Kentucky Bills

HJR 60 is a symbolic resolution designating a specific segment of Kentucky Route 150 in Jefferson County (from mile point 1 to 3) as the "Mae Street Kidd Memorial Highway." It directs the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to erect signage within 30 days of the resolution's effective date. The bill honors Mae Street Kidd, a pioneering Black legislator who served in the Kentucky House from 1968 to 1984, sponsored key housing legislation, and was instrumental in ratifying constitutional amendments. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impacts on constituents. The resolution is currently pending in the House Transportation Committee.

Create a new section KRS Chapter 100 to define terms; allow multi-unit dwellings and mixed-use developments as permitted uses in commercial zones; prohibit a planning unit from adopting or enforcing regulations that do not allow multi-unit dwellings and mixed-use developments in commercial zones, impose requirements on multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use developments more restrictive than other uses in a zone, or require certain parking restrictions on multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use developments.

Amend KRS 160.290 to provide that an interlocal cooperative board is an extension school district and all statutes and administrative regulations that apply to school districts extend to interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.070 to provide that the Kentucky Board of Education has the management and control of interlocal cooperative boards and that the board shall manage interlocal cooperative boards in the same manner and method as the board manages school districts; amend KRS 156.010 to provide that the commissioner of education is responsible for monitoring the management of interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.200 to provide that the commissioner of education shall receive and examine all KBE reports of interlocal cooperative boards and see that all financial and educational accounts are accurately and neatly kept; amend KRS 158.785 to include inefficiencies in the governance and administration of interlocal cooperative boards in the commissioner’s report on recommendations on the designation of school districts as “state assisted” or “state managed”; amend KRS 156.255 to define "interlocal cooperative board"; amend KRS 156.265 to extend school district audit requirements to include interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.275 to conform; amend KRS 156.285 to authorize the accountant to access the financial records of interlocal cooperative boards; amend KRS 156.295 to apply the misdemeanor penalty to preventing or obstructing an audit of an interlocal cooperative board to any interlocal cooperative school board officer or employee.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "accessory dwelling unit"; allow accessory dwelling unit as a permitted use in all residential zones; prohibit a planning unit from adopting regulations which would not allow a property owner to have one accessory dwelling unit on the owner's property, impose requirements on accessory dwelling units different than those placed on single-family homes, or assess additional fees on accessory dwelling units; allow a planning unit to enforce regulations that require notification of the construction of a new accessory dwelling unit, prohibit more than one accessory dwelling unit on a property, assess a one-time fee of $250 at the time the accessory dwelling unit is created, and prohibit the accessory dwelling unit's use as a short-term rental.

HB 562 requires the legal owners of most Kentucky cemeteries (excluding private family plots) to maintain burial grounds free of weeds, debris, and vandalism, and to protect them from desecration or improper use like dumping. It specifically mandates that owners prevent damage from unauthorized activities but exempts them if damage results from a crime. Private cemeteries only need to build protective structures if a county cemetery board exists and compensates the owner for costs. City governments within their limits may enforce these maintenance requirements on cemetery owners. The bill is currently pending in the House Local Government Committee (introduced February 14, 2025).

This bill (HJR 42) names a specific bridge in Floyd County as the "Donald V. Horne Memorial Bridge" to honor Donald V. Horne, a local businessman, Vietnam War veteran, and community member. The Transportation Cabinet must officially designate the bridge on Kentucky Route 550 (over Right Fork of Beaver Creek, Bridge #036B00017N) and install appropriate signs within 30 days of the resolution taking effect. It has no policy impact beyond this ceremonial naming.

Amend KRS 337.010 to increase the applicable threshold of employees of retail stores and service industries from $95,000 to $500,000 average annual gross volume of sales for the employer; amend KRS 337.275 to incrementally raise minimum wage of hourly and tipped employees and require adherence to any future federal increase in excess of the new state wage rates; include anti-preemption language permitting local governments to establish minimum wage ordinances in excess of the state minimum wage.

HB 591 amends Kentucky Revised Statutes 186.230 and 186.120 to replace gendered pronouns (such as "he," "his," and "him") with gender-neutral language throughout. It also corrects a technical error in KRS 186.120 regarding refund procedures for destroyed vehicles. The bill does not change any substantive requirements for vehicle registration, fees, or refunds - it only updates outdated language in existing transportation statutes. This affects county clerks who enforce these provisions but has no impact on drivers or vehicle owners.

Create a new section of KRS 210.370 to 210.485 to create the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program; establish duties and responsibilities; amend KRS 210.400 to establish that the community board for mental health or individuals with an intellectual disability shall implement, staff, and operate the Kentucky Child Mental Health Services Access Program.

Direct the Transportation Cabinet to designate the northern portion of the newly relocated United States Route 641 in Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Counties as the Representative Mike Cherry Memorial Highway.

Amend KRS 401.020 to require the establishment of a legal relationship between a parent and child in proceedings involving a name change for the child.

HB 579 modifies Kentucky's building code to allow multi-unit residential buildings (R-2 occupancy) with fewer than six stories to use a single exit stairway, primarily affecting new residential construction projects. Key provisions require buildings to have no more than four dwelling units per floor, include corridors separating unit doors from exits, limit travel distance to exits to 20 feet, and ensure maximum travel distance within the building does not exceed 125 feet. The bill also mandates specific safety features like fire-rated doors and prohibits direct access from other building areas like parking garages to the single exit stairway. This change aims to provide flexibility for smaller residential developments while maintaining safety standards.