AN ACT relating to families and children.

HB 523 updates Kentucky's statute (KRS 200.470) governing healthcare funding for children with special needs by replacing gendered language like "his or her" with gender-neutral terms. This change affects how the law refers to parents or legal guardians when determining eligibility for state-funded care and cost-sharing responsibilities. The bill does not alter the existing policy requiring families who can pay to cover treatment costs or the process for referrals. It is a procedural language amendment to make the statute inclusive, with no changes to funding rules or eligibility criteria. The bill remains in committee review after its January 2026 introduction.