Sign Up
HB 455 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to artificial intelligence and declaring an emergency.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 367 to define terms; restrict the use of artificial intelligence by certain licensed professionals in therapy and psychotherapy services; prohibit licensed professionals from using artificial intelligence to assist in providing supplementary support in therapy or psychotherapy services where the client's therapeutic session is recorded; provide exceptions; prohibit advertising or offering therapy or psychotherapy services unless the therapy or psychotherapy services are conducted by a licensed professional; limit how a licensed professional may use artificial intelligence; require all records between a licensed professional and a patient to be confidential; grant enforcement authority to the relevant board; exclude religious counseling, peer support, and self-help materials; EMERGENCY.
Issues: ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts AI use in therapy/psychotherapy services, limiting technology integration in mental health care delivery per bill's prohibitions.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI use by therapists in recorded sessions, prohibiting technology application in mental health services per bill's prohibitions and exceptions.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Feb 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered and reorganized to clarify definitions for artificial intelligence in mental health care. The most significant change is the addition of 'peer support' as a distinct category of services, separating it from clinical therapy. The bill also expanded the list of eligible licensed professionals to include art therapists and advanced practice nurses, while explicitly excluding physicians from this specific regulatory framework.
Scope change
The scope of the bill now explicitly includes 'peer support' services alongside traditional therapy, and broadens the definition of 'licensed professional' to include specific mental health roles like art therapists and advanced practice registered nurses.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'peer support,' defining it as services based on lived experience that offer encouragement without clinical intervention.

Added a new definition for 'supplementary support,' which includes administrative tasks like record keeping and organizing referrals.

Rearranged the order of definitions to place 'peer support' and 'supplementary support' earlier in the text for better logical flow.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the list of eligible 'licensed professionals' to explicitly include licensed art therapists and advanced practice registered nurses.

Floor votes · House Feb 23, 2026

How they voted

92–7
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 105
Feb 23, 2026
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican84
71 Yea 7 Nay 6
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 88-7 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendments (2) and (1)
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to the Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.