SB 18 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to health services.

Summary
Amend KRS 311.380 to define "physician assistant," “podiatric assistant,” “podiatric residency,” “podiatric resident,” podiatric supervision," and "supervising podiatrist"; amend KRS 311.400 to add the scope of practice for podiatric residents and podiatric assistants; amend KRS 311.410 to conform; amend KRS 311.420 to add qualifications to acquire a license to practice podiatry; permit the board to promulgate administrative regulations for licensure of podiatric assistants and podiatric residents, podiatric residency licenses, and the approval and regulation of podiatric supervision of physician assistants; amend KRS 311.480 to include podiatric resident and podiatric assistant licenses to the licenses the Board of Podiatry can deny, refuse to renew, suspend, place on probation, or revoke; amend KRS 311.840 to define "podiatric supervision" and "supervising podiatrist"; create a new section of KRS 311.840 to 311.862 to establish requirements for podiatrists to supervise physician assistants; amend KRS 218B.010 to add podiatrist to the definition of "medicinal cannabis practitioner"; add the State Board of Podiatry to the definition of "state licensing board"; amend KRS 218B.050 to add podiatrist to those required to apply to the same state licensing board that issued his or her license for authorization to provide written certifications for the use of medicinal cannabis; amend KRS 218B.145 to add the State Board of Podiatry to those to be notified of qualifying medical conditions; amend KRS 311.450, 311.460, 311.470, and 311.475 to make technical changes; amend KRS 311.390, 311.490, 311.495, and 311.990 to conform.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Signed Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from SB 18 to SB 18/EN and its title was changed from 'relating to the practice of podiatry' to 'relating to health services'. The primary substantive change involves the reorganization of definitions in Section 1, where the definition of 'Podiatry' was moved to a new subsection (8) and the definition of 'Podiatrist' was updated to clarify the accrediting body. Additionally, the bill's page count was reduced from 29 to 20 pages, indicating a significant streamlining or consolidation of text.
Scope change
The bill's scope was broadened in its title from specifically 'podiatry' to general 'health services', though the substantive content remains focused on podiatry regulations.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'Podiatry' was repositioned to subsection (8) and the definition of 'Podiatrist' was updated to reference the 'Council on Podiatric Medical[Podiatry] Education' instead of 'Council on Podiatric Medical[Podiatry] Education of the American Podiatric Medical[Podiatry] Association'.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from 26 RS BR 1127 to 26 RS SB 18/EN and the total page count was reduced from 29 to 20 pages, suggesting a consolidation of text.

SCOPE

The bill title was changed from 'relating to the practice of podiatry' to 'relating to health services', broadening the stated scope of the legislation.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 44
Feb 6, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican38
31 Yea 7
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 10, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 85)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 37-0
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 91-1 with Floor Amendment (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title)
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Introduced
floor amendments (1) and (2-title) filed
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Committee
to Health Services (H)
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 32-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
to Health Services (S)
upper
Jan 6, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 6, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.