Rep. Lindsey Burke

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 367 to define terms; prohibit a health care professional from furnishing medical debt to a consumer reporting agency; require a contract between a health care professional and collection entity to include a provision prohibiting the reporting of medical debt to a consumer reporting agency; provide that medical debt that is reported in violation of the section is void and unenforceable; make a violation of the section an unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice in violation of KRS 367.170; establish remedies for a violation of the section; provide that section shall not be construed to limit or restrict any powers, duties, remedies, or penalties available; direct that provisions apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of the Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural resolution adopting the official rules for the 2026 Kentucky House of Representatives session. It sets standard operating procedures, including meeting hours, quorum requirements (requiring a majority of members present, with specific provisions for remote voting), and the sequence of business like roll calls, journal approval, and bill introductions. Notably, it includes updated rules for remote participation during sessions, allowing members in designated Capitol locations to verify presence via video. The resolution does not change policy but establishes how the House will conduct its legislative business during the 2026 session.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 198A to create the affordable housing loan pool fund to be administered by the Kentucky Housing Corporation to provide rehabilitation and construction loans to eligible entities; specify terms and process; amend KRS 198A.080 to modify criteria for housing development loan fund, require notice of eligible funds, and allow expenditure of funds for technical and administrative costs; create a new section of KRS Chapter 198A to establish parameters by which the Kentucky Housing Corporation shall review and approve the affordable housing credit; create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish the affordable housing credit; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report on the credits; appropriate $102,000,000 from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund account for various affordable housing initiatives; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS 344.030 to 344.110 to prohibit employers from considering or requiring disclosure of prior criminal history as part of the initial job application; provide that the Act may be cited as the Ban the Box - The Criminal Record Employment Discrimination Act.

Amend KRS 139.010, relating to the sales and use taxes, to define terms; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt from sales and use tax the sale or purchase of baby bottles, baby wipes, breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies, breast pump kits, diapers, incontinence products, and menstrual discharge collection devices; apply to sales or purchases made on or after August 1, 2026, but before August 1, 2030; require the Department of Revenue to report annually to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue the total exemptions claimed for the previous fiscal year; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report to the Legislative Research Commission.

Maddy summaryHB 53 increases the maximum civil penalty for legislative ethics violations from $2,000 to $10,000 under Kentucky law. It directly affects legislators and legislative agents who violate ethics rules by raising potential fines. The bill amends procedures for ethics commission hearings, ensuring public proceedings and requiring written reports of findings. Key provisions include allowing public reprimands, sanction recommendations to legislative bodies, and appeals to circuit court, but the core policy change is the higher penalty amount.

Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to enshrine Medicaid expansion coverage; direct the Secretary of State to advertise the proposed constitutional amendment prior to a general election vote; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 39A to establish the position of chief resiliency officer, appointed by the Governor, to lead disaster preparedness and resiliency efforts; amend KRS 39A.070 to include cooperation with chief resiliency officer in the powers, responsibility, and duties of the director of the Division of Emergency Management.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define "feminine hygiene product"; require each public school and public charter school that includes any of grades 4 through 12 to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students; require each local board of education and public charter school board of directors to adopt policies relating to the distribution of free feminine hygiene products.