Rep. Rachel Roarx

Maddy summaryHB 14 allocates $355 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to a revolving loan fund providing competitive grants to rural hospitals in Kentucky. These grants help rural hospitals stabilize operations and modernize facilities by covering costs like equipment upgrades and operational expenses. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate funding after passage, bypassing standard implementation timelines. This directly affects rural hospitals facing financial strain, offering targeted support to maintain critical healthcare access in underserved communities.

Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to cover at least 2 medically necessary epinephrine devices per covered person; limit a covered person's cost-sharing amount to $100 annually; amend KRS 304.17A-099 to exempt the epinephrine device coverage requirement from being suspended under state law due to the triggering of federal cost defrayment requirements; amend KRS 205.522, 205.6485, 164.2871, and 18A.225 to require Medicaid, KCHIP, self-insured employer group health plans offered by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution, and the state employee health plan to comply with the epinephrine device coverage requirement; provide that various sections apply to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Department of Insurance to determine whether the epinephrine devices coverage requirement would be in addition to essential health benefits required under federal law; require the Department of Insurance to obtain federal approval, if necessary; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to obtain federal approval, if necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes in the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1); EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027.

Amend KRS 45A.030 to expand the definition of "contract"; amend KRS 45A.035 to require promulgation of administrative regulations to establish policies regarding timely payments under contracts; create a new section of KRS Chapter 45A to establish timely payment penalty and procedures; require the Finance and Administration Cabinet to submit a detailed report of interest penalties and reimbursement payments every six months due to payments not timely made to the Legislative Research Commission; EMERGENCY.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 189 to define "automated speed enforcement device," "owner," "program," and "recorded images"; direct the Transportation Cabinet to establish a pilot program for automated speed enforcement in highway work zones and issue a civil citation to an operator of a motor vehicle traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit when a bona fide worker is present; establish procedures for citation issuance; direct the Transportation Cabinet to install signage with lights that are flashing when an automated speed enforcement device is active; specify that courtesy warnings shall be given for the first 30 days following the date on which the system is active in any part of the work zone; establish when an image recorded by an automated speed enforcement device is to be destroyed; establish to whom an image recorded by an automated speed enforcement device may be disclosed; direct the Transportation Cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations to implement the program; establish civil fines for violations issued under the program; specify that all fines and penalties assessed be deposited into the automated speed enforcement fund; require the Transportation Cabinet to annually report to the Legislative Research Commission the status of the program and the number of vehicle accidents, injuries, and fatalities occurring in highway work zones; establish the automated speed enforcement fund; specify that moneys collected be used to defray the costs of administering the program; specify that any moneys collected in excess of program costs be deposited into the highway work zone safety fund and used for the purposes of that fund; provide that the provisions be repealed effective July 1, 2029; provide that the Act may be cited as the Jared Lee Helton Act of 2025.

Amend KRS 600.020 to change the definition of "safety plan" to reference risks to a child's safety; amend KRS 620.032 related to child welfare data reporting; amend KRS 620.040 to include children who are alleged victims of domestic violence and abuse or sexual assault for automatic acceptance for investigation of reports of child dependency, neglect, or abuse; amend KRS 620.048 related to negotiated safety plans in child protective services investigations.

Amend KRS 322.040 to allow an individual to qualify for licensure as a professional engineer if he or she has graduated from a fire protection engineering technology program of four years or more accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Amend KRS 95.500 to allow, absent a collective bargaining agreement, specified fire personnel to have schedules consisting of 48 hours on duty followed by 96 hours of off duty time; specify that collective bargaining agreements maintained by a city or urban-county government may control work hours in lieu of the specified schedules.

Amend KRS 500.130 to define terms; provide that the use of an unmanned aircraft system is not prohibited in the case of recreational or professional use if there is not intent to conduct surveillance on private property and there is no unauthorized use or publication of images of individuals or areas of private property, or in the case of an insurance company for purposes of underwriting a risk or investigating damage; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil action; create a new section of KRS Chapter 413 to establish a statute of limitations for the civil action.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution designates April 2025 as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in Kentucky. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the 5.6 million people in the U.S. living with limb loss or difference. The resolution encourages Kentuckians to celebrate individuals with these experiences, learn about related issues, and honor caregivers and veterans. It has no direct policy impact but aims to raise public awareness during the designated month.

Amend KRS 216B.400 to require hospitals that offer emergency services to develop and provide training for emergency department staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, protocols, and resources; amend KRS 314.011 and 403.707 to conform.