Rep. Matt Lockett

Amend KRS 164.020 to provide that no alien illegally present in the United States shall be classified as having Kentucky residency for the purpose of public postsecondary education institution tuition; require the Council on Postsecondary Education to obtain and collect from each public postsecondary education institution immigration data on the institution's students and report the data to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; prohibit public postsecondary education institutions from enacting, adopting, or otherwise enforcing any sanctuary policy; allow civil actions against public postsecondary education institutions for damages, costs, and attorney's fees if alien illegally present in the United States is negligently enrolled and subsequently commits a crime that is a violent offence; withdraw immunities afforded public postsecondary education institutions.

Amend KRS 381.800 to establish that the provisions apply to all planned communities and any provision in an existing document to the contrary is void; make technical correction.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to allow a property owner or his or her authorized agent to request a law enforcement officer to immediately remove a person unlawfully occupying a residential dwelling or other structure under certain circumstances; provide criminal and civil immunity to law enforcement officers and property owners acting in good faith; create a civil cause of action for wrongful removal; create a new section of KRS Chapter 523 to establish the offense of making a false statement to detain real property.

Maddy summaryHB 1 reduces Kentucky's individual income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This change directly affects all Kentucky residents who file individual income tax returns. The bill permanently lowers the rate for the specified tax years, with the reduction taking effect after a review process that confirmed fiscal conditions were met. Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill into law on February 6, 2025 (Acts Ch. 1), making it effective for 2026 tax filings.

Amend KRS 37.170 to create the Kentucky Emergency Volunteer Corps (KEV Corps) within the Kentucky State Defense Force; create a new section of KRS Chapter 37 to detail KEV Corps eligibility, supervision, training requirements, uniform details, and prohibitions and to create the KEV Corps fund; amend KRS 39B.030 to permit the local emergency management director to use the KEV Corps during a local disaster or emergency; amend KRS 39B.050 to include the KEV Corps as a part of the local disaster and emergency services organization; amend KRS 39B.070 to permit each city, urban-county government, or charter county government the use of the KEV Corps.

Amend KRS 164.295 to permit Murray State University to offer doctor's degrees required for professional practice and licensure in veterinary medicine.

Maddy summaryHB 146 increases Kentucky's exclusion for retirement distributions from $31,110 to $41,110 for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This change directly affects Kentucky taxpayers receiving distributions from pension plans, annuities, or retirement accounts. The bill modifies KRS 141.019 to raise the amount of retirement income excluded from state taxable income. The adjustment applies to distributions from qualified retirement plans, including 401(k)s and pensions, for tax years starting in 2026. The current $31,110 exclusion remains in effect for 2025 and earlier years.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 162 to define terms; require at least 95% of restroom facilities in a specified school building be designated for a specific biological sex; amend KRS 156.160 to conform.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 531 to establish the crime of sexual extortion as a felony; provide for enhancements to penalties; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil cause of action for sexual extortion; amend KRS 17.500 to include sexual extortion in the definition of "sex crime"; create new sections of KRS Chapter 158 to require superintendents of local school districts to notify students in grades six and above and parents and guardians of all students of the crime of sexual extortion; require local school boards to display posters with the definition of sexual extortion and contact information for entities offering assistance to victims in secondary schools; amend KRS 164.2518 to require postsecondary institutions to display posters with the definition of sexual extortion and contact information for entities offering assistance to victims in residential facilities and buildings containing instructional spaces, student services, and academic support services.

Amend KRS 511.010 and 512.010 to define "squatter"; amend KRS 511.090 to allow a property owner or his or her authorized agent to request a peace officer to immediately remove any squatter occupying a dwelling or commercial building under certain circumstances; provide criminal and civil immunity to peace officers acting in good faith; amend KRS 512.020 and 512.030 to specifically include damage to residential or commercial property caused by squatters in the offense of criminal mischief; create a new section of KRS Chapter 514 to establish the offense of fraudulent sale or lease of real property.