Kentucky Bills

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 196: AN ACT relating to grooming.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 156 to define "grooming behavior"; amend KRS 161.120 to add, current and recent former students to the list of individuals upon which the Education Professional Standards Board may refuse to issue or take disciplinary action against a certificate if the applicant or certificate holder engaged in sexual contact with the specified individuals; amend KRS 160.390 to require superintendents to include employment terms prohibiting sexual contact between an employee of the district and specified individuals; amend KRS 160.1596 to require as a term of the public charter school contract that all employees and contractors refrain from sexual contact with specified individuals; amend KRS 156.160 to require the Kentucky Board of Education to require certified nonpublic schools to require employee prohibitions on sexual contact between an employee of the school and specified individuals.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 572: AN ACT relating to preschool education programs.

Amend KRS 157.320 to define "at risk" and "teaming partner"; amend KRS 157.3175 to require each local school district to provide preschool to 4 year olds who reside in a household with an income at or below 160% of the poverty level until the end of the 2030-2031 school year and beginning with the 2031-2032 school year, require each local school district to provide preschool to each 4 year old who is at risk; provide requirements for program guidelines; require the Kentucky Department of Education to establish and maintain a statewide unified data system; create a new section of KRS Chapter 157 to require local school districts to maintain certification from the Head Start director that Head Start is fully utilized; provide penalties; require local school districts to prepare and submit preschool expansion plans to the deparment; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations regarding preschool expansion; require the department to submit a report the the Legislative Research Commission annually regarding preschool expansion.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 44: AN ACT relating to robotics.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; establish the robotics competition fund; establish the Robotics Funding Selection Committee to award grants from the fund to eligible robotics teams competition sponsors; establish committee membership, duties, and set terms; require the Kentucky Department of Education to promulgate administrative regulations to establish procedures for grant applications and distribution of awards by April 1, 2027; set requirements for grant applications; require annual report by August 1 to Legislative Research Commission; provide for initial staggering of appointments; require the committee to hold its first meeting by October 15, 2026; provide that the Act may be cited as the Advanced Manufacturing Through Robotics Education Act.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 12, 2026

HJR 25: A JOINT RESOLUTION declaring Kentucky a Food is Medicine state and directing state agencies to advance Food is Medicine initiatives.

HJR 25 declares Kentucky a "Food is Medicine" state and directs state agencies to integrate nutrition into healthcare systems. It specifically requires agencies to support medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions for high-risk patients, and partner with local farms to address diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The bill targets populations in Kentucky with high rates of chronic conditions (40.4% of adults) and aims to reduce healthcare costs by expanding existing initiatives, such as those led by the Kentucky Hospital Association and Department of Agriculture. This resolution focuses on policy coordination rather than creating new programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 561: AN ACT relating to Medicaid coverage for adult day health care and in-home attendant care services.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to require the Department for Medicaid Services to include coverage for adult day health care and in-home attendant services in all 1915(c) waiver programs that enroll adults; require coverage of at least 40 hours per week separately for adult day health care and in-home attendant services; prohibit aggregating coverage limits for adult day health care and in-home attendant services; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the department to seek federal approval if they determine that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes to the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 556: AN ACT relating to family care leave.

Amend KRS 337.010 to define "committed relationship," "family care leave," "family member," "health care provider," "same employer," and "serious health condition"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 337 to prohibit employers from refusing to grant a qualified employee family care leave; entitle an employee to family care leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child or to take care of a family member and establish parameters; amend KRS 337.990 to establish penalties for violations by any person.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 560: AN ACT relating to funding school districts that have a high percentage of tax-exempt property.

Amend KRS 45.021 to require the Finance and Administration Cabinet to contract with each local board of education of a district that has 65% or more in tax-exempt real property and that does not receive financial relief from other sources for the tax revenue lost from the tax-exempt property, to provide for recoupment to the board of at least 25% of the local board of education's lost tax revenue from the tax-exempt properties.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 559: AN ACT relating to data privacy, portability, and interoperability.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 367 to establish consumer rights relating to social media and artificial intelligence data; define terms; require social media companies and model operators to implement data interoperability interfaces; establish requirements for data sharing between social media services and artificial intelligence systems; grant rulemaking authority to the Attorney General, along with the Consumers' Advisory Council, and enforcement authority to the Office of the Attorney General; provide for civil penalties: provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Digital Choice Act.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Kentucky · House Feb 11, 2026

HR 60: A RESOLUTION recognizing February 11, 2026, as Recovery Advocacy Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

This resolution designates February 11, 2026, as Recovery Advocacy Day in Kentucky. It honors Kentuckians living in long-term recovery from substance use disorders and those supporting their journeys, while encouraging efforts to reduce stigma. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funds; it is a symbolic recognition to celebrate resilience and promote awareness. It was adopted by the Kentucky House of Representatives via voice vote on February 11, 2026.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SJR 90: A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the Melvin Ferrell Memorial Highway in Pike County.

SJR 90 is a commemorative resolution designating a specific 4.8-mile segment of KY-194 in Pike County (from mile markers 67.3 to 72.1) as the "Melvin Ferrell Memorial Highway." It requires the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to erect appropriate signage within 30 days of the resolution's effective date. The bill directly affects the highway corridor in Pike County and honors Melvin Ferrell, a longtime local miner and deputy sheriff. This is a procedural resolution with no policy changes beyond the highway naming.

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SR 84: A RESOLUTION honoring Harriet Thompson of Winchester, Kentucky, for her service to her community and the Clark County Republican Womenâs Club.

This resolution (SR 84) formally honors Harriet Thompson of Winchester, Kentucky, for her community service and leadership roles with the Clark County Republican Women's Club. It recognizes her 23-year career with the U.S. Department of Labor, her decades of dedicated service in club leadership positions (including Treasurer and Second Vice President), and her loyalty to the Republican Party. The resolution, adopted by the Kentucky Senate in February 2026, extends the Senate's appreciation for her contributions and directs a copy be delivered to her via Senator Greg Elkins.

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 188: AN ACT relating to railroad safety.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 174 to establish a state rail safety inspection program; establish the Railroad Transportation Advisory Board; establish the board's membership and duties.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results