Rep. Lindsey Burke

Maddy summaryHB 154 removes the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits by victims of childhood sexual assault or abuse in Kentucky. This means victims can file lawsuits at any time, regardless of when the abuse occurred, and it applies to both individuals who committed the abuse and entities (like schools or organizations) that failed in their duty of care. The bill also retroactively revives claims barred before March 2021 due to expired time limits, allowing victims to file within five years of the deadline. It defines "childhood sexual assault or abuse" broadly to include multiple offenses involving minors under Kentucky law.

Amend KRS 61.7991 to add current members of the General Assembly and their immediate family members to the definition of "covered person"; authorize standing for a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief for unauthorized disclosure; provide that the removal of information does not apply to required disclosures under KRS Chapter 6 or 61.

Amend KRS 141.020 to establish a graduated tax rate for net income of $300,000 or less; establish a flat tax rate of 6% for net incomes in excess of $300,000; and remove provisions relating to tax rate reduction procedures.

Amend KRS 205.520 to establish that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to provide Medicaid eligibility for all residents of the Commonwealth who may be eligible under federal law; amend KRS 205.6312 to require the establishment of cost-sharing requirements in the Medicaid program to the extent required under federal law; require the Governor to commission an independent third-party analysis of the current Medicaid expansion; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to seek federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1).

Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, and any other assisted reproductive technology; establish minimum requirements for the coverage; 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-099 to conform; amend KRS 164.2871 and 18A.225 to require self-insured employer plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution and the state employee health plan to comply with the assisted reproductive technology coverage requirement; direct that certain provisions apply to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 14 allocates $355 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to a revolving loan fund providing competitive grants to rural hospitals in Kentucky. These grants help rural hospitals stabilize operations and modernize facilities by covering costs like equipment upgrades and operational expenses. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate funding after passage, bypassing standard implementation timelines. This directly affects rural hospitals facing financial strain, offering targeted support to maintain critical healthcare access in underserved communities.

Direct local school districts to provide a one-time payment of $2,000 to certified employees, excluding superintendents, in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium, and a one-time payment of $1,000 to classified employees in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium; appropriate $153 million from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund account in each year of the 2026-2028 biennium to the Learning and Results Services budget unit to provide the payments; authorize the Department of Education to pro rata reduce payments if the appropriation is insufficient; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to define "ammunition" and "firearm"; require an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm or any person who sells ammunition to report the loss or theft of the firearm or ammunition to a law enforcement agency; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish civil liability against a person who fails to report the loss or theft of a firearm if knowingly another person is injured by the use of the lost or stolen firearm; establish civil liability against a person who furnishes a firearm to a minor if the minor causes the injury or death of another by the use of the firearm; amend KRS 411.155 to conform.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 337 to require employers to give employees a good-faith estimate of the employee's work schedule, maintain a voluntary standby list of employees who wish to work additional hours, post weekly schedules at least 7 days in advance, and provide certain rest periods for employees from being scheduled; allow employees to identify time limitations for scheduling work hours; require compensation for employer changes to the schedule; set forth unlawful practices; amend KRS 337.990 to establish a penalty for violations.

Amend KRS 337.415 to define "crime," "immediate family," and "victim"; prohibit employers from discharging or retaliating against an employee who is a crime victim when the employee takes leave to attend proceedings associated with the prosecution of the crime; require an employee to give an employer reasonable notice to take leave when practicable; provide guidelines for use of paid leave; require the employer to maintain confidentiality of records and communication with employee crime victim; create a private right of action for improper discharge, discrimination, retaliation, or failure to maintain confidentiality; amend KRS 337.990 to establish penalties for violations by an employer.