Rep. Lindsey Burke

Amend KRS 342.0011, relating to workers' compensation, to expand the definition of "injury" to include psychological injuries for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, front-line staff members, or members of the National Guard; create a new section of KRS Chapter 342 to establish when psychological injuries are valid workers' compensation claims when not a direct result of a physical injury.

Amend KRS 211.690 to require the Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) Program to provide educational information about maternal and postpartum depression; make technical corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 425 changes Kentucky's individual income tax rates for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. It establishes a new tax structure: 4% on income up to $100,000, 5% on income between $100,000-$125,000, and 6% on income over $125,000 (with a flat 6% rate for income of $150,000 or more). The bill requires the Office of State Budget Director to annually verify specific fiscal conditions (like budget reserve fund balances) before the legislature can reduce the tax rate, ensuring any change requires legislative approval. This bill directly affects all Kentucky residents who file individual income tax returns for 2026 and beyond.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 210 to define terms; prohibit mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts with a person under 18 years of age, a person who is 18 years or older who is an adult as defined in KRS 209.020, or a ward as defined in KRS 387.510; require violations to be subject to board discipline; prohibit public funds from being used for sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts; create a new section of KRS Chapter 211 to require the Department for Public Health and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities to develop, produce, and disseminate educational materials regarding sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts; permit the cabinet to contract for the educational materials; provide that the Act may be cited as the Youth Mental Health Protection Act; EMERGENCY.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum civil fine for legislative ethics violations from $2,000 to $10,000. It directly affects legislators and legislative agents who breach Kentucky's ethics rules. The key change amends Section 6.691 of Kentucky law to raise the penalty ceiling, while maintaining existing processes like public hearings and appeals to the Franklin Circuit Court. The bill does not alter other provisions, such as requirements for written reprimands or recommendations for sanctions.

Amend KRS 157.3175 to require school districts provide a full-day preschool education program for eligible three and four-year-olds; establish eligibility for the program; require that preschool for three year old children continue to be funded through a grant process and preschool programs for four-year-old children be funded under KRS 157.310 to 157.440; require preschool programs to operate on the school district calendar; require transportation be provided; amend KRS 158.031 to include preschool education programs for four-year-old children in the primary school program; amend KRS 157.320 to remove the definition of "kindergarten full-time equivalent pupil in average daily attendance"; amend KRS 157.360 to remove a reference to the kindergarten full-time equivalent; amend KRS 158.030 to include a preschool education program for four-year-old children in the definition of "common school"; remove language allowing kindergarten to operate for less than six hours on a school day; amend KRS 158.060 and 160.1596 to conform.

Create a new section of KRS 311.710 to 311.820 to define terms; establish privacy protections for a woman seeking reproductive health care outside of the Commonwealth; establish protections for any person or entity assisting a woman seeking reproductive health care out of the Commonwealth; establish a civil cause of action for violations; waive sovereign immunity protections of the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryHR 23 is a symbolic resolution recognizing February 13, 2025, as Kentucky Arts Day. It does not create new laws or affect funding, programs, or individuals; instead, it formally acknowledges the arts' economic and cultural value in Kentucky through a designated day. The resolution cites the arts' role in generating $6.5 billion annually, supporting 50,526 jobs, and enhancing community development, but the recognition itself has no binding policy impact. It was introduced and adopted by the Kentucky House of Representatives on February 11-13, 2025.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a cause of action for a person who was wrongfully convicted of a felony in the Commonwealth; specify amounts of damages that may be awarded to claimants; establish the wrongful conviction compensation fund.

Maddy summaryHB 379 prohibits Kentucky school districts from using fully autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) to transport students, either as school buses or for any other student transportation purpose. This law directly affects all public school districts in Kentucky that might consider adopting such technology for student travel. The bill amends state law to explicitly ban this use, with no exceptions for school transportation. It does not impact other uses of autonomous vehicles on public roads.