Rep. Stephanie Dietz

Amend KRS 205.522 and 205.6485 to require Medicaid and KCHIP to comply with pharmacy reimbursement requirements established in KRS 304.12-237; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the department to seek federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; and require the cabinet to comply with KRS 205.525.

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 508.025, relating to assault in the third degree, to enhance the punishment to a Class D felony if a person intentionally causes a peace officer to come into contact with bodily fluids; enhance assault in the third degree to a Class C felony if the person who causes a peace officer to come into contact with bodily fluids has a serious communicable disease and the contact is likely to cause transmission of the disease; enhance assault in the third degree to a Class C felony for a second or subsequent offense.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 510 to establish the offense of traveling into the Commonwealth to commit a sexual offense; provide that no person shall be convicted of this offense and any offense specified in KRS 506.010, 506.030, 506.040, or 506.080 for a single course of conduct; provide that this section is intended to be a separate offense and shall be punished in addition to violations of sex crimes; provide that traveling into the Commonwealth to commit a sexual offense shall be punished at the same felony classification level as the underlying offense.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 98 amends Kentucky's definition of "violent offender" in KRS 439.3401 to explicitly include kidnapping convictions. This change directly affects individuals convicted of kidnapping, expanding the category of offenses that trigger stricter sentencing rules under existing law. The bill does not alter sentencing penalties but ensures that kidnapping cases are treated under the same framework as other violent offenses. This means convicted kidnappers will now be subject to the same minimum sentence requirements and parole restrictions as those convicted of other listed violent crimes. The amendment applies to offenses committed after July 15, 1998, as specified in the bill.

Amend KRS 510.060, relating to rape in the third degree, to prohibit a person from engaging in sexual intercourse with another person who is incarcerated by the Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, or a detention facility; to prohibit a Commonwealth's attorney, assistant Commonwealth's attorney, county attorney, or assistant county attorney from engaging in sexual intercourse with another person who the attorney is prosecuting unless a prior sexual relationship exists; to prohibit an attorney for a criminal defendant from engaging in sexual intercourse with the criminal defendant unless a prior sexual relationship exists; amend KRS 510.090, relating to sodomy in the third degree, to prohibit a person from engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with another person who is incarcerated by the Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, or a detention facility; to prohibit a Commonwealth's attorney, assistant Commonwealth's attorney, county attorney, or assistant county attorney from engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with another person who the attorney is prosecuting unless a prior sexual relationship exists; to prohibit an attorney for a criminal defendant from engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with the criminal defendant unless a prior sexual relationship exists; amend KRS 510.120, relating to sexual abuse in the second degree, to prohibit a person from subjecting another person who is incarcerated by the Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, or a detention facility to sexual contact; to prohibit a Commonwealth's attorney, assistant Commonwealth's attorney, county attorney, or assistant county attorney from subjecting another person who the attorney is prosecuting to sexual contact, unless a prior sexual relationship exists; to prohibit an attorney for a criminal defendant from subjecting the criminal defendant to sexual contact, unless a prior sexual relationship exists.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 29A to require the Administrative Office of the Courts, in cooperation with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, to develop a brochure, pamphlet, or other brief document that contains information for jurors regarding how to obtain mental health treatment; require a judge to provide each juror with the brochure, pamphlet, or other brief document at the conclusion of a jury trial involving an offense that would classify a person as a violent offender under KRS 439.3401; allow a judge to provide the brochure, pamphlet, or other brief document at the conclusion of any trial if the judge believes the jurors may have been traumatized by his or her service.

Amend KRS 314.042 to create the provisional advanced practice registered nurse applicant license; amend KRS 314.121 to require APRNs and registered nurses experienced in long-term care on the Board of Nursing; amend KRS 314.131 to allow the exective director of the Board of Nursing to hire officers and other personnel with the approval of the board; and repeal KRS 314.193, which creates the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Council.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 403 to define terms; establish procedures; and establish parenting time credit; amend KRS 403.211 to establish which parent owes the initial $250 in medical expenses; amend KRS 403.090, 403.212, 403.740, 405.430, and 406.025 to conform; repeal KRS 403.2121, relating to child support obligations based upon parenting time.