SB 201 Kentucky Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to workers' compensation.

Summary
Amend KRS 342.213 to require the commissioner of the Department of Workers' Claims to certify to the Workers' Compensation Nominating Committee that filing an administrative law judge position is necessary 150 days prior to the expiration of the term, add that the nominating committee may recommend the retention of a Workers' Compensation Board member and that each newly appointed member of the board shall not assume office until 30 days after confirmation; amend KRS 342.215 to provide that any board member appointed to fill an unexpired term shall assume office immediately for the remainder of the term; amend KRS 342.230 to provide that newly appointed administrative law judge shall not assume his or her office until June 1 following Senate confirmation and that any newly appointed administrative law judge appointed to fill any unexpired term shall immediately assume the office for the remainder of the term.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Signed Mar 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill rewrites the definitions section of Kentucky's workers' compensation law, fundamentally changing how 'injury' and 'occupational disease' are defined. The changes expand coverage to include cumulative trauma and occupational diseases while explicitly excluding psychological conditions unless directly caused by physical injury. The bill also reorganizes the Workers' Compensation Nominating Committee structure and modifies appointment procedures for administrative law judges and board members.
Scope change
The bill significantly expands the scope of covered conditions by including cumulative trauma and occupational diseases while narrowing psychological injury coverage. It also changes the composition and appointment process for the Workers' Compensation Nominating Committee.
DEFINITION

Changed the section number from KRS 342.213 to KRS 342.0011 and completely rewrote the definitions section to add new definitions for 'Injury', 'Occupational disease', 'Injurious exposure', 'Death', 'Carrier', 'Self-insurer', 'Department', 'Commissioner', 'Board', and various disability types.

Added specific criteria for 'Permanent total disability' including loss of both feet, both hands, paralysis of multiple limbs, incurable insanity, or total loss of hearing.

Removed the previous definition of administrative law judge appointments and replaced it with a new definition structure that focuses on defining key terms rather than appointment procedures.

Added new definitions for 'Income benefits', 'Medical and related benefits', 'Compensation', 'Medical services', 'Person', 'Wages', and 'Agriculture' to clarify what is covered under the workers' compensation system.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of 'Injury' to include cumulative trauma and occupational diseases, broadening coverage for workers with long-term exposure to workplace hazards.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the Workers' Compensation Nominating Committee composition requirements and appointment procedures, including term lengths and qualifications for members.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

920
Passed · 12 other
Total votes 104
Mar 14, 2025
D Democratic21
19 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican83
73 Yea 10
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
18
Committee
17
Amendments
4
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill passed 37-0
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Free Conference Committee report adopted in Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for consideration of Free Conference Committee Report (1)
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill passed 88-0
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Free Conference Committee report adopted in House
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Free Conference Committee report (1) filed in House and Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Free Conference Committee appointed in House and Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee report adopted in House and Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee report filed in House and Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee appointed in Senate
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee appointed in House
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
posted for passage for receding from House Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 93-0 with Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H)
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 35-0-1 with Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.