Rep. George Brown

Maddy summaryHR 45 is a symbolic resolution designating May 5-11, 2025, as Postpartum Depression Awareness Week in Kentucky. It does not create new laws, funding, or services but aims to raise public awareness about postpartum depression through official recognition. The resolution cites statistics (e.g., 1 in 8 women affected, only 15% receiving treatment) and emphasizes reducing stigma by framing it as a medical condition. This designation directly affects Kentuckians by encouraging community education during that week, though it has no binding policy impact. As a procedural resolution, it requires no new actions beyond the designated awareness period.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 311 to establish reproductive rights and define terms; amend KRS 18A.225 to remove the prohibition of insurance coverage for abortion; amend KRS 39A.180 to allow the Governor to suspend statutes related to abortion during a declared emergency; amend KRS 156.496 to allow a school district to operate a family resource center that provides abortion counseling; amend KRS 205.010 to permit financial aid for an abortion; amend KRS 205.510 to include abortions or induced miscarriages as medical care; amend KRS 205.560 to allow medical aid payments for abortion; amend KRS 211.603 to allow money in the rape crisis trust fund to be used for abortion services or education; amend KRS 212.275 to allow health departments to dispense medication for an abortion; amend KRS 213.101 to remove various reporting requirements; amend various sections to remove penalties associated with performing abortions; amend various sections to conform; repeal, reenact, and amend or repeal and reenact KRS 311.783, 311.7710, 311.820, 311.990, 311.780, 311.810, 311.572, 311.591, 311.686, and 311.852 to conform; repeal KRS 15.241, 213.098, 213.172, 213.174, 213.176, 216B.0435, 216B.200, 216B.202, 216B.204, 216B.206, 216B.208, 216B.210, 304.5-160, 311.710, 311.715, 311.720, 311.723, 311.724, 311.725, 311.727, 311.728, 311.731, 311.732, 311.733, 311.735, 311.750, 311.760, 311.765, 311.770, 311.7701, 311.7702, 311.7703, 311.7704, 311.7705, 311.7706, 311.7707, 311.7708, 311.7709, 311.7711, 311.772, 311.7731, 311.7733, 311.7734, 311.7735, 311.7736, 311.7737, 311.7739, 311.774, 311.7741, 311.7743, 311.781, 311.7811, 311.782, 311.784, 311.7841, 311.785, 311.786, 311.787, 311.790, 311.800, 311.821, 311.822, 311.823, 311.824, 311.825, 311.826, 311.827, 311.830, 311.992, and 315.315; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2026.

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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 342, relating to workers' compensation, to define "educator;" set out when psychological injuries are valid workers' compensation claims for educators when no physical injury exists; amend KRS 342.0011 to modify definition of "injury" to include certain psychological injuries experienced by educators.

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.

Amend KRS 304.12-230 to establish an unfair claims settlement practice relating to the alteration of an independent adjuster's, staff adjuster's, or public adjuster's report in connection with a homeowner's insurance claim without providing certain documentation to the insured.

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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; establish the prospective educator scholarship; define eligibility for the program; direct the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority to administer the program; provide monetary awards for student loan repayment for eligible students who complete qualified teaching service; establish the prospective educator scholarship fund.

Maddy summaryHB 485 amends Kentucky law (KRS 148.056) to replace gendered terms like "his or her" with gender-neutral language in the section governing park ranger employment and authority. The bill directly affects how the Department of Parks designates park rangers as peace officers, updating the language to be inclusive without changing their duties or powers. Key provisions require the commissioner to employ park rangers "as the commissioner deems necessary" using gender-neutral phrasing, while preserving all existing requirements for training, bonding, and jurisdiction. This is a procedural language update, not a substantive policy change, and applies to park ranger roles across Kentucky's state parks. The bill is currently pending in the House Tourism & Outdoor Recreation committee.