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SB 136 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to unemployment insurance and declaring an emergency.

Summary
Amend KRS 341.416, relating to suspected unemployment insurance fraud, to require the Education and Labor Cabinet to refer suspected fraud cases to the United States Department of Labor and to remove the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and the United States Department of Justice from the required referral.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly restructured to shift focus from fraud enforcement to establishing new eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits. The primary changes include adding a mandatory one-week waiting period for new claims, requiring active job search activities, and setting a new minimum wage threshold of $1,500 for base-period earnings to qualify for benefits.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a fraud referral mechanism to a comprehensive set of eligibility criteria for unemployment insurance, including new definitions for 'work search activities' and exemptions for workers with confirmed return-to-work prospects.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a mandatory one-week waiting period for initial claims made on or after January 1, 2012, during which no benefits are paid.

Introduced a new minimum wage threshold requiring claimants to have earned at least $1,500 in their highest wage quarter and met specific total earnings ratios to qualify.

Added exemptions preventing denial of benefits for workers enrolled in approved training programs or those with verified return-to-work prospects within 16 weeks or one year.

REQUIREMENT

Established a requirement for claimants to perform at least five verifiable work search activities per week, with at least three involving formal applications or interviews.

DEFINITION

Defined specific 'work search activities' including job shadowing, job fairs, and participation in career center programs.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the previous section detailing the process for referring suspected fraud cases to county attorneys and the Department of Labor.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

44–0
Passed
Total votes 44
Feb 10, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
38 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 123)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 37-0
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 96-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development & Workforce Investment (H)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
to Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor (S)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.