Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish a refundable qualified rent payment credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2031, in the amount of 25% of the qualified rent payments made during the taxable year, not to exceed $1,000; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow reporting by the Department of Revenue.

Amend KRS 342.610 to exclude certain levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the blood from the presumption that an injury was caused by the introduction of certain substances into the employee's body.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 171 to establish the Kids Love to Read Program; specify the program is for children in kindergarten through grade 5; require books to be sent to children's homes; require the Department for Libraries and Archives to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to administer the program; appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2027-2028 to support the program; APPROPRIATION.

Amend KRS 342.610 to remove the presumption that the use of an illegal substance prior to an accident caused the injury; provide that the use of an illegal substance shall be the proximate cause of the injury.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to define terms; allow enumerated persons to petition a District Court to issue an order prohibiting a person from purchasing, possessing, or receiving a firearm if the person is or has been diagnosed with or treated for a mental condition that causes or is likely to cause impairment in judgment, perception, or impulse control to an extent that presents an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or welfare if the person were in possession or control of a firearm; establish that a violation of an order is a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 237.104 to conform; provide that the Act may be cited as Diego's Law.

Amend KRS 218B.010 to add additional qualifying medical conditions for the use of medicinal cannabis; amend KRS 218B.025 to exempt medicinal cannabis resulting from at-home cultivation activities from possession limits and from the requirement that medicinal cannabis be kept in the original container received from a dispensary; amend KRS 218B.030 to conform; amend KRS 218B.035 to permit the use or consumption of medicinal cannabis by smoking while located on private property owned by the cardholder; amend KRS 218B.140 to remove the requirement that raw plant material packaged or sold in the state be marked or labeled as "not intended for consumption by smoking"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 218B to permit registered qualified patients who are at least 18 years of age and designated caregivers to possess, cultivate, and harvest up to 3 mature medicinal cannabis plants and 3 seedlings on private property owned by the cardholder.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to allow perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings of an accompanying parent or legal guardian to be claimed as a service for the child as part of the early and periodic diagnostic, screening, and treatment benefit; amend KRS 205.6497 to require the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program to cover perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings; create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require a health plan to cover perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings as part of a well-child or well-baby visit; suspend the coverage requirement for qualified health plans if the requirement results, or would result, in the state being required to defray the cost under federal law; amend KRS 164.2871 and 18A.225 to require self-insured employer group health plans offered by a state postsecondary education institution and the state employee health plan to comply with the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings coverage requirement; provide that various sections apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to obtain federal approval if it is determined that such approval is 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 164.507 to remove degree-seeking requirement for nonremarried spouse and children of a deceased veteran when utilizing educational benefits; require students to use federal grant funds toward tuition prior to the use of the waiver; amend KRS 164.515 to expand educational benefit to include service members with a disability rating of 50% or higher; remove degree-seeking requirement; require students to use federal grant funds toward tuition prior to the use of the waiver.

Amend KRS 304.17A-258 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for certain formulas; suspend the coverage requirement's application to qualified health plans if the state would be required to make cost defrayal payments; amend KRS 304.17A-145 to require coverage for breastfeeding and lactation services in conjunction with the birth and without a prescription; amend KRS 304.17A-099 to conform; amend KRS 205.522 to require Medicaid to comply with the coverage requirements for formulas; amend KRS 205.560 to conform; amend KRS 205.6485, 164.2871, and 18A.225 to require KCHIP, self-insured employer group health plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution, and the state employee health plan to comply with the coverage requirements for formulas; provide that certain provisions apply to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to seek federal approval, if necessary, and to comply with notice requirements; 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.

Maddy summaryHB 352 designates June 12 of each year as "Women Veterans Appreciation Day" in Kentucky. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Kentuckians to recognize women veterans' contributions and sacrifices. It directly affects Kentucky's approximately 27,000 women veterans by establishing a formal day of recognition. The bill includes an emergency declaration to take effect immediately upon passage, aiming for implementation in 2026.