AN ACT relating to the regulation of digital asset business.
Summary
Establish Subtitle 13 of KRS Chapter 286 and create new sections thereof to regulate virtual currency kiosks; establish definitions; provide for enforcement by the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions; establish license requirements for virtual currency kiosks; require regulatory filings to be submitted to a nationwide licensing system registry; establish initial and renewal application processes and requirements, reporting, surety bond and tangible net worth, and change of control requirements for virtual currency kiosk operators; require the commissioner to promulgate administrative regulations to establish format, document submission, fee, and trade practice requirements for virtual currency kiosk operators; establish record retention requirements for persons required to be licensed as virtual currency kiosk operators; establish trade practice requirements relating to protection of resident assets, virtual currency kiosk transactions, prohibited practices, and fraud and information security compliance procedures; authorize the commissioner to conduct investigations and examinations; provide for the confidentiality of certain documents provided to the commissioner; authorize the commissioner to share, disclose, and report information and take other actions to assist in the commissioner's duties; require the commissioner to submit an annual licensing report to the Legislative Research Commission; establish due process requirements for adverse actions taken by the commissioner against licensees and other persons; establish requirements for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license; authorize the commissioner to enter cease and desist orders and emergency orders; authorize the commissioner to order civil penalties against persons that violate the subtitle; require the commissioner of the Department of Financial Institutions to promulgate any required emergency and ordinary administrative regulations on or before January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE, in part, March 31, 2027.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 12, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Current/Final
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was significantly rewritten to broaden its scope from regulating only 'virtual currency kiosks' (crypto ATMs) to regulating the entire 'digital asset business.' This change expands the regulatory framework to cover a wider range of digital financial activities rather than just physical terminals. The new version also updates legal definitions to align with broader industry terms like 'digital asset' and clarifies roles such as 'agent' and 'key shareholder' to ensure comprehensive oversight.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a narrow focus on physical crypto ATMs to a comprehensive regulation of the entire digital asset business.
SCOPE
The bill title and subject matter changed from 'virtual currency kiosks' to 'digital asset business,' significantly broadening the entities and activities subject to regulation.
DEFINITION
Definitions were updated to replace 'virtual currency' with 'digital asset' and added new terms like 'Agent' and 'Key shareholder' to clarify who is regulated and how control is determined.
The definition of 'Control' was expanded to include the power to elect or appoint a majority of executive officers, managers, or directors, ensuring broader accountability for company leadership.
The definition of 'Resident' was simplified, removing specific day-count thresholds for physical presence and replacing them with a standard place-of-business criterion.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2026
How they voted
44–0
Passed
Total votes 44
Apr 1, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican38
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
13
Committee
10
Amendments
5
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 126)
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
passed 38-0
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (2), Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 81-7 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
floor amendment (2) adopted
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Substitute (1) adopted
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (3) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
to Banking & Insurance (H)
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
to Banking & Insurance (S)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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