Sen. Lindsey Tichenor

Amend KRS 160.145 to expand existing definitions and define "private electronic communication" and "qualified school volunteer"; limit the scope of unauthorized electronic communication to private electronic communication and exclude designated types of communication from the scope of the requirement to obtain written parental consent prior to communicating outside of the traceable communication system; limit the scope of the school volunteers subject to this section to qualified school volunteers; specify that the requirement to obtain written parental consent only applies to students enrolled within the same school district as the school district employee or qualified school volunteer; permit a local school district more flexibility in disciplinary actions arising from a violation of this section; permit a written parental consent form to designate more than 1 school district employee or qualified school volunteer; provide that the written consent may be revoked by the parent who filed the consent; require notice of the revocation to be sent to the identified school district employee or qualified school volunteer; prohibit a school or school district from refusing to accept parental consent forms; prohibit requiring parental consent forms under this section as a requirement for a student to participate in an academic, athletic, or extracurricular opportunity; provide an emergency exception to permit a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent if the individual discloses the communication after the fact; permit a school district to reconsider allowing previously prohibited volunteers; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to unauthorized electronic communication or misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school district applicants to disclose being the subject of any disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months relating to abusive conduct and consent to a reference check; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (ESPB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require all school district applicants to list all schools of previous and current employment on the application; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; require certified nonpublic school personnel to have a state criminal background check every 5 years; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; require a certified nonpublic school to conduct reference checks on all applicants; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo every 5 years; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; require that an allegation of abusive conduct be reported pursuant to KRS 620.030; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform; provide that Section 2 may be cited as Erin's Law; EMERGENCY.

Maddy summarySB 119 allows landowners to repurchase property condemned by a government agency for highway projects if the project isn't developed within eight years. If the agency fails to start construction or design within that timeframe, the original landowner can buy back the property at the price the agency originally paid. This applies specifically to highway projects under Kentucky law (KRS Chapter 177) and excludes industrial development projects. The bill ensures unused condemned land reverts to the original owner unless sold at auction after proper notice.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to require all written and road skill examinations for an instruction permit or operator's license be administered in English only; amend KRS 186.480 to conform.

Amend KRS 156.029 to make members on the Kentucky Board of Education who represent each of the Supreme Court districts be elected in partisan elections instead of appointed; provide that the term of office will be 4 years from the first Monday in January following the election; provide that the initial term of a member elected to represent an even-numbered Supreme Court District will be 2 years and the initial term of a member elected to represent an odd-numbered Supreme Court District will be 4 years; remove language regarding the requirement to balance the demographic composition of the board; require the members elected to represent a Supreme Court district to reside in the district for at least 12 months prior to the election and for the duration of their terms; provide that general election laws apply and that removal is in accordance with KRS 415.050 and KRS 415.060; permit the board to appoint the student member of the board in April of the student's sophomore year, rotate nonvoting member appointments by Supreme Court district instead of congressional district; povide that a vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Section 152 of the Constitution of Kentucky; amend KRS 156.040, 118.105, 118.165, 118.305, 118.315, 118.325, 118.356, 118.365, and 160.220 to conform; repeal KRS 156.031, 156.147, and 156.1475; provide that the terms of members appointed between the effective date of this Act and January 3, 2028, expire on that date; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define terms; amend KRS 100.133 and 100.137 to allow the inclusion of a nonvoting ex officio member of a planning unit to be a representative of a military installation to advise on matters relating to national security and other concerns for the military installation; provide that the Act may be cited as the Military Installation Protection Act.

Amend KRS 164.7874 to include the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy to the definition of "participating institution" under the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship program if the academy enters into the necessary agreements with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Amend KRS 160.345 to define "recess"; require each school council to develop and implement a wellness policy that includes 30 minutes of recess for students in kindergarten through grade 5 to be included as part of each full instructional day and 15 minutes of recess on each early dismissal day allows between 15 and 30 minutes of recess per instructional say for students in grades 6 through 12; allows appropriate supervised physical exercise to be used as a student discipline tool during recess; and prohibits the denial of recess unless participation poses an immediate threat to physical safety; require the wellness policy to be adopted and implemented prior to the first student attendance day of the 2026-27 school year.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 416 to prohibit the construction of any solar electric generating or related transmission facility on any land that was acquired by eminent domain; amend KRS 416.570 to require that as part of the verified petition required to be filed prior to an exercise of eminent domain, a condemnor shall certify that the proposed condemnation will not violate the prohibition on constructing solar electric generating or transmission facilities on condemned land.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 344 to require employers that mandate employee immunization to allow exceptions based on religious belief or medical contraindication; provide sample form for employee affirmation; establish which health care providers can support a medical exemption; require notice of exemptions; establish civil cause of action for violations and a claim under workers' compensation; amend KRS 344.030 to define term; amend KRS 344.040 to make it an unlawful practice for employers to require immunizations as a condition of employment from employees who hold sincere religious beliefs against immunization or for whom immunization would be harmful to his or her health; make technical corrections.

Maddy summarySB 75 lowers Kentucky's age requirement for carrying concealed deadly weapons without a license from 21 to 18 years old. This change directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds who previously could not carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill amends existing law to allow these individuals to carry concealed weapons in locations where licensed holders are permitted, while maintaining all other requirements like background checks, firearm training courses, and prohibitions under federal law. It does not eliminate the license system, as permits remain available for those who prefer them or need to carry in locations where concealed carry without a license is restricted.