AN ACT relating to reemployment of retired police officers.
Summary
Amend KRS 70.292, 70.293, and 95.022, regarding city and county programs to reemploy retired police officers without incurring employer retirement contributions, to reduce the required service of the officer or sheriff before retirement from 20 years to 15 years and to allow retired officers to take health insurance coverage through the employing city or county; amend KRS 61.702 and 78.5536 to conform.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026
Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Current/Final
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to increase the minimum service credit required for retired police officers to return to work from 15 years to 20 years. Additionally, the eligibility criteria for cities were updated to align with county requirements, and new provisions allow county legislative bodies to authorize health insurance coverage for these reemployed officers starting August 1, 2026.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include cities in the eligibility provisions for reemployment, whereas the original version only addressed county police departments and sheriff's offices.
ELIGIBILITY
Increased the minimum years of service credit required for reemployment from 15 to 20 years.
Updated the separation from service requirement to include a specific reference to KRS 78.5540 alongside KRS 61.637.
Extended reemployment eligibility provisions to include cities, not just county police departments and sheriff's offices.
TIMELINE
Added a provision allowing counties to provide health insurance coverage for reemployed officers effective August 1, 2026.
REQUIREMENT
Removed the restriction preventing counties from paying employer contributions or retiree health expense reimbursements, replacing it with an exception allowing coverage if authorized by the chief legislative body.
Floor votes · House Feb 18, 2026
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 73)
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed 95-0
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Committee
to State & Local Government (S)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
to State Government (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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