Kentucky Bills

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SR 101: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 21, 2026, as Historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

This resolution designates February 21, 2026, as "Historic St. Paul A.M.E. Church National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Day" in Kentucky. It formally recognizes the church's official National Park Service designation as part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, highlighting its historical role as an active station (with features like a concealed upper room) that aided freedom seekers in the 1800s. The resolution commemorates the church's connection to abolitionist Lewis Garrard Clarke and its significance as one of Kentucky's few surviving Underground Railroad-era sites. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact beyond honoring this historical site and its community.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 211: AN ACT relating to coverage for prescription drugs.

Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health plans to include a generic drug or biosimilar on the plan's formulary under specified circumstances; define terms; establish cost-sharing requirements when a generic drug or biosimilar is required to be placed on the health plan's formulary; prohibit a health plan from imposing any prior authorization, step therapy, or other limitation on coverage for a generic drug or biosimilar required to be placed on the health plan's formulary or imposing any restriction on a pharmacist or pharmacy that makes it more difficult for the insured to obtain coverage or access to the generic drug or biosimilar compared to the reference drug or product; amend KRS 304.17C-125, 164.2871, and 18A.225 to require limited health service benefit plans, self-insured group health plans offered by a state postsecondary education institution, and the state employee health plan to comply with the requirements for generic drugs and biosimilars; direct that the Act applies to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE, January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SR 106: A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Bias Sidney Tilford, Sr.

SR 106 is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill) adopted by the Kentucky Senate on February 19, 2026, to honor the late Bias Sidney Tilford, Sr., following his passing on February 12, 2026. The resolution formally adjourns the Senate in his memory and extends condolences to his family. It does not create new laws or policies; it solely serves as a respectful tribute to his legacy as a Georgetown community leader, media professional, civil rights advocate, and mentor. The Senate directed the Clerk to deliver a copy to his family, reflecting the ceremonial nature of this action.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 212: AN ACT relating to mental health coverage and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 304.17A-660 to define "health professional"; amend KRS 304.17A-661 to require that annual mental health parity reports be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission on or before June 1 of each year for referral to certain committees and be published by the insurance commissioner on the Department of Insurance's website; require insurers to have an independent audit conducted to evaluate mental health parity compliance upon request of the commissioner or Attorney General; require the commissioner to establish and operate a hotline that allows health professionals and insureds to submit complaints regarding mental health parity compliance; prohibit insurers from retaliating against a health professional for submitting a complaint; authorize the Attorney General to enforce the mental health parity law; establish duties, remedies, and penalties for enforcement by the Attorney General; authorize a private cause of action by any person directly injured by a violation or likely violation of the mental health parity law; establish duties, remedies, and penalties for a private right of action under the mental health parity law; establish construction clauses; authorize the Attorney General to promulgate administrative regulations for proper enforcement of mental health parity law; create a new section of KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-669 to establish requirements for review criteria used by insurers to determine the medical necessity and appropriateness of a claim submitted for the diagnosis or treatment of a mental health condition; require that the review criteria be publicly available on the insurer's website; require insurers to comply with KRS 304.17A-600 to 304.17A-633 with respect to claims submitted by health professionals for the diagnosis of treatment of mental health conditions except as provided in the section; amend KRS 304.17A-617 and 304.17A-623 to conform; amend KRS 205.522 to require the Department for Medicaid Services, Medicaid managed care organizations, and the state' medical assistance program to comply with mental health parity law; require the Department for Medicaid Services or the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to obtain federal approval, if necessary, and comply with notice requirements; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes as required under KRS 205.5372(1); EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027; EMERGENCY.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 172: AN ACT relating to utility fuel adjustment and declaring an emergency.

Amend KRS 278.277 to permit the Public Service Commission to allow, upon the request of an electric utility, an extension of the period for recovery of an electric utility's fuel adjustment costs to reduce volatility for consumers and encourage stability in rates.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 215: AN ACT relating to school districts.

