SEEK funding; repeal KRS 158.210, 158.220, 158.230, 158.240, 158.250, and 158.260.

Amend KRS 335.010 to remove outdated provisions that established an amnesty period related to disciplinary action, administrative fees, or fines for unlicensed social workers; amend KRS 335.020 to redefine the "practice of social work" and define "practice of clinical social work"; amend KRS 335.070 to allow the Kentucky Board of Social Work to promulgate administrative regulations relating to provisional license for students; amend KRS 335.080, 335.090, and 335.100, relating to the licensure requirements for certified social workers, licensed social workers, and licensed clinical social workers to include practice via telehealth and require Council on Social Work Education accreditation; amend KRS 335.158 to establish requirements for social workers who provide services via telehealth; amend KRS 387.610 and 457.090 to conform.

Amend KRS 199.894 to define "Child Care and Development Fund" and "Child Care Assistance Program"; create a new section of KRS 199.892 to 199.896 to establish income eligibility requirements for the Child Care Assistance Program.

HB 675 amends Kentucky law to update the process for admitting residents to long-term care facilities and hospital-based skilled nursing beds. It requires the Health and Family Services cabinet to implement a statewide prescreening system with a resource means test, ensuring residents have sufficient funds to cover 365 days of care before admission. The bill mandates preauthorization before admission, including assessments of health needs, alternatives to institutional care, and feasibility of those alternatives. Facilities admitting residents without this authorization face a Class B violation. The bill directly affects long-term care facilities, hospitals offering skilled nursing beds, and residents seeking such care. (Note: The official abstract incorrectly states this adds "gender-neutral language"; the bill text describes admissions procedures, not language changes.)

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 336 to define "covenant not to compete" and "covered employee"; provide that an employer shall not require a covered employee to enter into a covenant not to compete; set forth civil remedy, damages that can be recovered, and limitations to bring claim; provide that the provisions must be posted by the employer; indicate that an employer shall not retaliate against an employee for bringing a civil action; establish application of provisions; amend KRS 336.990 to provide civil penalties.

HB 674 amends Kentucky Revised Statute 216.315 to replace gendered language ("his or her") with gender-neutral terms regarding the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The bill updates the statutory description of the secretary's duties related to hospital districts and medical service areas, ensuring the language aligns with current standards for inclusivity. This change affects how the law describes the secretary's authority but does not alter any substantive policies, requirements, or services for patients or healthcare providers. The bill is a technical correction to existing language, with no new obligations or benefits created.