Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton

Maddy summaryHB 50 establishes a new process for property owners to request law enforcement removal of trespassers from real property. It requires owners to submit a specific petition form verifying their ownership, that the occupant is not a tenant or family member, and that the property was not open to the public. Law enforcement must then serve a notice to vacate by hand or posting in a conspicuous location, with a $20 fee for service, and owners gain limited immunity from liability for property removal. The bill also creates a 60-day window for occupants to file lawsuits if removal is deemed wrongful, while explicitly excluding current/former tenants and family members from this process.

Maddy summaryHR 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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to define "cigar bar" and "local government"; allow the operation of cigar bars in areas where establishments holding valid quota retail drink licenses are held and allow certain local government controls on the establishment of cigar bars, including permits, controls for smoke, smoke-free deliver spaces, notice of the presence of smoke, and prohibition of other types of smoking contrivances; allow a local government to permit the operation of cigar bars without holding a valid quota retail drink license.

Amend KRS 199.894 to define "outdoor nature-based early learning and child-care program"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 199 to establish the licensure and operations requirements of outdoor nature-based early learning and child-care programs; establish the Outdoor, Nature–Based Early Learning and Child Care Program Advisory Committee; establish the membership and duties of the committee.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 40 to define terms; create the Residential Ease of Access for Disabled Veterans Program for funding the construction and installation of accessibility ramps on residences of disabled veterans; establish the Residential Ease of Access for Disabled Veterans Program grant fund to be used for the program and administered by the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Appropriate $221.4 million, $18.7 million, and $16 million in fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) nonhazardous pension fund, the KERS hazardous pension fund, and the State Police Retirement System pension fund, respectively, to provide a one-time 2% COLA effective July 1, 2026; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 529.110 to enhance the penalty for promoting human trafficking to a Class B felony unless the victim is a minor, in which case it is a Class A felony.

Maddy summaryHB 437 eliminates the one-week waiting period for new unemployment benefit claims in Kentucky. It directly affects unemployed workers filing initial claims by allowing them to receive benefits immediately upon eligibility, rather than waiting a week. The bill amends Kentucky Revised Statute 341.350 to remove the requirement for a waiting week, while keeping all other eligibility rules - like work search activities and base-period wage requirements - unchanged. This change applies to all new claims filed after the law takes effect.

Amend KRS 61.315 to include additional cancers which, when they are the cause of death of a firefighter, would make the firefighter eligible for death benefits; make a technical correction.

Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to provide that every citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years old and who has resided in Kentucky for at least 30 days before an election shall be entitled to vote in the precinct of his or her residence; automatically restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies upon completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole and automatically restore their civil rights 5 years after completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.