Create a new section of KRS Chapter 247 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative to promote farming to youth in urban counties with a pilot program in at least 1 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service office by September 1, 2026; set each program term to 1 year in duration, beginning each January; establish guidelines and participant eligibility.
Direct the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Optometric Practice Task Force to conduct a comprehensive review of the regulatory and clinical landscape of the practice of optometry and to make recommendations regarding the practice of optometry; establish membership; direct the task force to meet monthly during the 2026 Interim and submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by October 31, 2026.
Amend KRS 26A.020 to establish that any person may submit an affidavit to the Attorney General asserting that an assigned judge cannot impartially preside in a pending action; authorize the Attorney General to determine if the impartiality of the judge may reasonably be questioned; authorize the Attorney General to submit the affidavit to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shall determine whether to appoint a special judge.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to allow school districts to implement a wearable panic alert system; establish system criteria; require the Department of Education to provide a list of approved wearable panic alert systems; require the Center for School Safety to establish the Wearable Panic Alert Grant Program; amend KRS 158.446 to allow the Center for School Safety to distribute wearable panic alert grants using funds appropriated in the biennial budget to support school safety; provide that the Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 148 to define terms; establish the Burnside Island Development Authority to develop, finance, maintain, and improve lodging and restaurant facilities on General Burnside Island State Park and surrounding area; require the authority to be governed by a board; establish board membership, terms, powers, and duties; establish duties and purposes of the authority; require the board and authority to be subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Act and Kentucky Open Records Act; require the board to acquire authorization from the General Assembly prior to the sale, trade, or disposal of real property valued greater than $400,000 that is owned by the Commonwealth and managed by the Department of Parks; require that bond debt service be payable solely from the revenue of the bonds; require the Department of Parks to operate and maintain General Burnside Island State Park until an agreement between the authority and a private partner takes effect; amend KRS 132.195 to exempt the acquisition or lease of General Burnside Island State Park from taxation requirements; set forth the staggering of initial board terms.
HB 685 requires Kentucky's Education Professional Standards Board to issue 5-year teaching certificates to new teachers who pass required assessments. This directly affects new educators and those seeking additional certification in Kentucky public schools, as it mandates successful completion of field-specific tests before receiving a professional certificate. Key provisions include: (1) a 5-year professional certificate after passing assessments, (2) conditional certificates for one year if assessments are failed (with mentoring support), and (3) temporary certificates for out-of-state teachers with less than two years' experience. The bill standardizes certification timelines and assessment requirements without altering existing fee structures or minority recruitment data collection.
Amend KRS 157.220 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with the maximum class sizes and caseloads specified for exceptional children and youth; make technical corrections; amend KRS 157.200 to define "caseload" and "special classes"; amend KRS 157.230, 157.3175, and 159.990 to conform.
Amend KRS 61.7991 to add state and federal prosecutors and public defenders to the definition of "covered person"; authorize standing for a civil action for injunctive or declaratory relief for unauthorized disclosure; provide that the removal of information does not apply to financial disclosures required under KRS Chapter 61.
Amend KRS 158.307 to define "dysgraphia"; require the department to annually update the dyslexia toolkit; require the toolkit to include guidance on dysgraphia and strategies and other resources to be used for students displaying dyslexia and dysgraphia; require universal screeners and diagnostic tools be approved by the department; require each district to use evidence-based instructional strategies to provide intervention services; require school districts to report data to the department; amend KRS 164.304 to require postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs include instruction on the application and implementation of a multitiered system of supports by the 2027-2028 school year.
Amend KRS 16.220 to provide that the proceeds of firearm sales that have been confiscated by law enforcement shall be utilized by the Office of the Attorney General; amend KRS 147A.002 to conform.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 13A to require the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) to establish a public online permit transparency portal to track credentials issued by administrative bodies; require administrative bodies to submit regulatory inventory reports to the LRC; direct the LRC to compile the inventories into a comprehensive statewide regulatory baseline; amend KRS 13A.010 to define "transparent economic impact analysis"; amend KRS 13A.020 to declare the primary function of the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (ARRS) to be advisory and analytical, with an emphasis on economic analysis and efficiency; amend 13A.030 and 13A.290 to require ARRS to submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on administrative regulations with a major economic impact and, if applicable, disputes between the economic analyses of the ARRS and the administrative body; repeal and reenact KRS 13A.105 to delay the effective date of any administrative regulation with a major economic impact until it is ratified by the General Assembly; establish legislative procedures, including a mechanism for an extraordinary session; amend KRS 13A.250 to authorize the LRC to require an administrative body to submit background data for any fiscal notes; amend KRS 13A.331 to limit the effective date for an administrative regulation that requires legislative approval; amend KRS 171.450 to direct the Department for Libraries and Archives to establish procedures for a publicly available comprehensive inventory of administrative regulations; allow the department to contract with vendors for advanced computing services related to the inventory; amend KRS 13A.040, 13A.100, and 13A.315 to conform.
This bill makes technical corrections to Kentucky's laws governing alcoholic beverage licenses. It clarifies that county administrators handle both license applications and penalties for local licenses, matching the state department's role for state licenses. The bill also specifies that when a city has its own administrator, the county administrator only oversees areas outside the city limits, unless the city lacks adequate police protection. These changes aim to improve clarity in how local and state alcohol licensing responsibilities are divided.
