Sen. Phillip Wheeler

Maddy summarySB 119 allows landowners to repurchase property condemned by a government agency for highway projects if the project isn't developed within eight years. If the agency fails to start construction or design within that timeframe, the original landowner can buy back the property at the price the agency originally paid. This applies specifically to highway projects under Kentucky law (KRS Chapter 177) and excludes industrial development projects. The bill ensures unused condemned land reverts to the original owner unless sold at auction after proper notice.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to require all written and road skill examinations for an instruction permit or operator's license be administered in English only; amend KRS 186.480 to conform.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 337 to prohibit subcontractors from misclassifying employees on capital projects as independent contractors; define terms; establish criteria for classifying workers as employees or independent contractors; provide a complaint and appeal process for misclassification violations; provide that no prime contractor or subcontractor, nor any agent thereof shall retaliate against any person for taking action or providing information to investigators for violations; provide that a complaint shall be dismissed without prejudice if the Department of Workplace Standards fails to take action within 180 days after filing a complaint; provide that prime contractors or subcontractors shall post a notice for filing complaints or inquiries with the commissioner of the Department of Workplace standards; require each contract for a capital project shall require a prime contractor and any subcontractors to enroll and verify the work eligibility of all employees through the E-Verify program; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations; require the commissioner to provide any order or decision that a subcontractor has misclassified an employee as an independent contractor to the Department of Worker's Claims, the Department of Revenue, and the Office of Unemployment Insurance no later than 60 days after the order or decision; amend KRS 337.990 to establish penalties for violations; amend KRS 45A.145 to prohibit subcontractors or any corporate officer or shareholder that owns at least 10% of the outstanding stock of the corporation with 2 or more violations in 5 years from contracting with the state for 2 years; create new sections of KRS Chapters 341 and 342 and amend KRS 131.190 to require the Department of Revenue, the Office of Unemployment Insurance, and the Department of Workers' Claims to provide one another with any assessment or orders arising out of the misclassification of an employee; create a new section of KRS Chapter 337 to require the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet to develop a training program relating to employee misclassification; provide that Sections 1 to 8, 13, and 14 of this Act may be cited as the Kentucky Workers Fairness Act; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027.

Apply to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraint on the federal government, limit the powers and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress; direct the Secretary of State to send copies of the joint resolution to certain federal and state officials; state that the application should be continuing until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the states have made applications on the subject.

Amend KRS 164.7874 to include the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy to the definition of "participating institution" under the Kentucky Education Excellence Scholarship program if the academy enters into the necessary agreements with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to define "local official"; require the Transportation Cabinet to expand issuance of renewal and duplicate operator's licenses and personal identification cards in any county in which a permanent regional licensing office is not located by establishing a system between the Transportation Cabinet and a local official to issue renewal and duplicate operator's licenses and personal identification cards for a $25 convenience fee in addition to any other applicable fees; allow counties to enter into an interlocal agreement to share personnel and equipment for issuance; require the Transportation Cabinet to report to the Legislative Research Commission annually on the number of renewal and duplicate operator's licenses and personal identification cards issued under the Act and any effect on wait times at the permanent regional licensing offices; amend KRS 186.531 to remove the 4 year identity document option; amend KRS 186.410, 186.535, and 186.579 to conform; repeal KRS 186.4101, relating to license renewal and reconciliation of 4-year and 8-year license renewal periods; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 344 to require employers that mandate employee immunization to allow exceptions based on religious belief or medical contraindication; provide sample form for employee affirmation; establish which health care providers can support a medical exemption; require notice of exemptions; establish civil cause of action for violations and a claim under workers' compensation; amend KRS 344.030 to define term; amend KRS 344.040 to make it an unlawful practice for employers to require immunizations as a condition of employment from employees who hold sincere religious beliefs against immunization or for whom immunization would be harmful to his or her health; make technical corrections.

Amend KRS 304.17A-164 to define terms; prohibit insurers and administrators from requiring insureds to pay cost sharing for a prescription drug that is greater than the cash price; require insurers and administrators to count the amount paid for a covered prescription drug towards the insured's cost-sharing if certain requirements are met; establish requirements for insurers, administrators, and pharmacies for submission of cash price paid by an insured; exempt a state employee health plan from counting third-party payments unless a cash price was paid that is less than the plan's negotiated price; provide for construction of cost-sharing requirements; amend KRS 304.17C-125, 304.38A-115, 164.2871, and 18A.225 to apply cost-sharing requirements to limited health plans, self-insured state postsecondary education institution employer group health plans, and the state employee health plan; create a new section of KRS Chapter 315 to require pharmacies to comply with cost-sharing requirements; provide that cost-sharing requirements apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after effective date; EFFECTIVE, January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 75 lowers Kentucky's age requirement for carrying concealed deadly weapons without a license from 21 to 18 years old. This change directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds who previously could not carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill amends existing law to allow these individuals to carry concealed weapons in locations where licensed holders are permitted, while maintaining all other requirements like background checks, firearm training courses, and prohibitions under federal law. It does not eliminate the license system, as permits remain available for those who prefer them or need to carry in locations where concealed carry without a license is restricted.

Amend KRS 154.15-010 to remove the definition of "executive director" of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA); amend KRS 154.15-020 to administratively attach the KCNA to the Finance and Administration Cabinet; remove references to the executive director and the advisory group of the KCNA; abolish the KCNA advisory group; remove references to KCNA staff and require the executive director of the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) to assign COT personnel to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the KCNA; require the secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet, the Treasurer, and the executive director of the Commonwealth Office of Technology serve as ex officio members on the board of directors for any nonprofit organization incorporated to carry out activities associated with the responsibilities of the KCNA or its board; amend KRS 154.15-030 to remove all current members of the KCNA board except for the representative designated by the Center for Rural Development and replace them with the chief information officer of the Department of Education, who shall serve as chair, the Attorney General, the Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, and the Treasurer, or their designees; amend KRS 42.726 to add carrying out the functions and responsibilities of the KCNA to the roles and duties of the COT; amend KRS 42.732 to remove the executive director of the KCNA from the Kentucky Information Technology Advisory Council; amend KRS 12.020, 12.023, and 42.014 to conform; require that on the effective date of the Act, all functions and responsibilities previously undertaken by KCNA personnel shall be transferred to existing COT personnel; require all records, files, or documents previously maintained by KCNA personnel to be transferred to the COT; require that the position of executive director of the KCNA shall be terminated on the effective date of the Act; allow the executive director of COT to determine on or before June 30,2026, which staff previous employed by KCNA shall be retained and employed by COT; EMERGENCY.