HB 527 Kentucky House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to insurance regulatory requirements and declaring an emergency.

Summary
Amend KRS 304.1-050 and 304.1-110 to make technical amendments; amend KRS 304.2-160 to define "licensee"; amend KRS 304.2-220 to modify persons who are subject to examination by the insurance commissioner; amend KRS 304.4-040 to apply license revocation for failure to pay tax or fee to licensees; amend KRS 304.5-080 to define "inland marine insurance" and repeal the definition of "marine and transportation insurance"; amend KRS 304.9-035 to provide for an insurer's liability for acts of its adjusters; amend KRS 304.9-051 to provide that certain individuals working for an administrator are not acting as an administrator; amend KRS 304.9-105 to modify financial responsibility requirement for an agent license; amend KRS 304.9-133 to establish individual designation requirements for licensed business entities; amend KRS 304.9-085 to conform; amend KRS 304.9-135 to modify the definition of "insurance agency activities"; amend KRS 304.9-140 to establish nonresident license requirements for nonresidents with a limited line of authority that is not offered in this state; repeal the requirement to surrender a license upon termination; amend KRS 304.9-170 to modify prelicensing education and examination exemption for applicants licensed within previous 12 months; amend KRS 304.9-200 to repeal refund of appointment fee upon license refusal; amend KRS 304.9-230 to repeal the surety limited line of authority and establish preneed funeral limited line of authority; amend KRS 304.9-260 to repeal the requirement to send license renewal list to an insurer or employer; require proof of compliance with continuing education requirements for nonresident independent or public adjusters; repeal the requirement to surrender license upon termination; amend KRS 304.9-270 to repeal approval requirement for specialty credit producers and managing employees; amend KRS 304.9-295 to require nonresident independent and public adjusters that designated Kentucky as their home state to satisfy continuing education requirements; modify requirements for continuing education certifications; repeal license surrender and reissuance requirement; repeal and reenact KRS 304.9-436 to provide that authorized insurers shall not do business with unlicensed persons; amend KRS 304.13-346 to require property insurers to offer an optional policy provision to upgrade the roof structure of non-FORTIFIED dwellings; amend KRS 304.13-400 to repeal workers' compensation insurance deductible range; amend KRS 304.14-120 to conform; amend KRS 304.15-365 to establish requirements for optional maturity dates offered for individual deferred annuities; amend KRS 304.17A-600, 304.17A-607, 304.17A-617, and 304.17A-623 to define "adverse benefit determination" and "coverage denial"; repeal definition of "adverse determination"; require internal appeal for adverse benefit determinations; require external review for adverse benefit determinations, other than coverage denials; amend KRS 304.17A-619, 304.17A-621, and 304.17A-625 to conform; amend KRS 304.99-020 and 304.99-100 to repeal civil penalties and renewal requirements for specialty credit producers and managing employees; make technical amendments throughout.
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 29, 2026 Signed Apr 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated to reflect its final passage, changing the bill number from BR 1343 to HB 527 and adding an emergency clause. Substantively, the legislation now formally creates the 'Strengthen Kentucky Homes Program' to provide financial grants for mitigating wind and hail damage in homes built to FORTIFIED standards. It also redefines key terms, such as 'insurable dwelling,' and establishes a specific state treasury fund to finance these grants.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include a new grant program for home mitigation and to declare an emergency, allowing for immediate implementation upon signing.
TECHNICAL

The bill number changed from BR 1343 to HB 527, and the page count increased from 77 to 81 due to added content.

SCOPE

An emergency clause was added to the act's title, indicating the legislation addresses an urgent need.

DEFINITION

New definitions were created for 'insurable dwelling,' 'SKH approved contractor,' 'SKH online portal,' and the 'Strengthen Kentucky Homes Program'.

FISCAL

A new 'Strengthen Kentucky Homes Program fund' was established in the State Treasury to receive grants and future appropriations.

REQUIREMENT

The bill mandates that the program provide grants to help real property owners and contractors mitigate catastrophic wind and hail risks in homes meeting FORTIFIED construction standards.

The definition of 'inland marine insurance' was significantly rewritten to clarify coverage for imports and transportation hazards.

Floor votes · House Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Apr 7, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 45)
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Committee
to Banking & Insurance (S)
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 92-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
to Banking & Insurance (H)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.