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Kentucky Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 14,689 Active 8,508 In committee 8,182 Passed 4,038 Signed 1,952 Failed 158

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 84: AN ACT relating to timely emergency response by coroners, making an appropriation therefor and declaring an emergency.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 39A to require the county coroners, in consultation with the Kentucky Coroners Association, to create emergency response areas and equip each district with an emergency response trailer with necessary equipment to adequately respond to a multiple fatality event; require the Division of Emergency Management to promulgate administrative regulations; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HR 47: A RESOLUTION recognizing September 17 to 23, 2026, as Constitution Week in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

This is a ceremonial resolution (HR 47), not a substantive bill. It officially recognizes September 17-23, 2026, as "Constitution Week" in Kentucky, aligning with the national observance of the Constitution's signing anniversary. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it solely expresses the Kentucky House of Representatives' symbolic support for celebrating the U.S. Constitution. It does not impose requirements, affect any group, or alter laws. The resolution was introduced on January 30, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Committees.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 471: AN ACT relating to Medicaid coverage for doula services.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to require the Department for Medicaid Services and any managed care organization with whom the department contracts for the delivery of Medicaid services to provide coverage for doula services; create a new section of KRS Chapter 194A to establish the Doula Advisory Council, council membership, and council duties; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to seek federal approval if they determine that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes to the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 479: AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Repeal and reenact KRS 532.031 to define "gender identity or expression"; list the actions that qualify as hate crimes; list the actual or perceived characteristics a person must have in order to qualify as a victim of a hate crime; outline penalties for a person guilty of a hate crime; set forth criteria for seeking an enhanced sentence; amend KRS 15.334 and to add characteristics of a victim to be considered when determining the cause of a crime; add a requirement that officers receive training on hate crimes; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to permit a civil action where the victim of a hate crime suffers damages regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceeding; establish recovery for the victim; amend KRS 17.1523 to add characteristics of a victim to be considered when determining the cause of a crime; amend KRS 15.440 to require that a unit of government shall possess a written policy and procedures manual related to hate crimes in order to receive funds from the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund; repeal KRS 49.320, relating to victim of hate crime deemed victim of criminally injurious conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 472: AN ACT relating to public contracts.

Create new sections of KRS Chapters 45A, 56, and 65 to require that state and local contracts contain a provision that any iron, steel, or aluminum used in all state and local projects be manufactured in the United States unless a waiver is granted; amend KRS 45A.343, 45A.352, 65.027, 162.070, 164A.575, 176.070, 176.080, and 424.260 to conform; provide that Section 1 to 3 of the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Buy American Act.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 473: AN ACT relating to the foster care system.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 to prohibit housing a child in foster care in vehicles, state offices, hotels, motels, or short-term rentals except in emergency situations not exceeding 24 hours; require a child in foster care to be placed in kinship care placements, fictive kin placements, licensed foster family homes, or licensed child-caring facilities; prohibit moving a child in foster care more than 2 times per year unless extenuating circumstances necessitate the change; require a cabinet employee to provide a written explanation for any foster child placement change beyond the initial placement; require the Department for Community Based Services to promulgate administrative regulations to prioritize housing stability and minimize placement disruptions for foster care youth; amend KRS 620.320 to require the State Citizen Foster Care Review Board to report on the number of children moved more than 2 times within a 12-month period.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 143: AN ACT relating to legislative ethics.

Create a new section of KRS 6.601 to 6.849 to define "sexual harassment" prohibit sexual harassment by any legislator or legislative agent to a legislator, legislative agent, or legislative branch employee.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 478: AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 532 to provide an enhanced term of imprisonment for any defendant convicted of certain crimes if the defendant intentionally committed the offense because of a person's actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, mental or physical disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation; amend KRS 15.334 and 17.1523 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 508 to create the offense of using hate symbols to intimidate; repeal KRS 49.320 and 532.03, relating to hate crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 474: AN ACT relating to residential safety.

Create a new section of KRS 227.200 to 227.400 to require an owner, seller, or lessor to have functional smoke detectors in all existing single-family and multifamily residential units; require a seller or lessor to verify compliance in an affidavit prior to transfer or tenancy of property; exempt KRS Chapter 324 licensees from liability; direct the state fire marshal to recommend use of carbon monoxide and fuel and gas leak detectors and provide an annual incident report on fire and carbon monoxide-related injuries and deaths to the State Fire Commission.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 475: AN ACT relating to gender.

HB 475 would amend Kentucky law to state that "a person only has one (1) gender, male or female," creating a new section in KRS Chapter 2. This policy would apply to all state government actions and records, establishing a strict binary definition of gender. The bill’s key mechanism is adding this explicit statement to state law, overriding any existing policies that might recognize non-binary gender identities. The measure is currently pending in the House Health Services committee after being introduced on January 22, 2026.

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 447: AN ACT relating to coverage for emergency ground ambulance services.

Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require coverage for emergency ground ambulance services; establish minimum allowable reimbursement for out-of-network emergency ground ambulance services; establish requirements for reimbursement of out-of-network ground ambulance providers; prohibit balance billing by out-of-network ground ambulance providers; establish construction clause in the event of conflicts; amend KRS 18A.225 to require the state employee health plan to comply with emergency ground ambulance coverage and payment requirements; provide that Act applies to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 465: AN ACT relating to animal testing.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 258 to define terms; establish a process for dogs and cats that have been retired from use for research and testing in an animal testing facility to be made available for adoption; prohibit the use of state funds that directly support painful experiments as defined by federal law and administered by the United States Department of Agriculture; require animal testing facilities that receive state funds to publicly publish an annual report on their website including the total animals and dogs and cats being tested yearly, active research, all testing projects that use animals, the total amount and source of funding for the project, and efforts used to reduce animal testing.