Kentucky Bills

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.

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

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 166: AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.

Amend KRS 157.320 to define "at risk" 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 2030-2031 school year and beginning with the 2031-2032 school year, require each local school district to provide preschool to each 4 year old who is at risk; 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

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 5, 2026

HR 59: A RESOLUTION expressing support for Iranian protesters who are resisting the oppressive Iranian regime.

HR 59 is a symbolic resolution expressing Kentucky's support for Iranian protesters opposing their government and condemning the regime's crackdown. It includes statements of solidarity with protesters, condolences for victims of violence, and a commitment to support Iranian people's freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create policy changes or obligations, and has no direct effect on Kentucky residents or Iranian policy. The resolution was introduced in the Kentucky House on February 5, 2026.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 168: AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to the possession of cannabis.

Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to guarantee the right of an individual 21 years of age or older to possess, use, buy, or sell 1 ounce or less of cannabis and to cultivate, harvest, and store up to 5 cannabis plants for personal use; grant the General Assembly control over the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-derived products; designate the ballot question; direct the Secretary of State to publish the proposed amendment in a newspaper of general circulation; direct the Secretary of State to certify the proposed amendment to the county clerk of each county.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 164: AN ACT relating to cannabis.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 218A to make possession of a personal use quantity of cannabis exempt from civil or criminal penalty; amend KRS 218A.010 to define "cannabis," "personal use quantity of cannabis," and "cannabis accessory"; redefine "marijuana"; amend KRS 218A.1422, regarding cannabis possession, to conform; amend KRS 218A.1423, regarding cannabis cultivation, to conform; amend KRS 218A.500, regarding drug paraphernalia, to exempt personal use cannabis accessories; amend KRS 218A.1421, regarding cannabis trafficking, to exempt personal use quantities; amend KRS 138.872 to exclude personal use quantities from the cannabis stamp tax; amend KRS 218A.276, 218A.410, and 533.030 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to allow expungement of certain convictions relating to cannabis and to apply expungement retroactively; RETROACTIVE, in part.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 169: AN ACT proposing to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to property exempt from taxation.

Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to exempt disabled United States Armed Forces veterans and unremarried surviving spouses of United States Armed Forces service members killed in action while performing active military duty from property taxation of property owned and maintained as a primary residence and a primary motor vehicle owned and maintained as their primary vehicle after calendar year 2027; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 524: AN ACT relating to children.

HB 524 amends Kentucky law (KRS 610.050) to replace gendered language like "himself, herself" with gender-neutral terms such as "himself, herself, or their" in court orders regarding temporary child custody. This change directly affects court proceedings involving child welfare, dependency, neglect, or abuse cases where custody orders are issued. The bill only updates the statutory language to be inclusive - it does not alter legal procedures, eligibility, or outcomes for children or families. The amendment ensures court documents use neutral language without changing any substantive requirements for custody decisions.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 525: AN ACT relating to vision testing on renewal of operator's licenses and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 186.577 to remove the vison testing requirement on operator's license renewal for all drivers; require vison testing for renewal of an operator's license if the applicant is 65 years of age or older; EMERGENCY.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results