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SJR 23 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

A JOINT RESOLUTION declaring Kentucky a Food is Medicine state and directing state agencies to advance Food is Medicine initiatives.

SJR 23 declares Kentucky a "Food is Medicine" state to address chronic health conditions through nutrition. It directs state agencies to integrate nutrition into healthcare by supporting medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions for high-risk groups, and partnerships with farms and hospitals. The resolution specifically requires agencies to coordinate with the Kentucky Hospital Association and Department of Agriculture to expand local food-based health interventions. This policy change aims to reduce healthcare costs linked to diet-related chronic conditions, which affect 40.4% of Kentucky adults and cost over $29 billion annually.
Issues: ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects state agencies to integrate nutrition into healthcare via medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions, advancing chronic disease management through Food is Medicine initiatives.90% confidence
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 7, 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 expanded from a general declaration to include specific mandates for public employees. The original version focused on broad principles and partnerships, while the new version adds a requirement for the Personnel Cabinet to integrate Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) purchases into the Kentucky Employees Health Plan wellness rewards program for 2027 and 2028.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from a general policy declaration applicable to all state agencies to a specific mandate targeting public employees and retirees covered by the Kentucky Employees Health Plan (KEHP).
REQUIREMENT

Added a new Section 3 requiring the Personnel Cabinet to integrate CSA purchases into the KEHP wellness rewards program for plan years 2027 and 2028.

Added specific instructions for the Personnel Cabinet to create a verification process for CSA purchases and determine reward values for these purchases within the wellness program.

Expanded the 'WHEREAS' clauses to include specific data points about the KEHP's budget ($2 billion), its existing wellness program, and research findings on the University of Kentucky's CSA program effectiveness.

Updated the resolution's declaration to explicitly mention 'chronic diseases' rather than 'chronic conditions' and added references to nutrition-sensitive chronic diseases.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

97–0
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 105
Mar 31, 2026
D Democratic21
19 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican84
78 Yea 6
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
8
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 124)
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 36-0
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (97-0-8)
senate
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
to Health Services (H)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
upper
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
to Health Services (S)
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.