Amend KRS 160.290 to ensure public school curriculum, textbooks, and instructional materials, including digital learning materials, remain subject to the Open Records Act and that districts protect a resident's fair use rights; amend KRS 160.350 to require a superintendent with total annual compensation greater than the commissioner of education to be subject to confirmation by the Senate; require a majority vote instead of a four-fifths vote of local board of education members to remove a superintendent; delete requirements for approval from the commissioner of education to remove a superintendent; provide an appeal process for the superintendent; amend KRS 160.160 to establish a 1 year term for chair and vice chair of a local board of education; require superintendents to submit reports on closed personnel investigations to the local board of education for the purposes of policy oversight and evaluation of the superintendent's performance; amend KRS 160.180 to make ineligible a candidate for membership on a board of education who engages or serves as an officer or director of an organization that represents district employees in employment or legal matters against the district; require Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act training for local board of education members; make conforming changes; permit the hiring of relatives of a local board of education member; amend KRS 160.380 to prohibit a person convicted of certain specified crimes from being employed by a superintendent; require superintendents to submit reports on previous personnel investigations closed during the superintendent's contract to the local board of education within 30 days of the effective date of this Act.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SR 103: A RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring the children of military families on Military Kids Day, February 19, 2026.

This resolution formally recognizes and honors the children of military families on Military Kids Day, February 19, 2026. It commemorates the ninth anniversary of the event, created by Senator Jimmy Higdon in 2017, which brings military children and families to the Kentucky Capitol for educational activities and engagement with state leaders. The resolution specifically acknowledges Senator Higdon's leadership in establishing this annual event, which has grown to include approximately 250 participants. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new policy or affect funding but serves as a formal tribute.

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 47: AN ACT relating to in the line of duty death benefits.

Amend KRS 61.315 to define "rescue squad personnel"; expand eligibility for in the line of duty death benefits to rescue squad personnel; require the Division of Emergency Management to promulgate administrative regulations establishing necessary criteria and procedures; amend KRS 164.2841 to define "rescue squad personnel"; expand eligibility for tuition and fee exemption to dependents of rescue squad personnel who died in the line of duty; amend KRS 342.316 to conform.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Kentucky · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 207: Withdrawn.

Amend KRS 141.019, relating to income tax, to define "professional membership dues" and "union dues"; allow a deduction from gross income for union dues and professional membership dues paid for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2031, and require the Department of Revenue to annually report information about this deduction to the Legislative Research Commission; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the department to report on the exclusion.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 74: AN ACT relating to investment in youth vaping prevention.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 15 to create the vaping settlement trust fund to be administered by the Office of the Attorney General; direct the deposit of certain litigation proceeds into the fund; direct the allowable use of fund moneys for certain youth prevention and cessation efforts.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 18, 2026

HCR 57: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Economic Development Incentive Modernization Task Force.

Direct the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Economic Development Incentive Modernization Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding Kentucky's current economic develop inititiatives, incentives, and related policies and their effectiveness in relation to competitor states, marketing campaigns and targeted sector updates that competitor states have implemented in recent years and their effectivesness, and actions and policies Kentucky should consider in order to improve Kentucky's economic develop initiatives and incentives; establish membership; direct the task force to meet during the 2026 Interim and submit findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2026.

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 18, 2026

HJR 56: A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Governor to establish a sister city/state partnership between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Shomron Regional Council of Israel.

HJR 56 is a joint resolution directing Kentucky's Governor to establish a formal sister state partnership with Israel's Shomron Regional Council through a memorandum of understanding. It aims to recognize shared cultural and historical ties, including Kentucky towns with biblical names (like Lebanon and Hebron), and promote exchanges in commerce, culture, and innovation between the two regions. The bill does not create new laws or funding but requires the Governor to initiate this partnership agreement. It directly affects Kentucky's executive branch and the Shomron Regional Council, with no financial or regulatory obligations outlined. The resolution is currently under review by the House Committee on State Government.

Bill results