Kentucky Bills

passed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SB 85: AN ACT relating to offices within the Auditor of Public Accounts and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 43.010 to define "deputy auditor" and "ombudsman"; amend KRS 43.030 to replace references to "assistant auditor" with "deputy auditor"; amend KRS 43.035 to require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide information on contacting the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman at all Department for Community Based Services offices; require ombudsman to maintain confidentiality; authorize the ombudsman to promulgate administrative regulations; establish that expenses incurred by ombudsman shall be charged to the entity that is the subject of the ombudsman's work; amend KRS 43.040 to replace references to "assistant auditor" with "deputy auditor"; amend KRS 43.080 to make technical correction; require all state agencies to provide the Auditor of Public Accounts with access software; amend KRS 43.090 to establish ombudsman's reporting and recommendation requirements, require the Auditor to maintain confidentiality; amend KRS 43.990 to make technical corrections; create new sections of KRS Chapter 43 to establish the organizational structure of the Auditor's office; require employees and contract staff of the Auditor to submit to state and federal criminal background checks; permit the Auditor to enroll employees and contract staff in the rap back system; create a new section of KRS Chapter 194A to require the cabinet to provide contact information of the ombudsman on its website; require the cabinet to provide the ombudsman with read-only access to group email inboxes; amend KRS 620.050 to authorize the ombudsman to receive reports of suspected child abuse, neglect, or dependency from the cabinet; permit disclosure of files, reports, and other documents used by a children's advocacy center to the ombudsman; permit the ombudsman to report de-identified data otherwise required to be made confidential; require the cabinet to transfer control of a specific phone number to the ombudsman and to bear all costs associated with the transfer; EMERGENCY.

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 387: AN ACT relating to metropolitan sewer districts.

Amend KRS 76.090 to define "CPI"; require that any time a metropolitan sewer district proposes any change to its rates, rentals, or charges that would in aggregate generate revenue in excess of the percent increase in the CPI over the two most recent calendar years, the legislative body of the city or consolidated local government containing the district must approve of the change before it can go into effect; prohibit the expenditure of metropolitan sewer district funds for certain purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 11, 2025

HR 82: A RESOLUTION recognizing September 21 to 28, 2025, as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week.

This resolution symbolically recognizes September 21-28, 2025, as "Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week" in Kentucky. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but aims to raise public awareness about frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a neurodegenerative disease affecting speech, behavior, and motor skills. The resolution directly affects Kentuckians, particularly those impacted by FTD and their families, by encouraging local education and support. It was introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives and adopted via voice vote on March 11, 2025.

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 276: AN ACT relating to the postsecondary education working group.

HB 276 revises Kentucky's public higher education funding model to tie state appropriations more directly to student outcomes. It requires public colleges and universities (including KCTCS and public universities) to receive funding based on metrics like degree completion rates, STEM credentials, and serving low-income or underrepresented students, with 40% of funds distributed this way. The bill also mandates the postsecondary education working group to meet every odd-numbered year to advise on implementation. This changes how state funds are allocated, prioritizing measurable student success over historical funding levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 456: AN ACT relating to driving under the influence.

Amend KRS 189A.010 to provide that operating a motor vehicle while the person's operator's license is suspended for a previous violation of driving under the influence or KRS 189A.090 is an aggravating circumstance; expand the list of controlled substances; amend KRS 189A.070 to extend the period of license suspension for a person who is issued an ignition interlock license for a first offense from four months to six months; require each person who is issued an ignition interlock license to comply with the consecutive day requirements in KRS 189A.340 within the last 90 or 120 days of the suspension period, and provide that if the person does not comply the period of suspension will continue until the consecutive day requirements are fulfilled; require that any period of license suspension be tolled during any sentence of imprisonment for a violation of KRS 189A.010; amend KRS 189A.340 to require a person whose license is suspended for a violation of KRS 189A.010(1)(a), (b), (e), or (f) to apply for an ignition interlock license; reduce the ignition interlock device installation fee to $100 and require installation to not exceed three hours.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SB 60: AN ACT relating to restoring religious liberty.

Amend KRS 446.350 to define terms; outline appropriate relief if the statute is violated; apply to laws adopted before or after the effective date; include severability clause; waive sovereign and governmental immunity.

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 661: AN ACT relating to the transportation of students and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 189.540 to authorize the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to govern the operation of passenger vehicles used to transport students that are owned, leased, or privately contracted by school districts; provide that operators of a passenger vehicle that is owned, leased, or privately contracted by the district to transport students shall possess a valid Class D operator's license; EMERGENCY.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 711: AN ACT relating to postsecondary education.

Amend KRS 164.001 to remove the definition of "committee" and "P-16 council"; amend KRS 164.013 to conform; amend KRS 164.020 to remove the Council on Postsecondary Education's ability to postpone approval of new programs due to an institution's unmet equal educational opportunity goals; amend KRS 164.0211 to attach the Board of Student Body Presidents to the Council on Postsecondary Education for administration and organization purposes; amend KRS 164.321 to require Senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointees to the boards of regents of the comprehensive universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System prior to an appointee serving on a board; amend various other sections to conform; repeal KRS 164.004, 164.0285, 164.0286, 164.0287, 164.0288, and 164.033.

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 356: AN ACT relating to the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 247 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Urban Farming Youth Initiative to promote farming to youth in urban counties in at least one urban University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service office beginning August 1, 2025, and others by August 1, 2026; set each program term to one year in duration beginning in January; establish guidelines for participant eligibility.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 446: AN ACT relating to assault in the third degree.

Amend KRS 508.025 to expand assault in the third degree to include causing or attempting to cause physical injury to a justice or judge of the Court of Justice.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Kentucky · House Mar 7, 2025

HR 68: A RESOLUTION recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This resolution (HR 68) formally recognizes April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky. It does not create new laws or policies but symbolically acknowledges Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky as a statewide leader in prevention efforts. The resolution encourages state legislators to wear blue on the final day of the 2025 legislative session and references existing observances like Wear Blue Day (April 4, 2025) and the national pinwheel symbol for child abuse prevention. It directly affects Kentucky residents by promoting community awareness and education about child abuse prevention through official state recognition. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal force but supports ongoing advocacy efforts.

passed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SR 108: A RESOLUTION commemorating the Lexington-Fayette NAACP branch for 106 years of service.

This is a ceremonial resolution (SR 108), not a policy bill. It formally commemorates the 106th anniversary of the Lexington-Fayette NAACP branch for its civil rights work since 1919. The resolution honors the branch's advocacy for racial justice, equitable access to education and housing, and its role in dismantling segregation. It has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely symbolic recognition approved by the Kentucky Senate via voice vote on March 7, 2025.

Bill results