Legislative roundup: In a last-minute flurry, 100+ bills were sent to governor's desk; legislators back April 14

A new state budget and major reforms to Medicaid, gaming and child care all received a final tap of the gavel this week as lawmakers navigated a two-day marathon of House and Senate proceedings and sent more than 100 bills to the governor's desk.

The convoy of legislation focused on dozens of prominent issues, including grooming, firearms, elections, literacy, health care, criminal justice and gubernatorial pardons, among many others. Significant measures on the governance structure and conduct within Kentucky school districts also won final passage.

The governor now has 10 days to sign or veto bills or allow them to become law without his signature. Lawmakers will remain gaveled out during that period – referred to as the "veto recess" – and reconvene for the final two session days on April 14 and 15 to override vetoes and pass any legislation that remains on the docket. (Bills passed in these last two days will not, however, be veto-proof.)

A House and Senate conference committee kicked off the week Monday by unveiling a final deal on the state's next two-year spending plan, which includes budgets for the executive, judicial and legislative branches of state government. The package also includes a transportation budget and a blueprint for upcoming road projects.

The executive branch budget, by far the largest of the three branches, focuses on disciplined fiscal management and prioritizing needs over wants, according to supporters of the plan. Some critics, however, raised concerns about funding for Medicaid, juvenile justice and other areas before the bill cleared the chamber floors Wednesday.

Meanwhile, lawmakers struck a collegial note on another major bill Wednesday that would implement a broad overhaul of Kentucky State University.

Senate Bill 185 would transform KSU into a four-year residential polytechnical institution, emphasizing technical, industry-based applied learning. KSU would continue to provide liberal arts courses aligned with the state's workforce needs and the institution's historical mission as the state's only public historically Black college and university.

Other provisions aim to stabilize the university's finances and give the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education additional oversight as KSU implements the transition.

The final version of the bill advanced through both chambers with broad support and was sent to the governor.

Lawmakers also reached an accord on a sweeping bill related to gaming in the final hours before the veto recess.

House Bill 904 would implement a broad reform in Kentucky's wagering and gaming laws. Among many provisions, HB 904 would increase the age to participate in sports wagering from 18 to 21 and prohibit anyone on the attorney general's child support arrearage list from betting on online platforms.

The bill would also create a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework around fantasy sports and forbid negative outcome bets – also known as "under" bets – on college athletes that play on in-state teams. Another section would prevent fantasy operators or betting companies from contracting with a prediction market that operates in Kentucky.

HB 904 would also give racetracks the option to offer fixed-odds wagering to help address public perception around computer-assisted bets that change the odds suddenly before a race. Additionally, it would create a purse stabilization fund to ensure that any wagers from fixed odds still support the horse industry.

Other sections relate to tote system modernization, charitable middlemen restrictions, and charitable gaming governance, fees and caps.

HB 904 now heads to the governor along with a battery of other bills.

Here's a look at some of the measures that won final passage this week…

Grooming – House Bill 4 would criminalize efforts to manipulate a minor into sexual contact with an adult, a practice known as "grooming."

School Bus Safety – House Bill 7 would allow school districts to install traffic cameras on school buses to help enforce laws against stop-arm traffic violations.

License Plate Readers – House Bill 58 would limit the use of readers to largely public safety purposes, such as regulating parking, controlling access to secured areas, deterring crime and conducting criminal investigations. The state Transportation Cabinet could also use readers for toll and revenue collection and certain enforcement needs. HB 58 also would require data captured by automatic license plate readers to be deleted after 90 days, with limited exceptions for criminal investigations and other needs.

Firearms Liability – House Bill 78 would codify federal standards outlined in the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005. It would prevent firearms manufacturers and sellers from facing lawsuits when guns are used in the commission of a crime.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners – House Bill 134 aims to expand the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners across Kentucky. It calls for a statewide coordinator to recruit nurses, facilitate training and improve collaboration between hospitals, law enforcement and rape crisis centers.

Elections – House Bill 139 was amended to include provisions from three other elections bills. Among other goals, the final legislation aims to remove felons and non-citizens from appearing on voting rolls in Kentucky, and it would align Kentucky's campaign contribution limits to match the federal limits. It would also remove Social Security cards and food stamp cards from the list of secondary identification options that voters can use at the polls if they do not have a standard photo ID.

Literacy and School Employee Misconduct – House Bill 253 would end the use of the three-cuing method, a system used to teach reading, in Kentucky schools by the 2029-30 academic year. The bill seeks to replace that model with evidence-based reading approaches that emphasize techniques like phonics, vocabulary and fluency. The latest version of the bill also includes a provision that would prohibit schools from entering into non-disclosure agreements with employees related to abusive misconduct involving a minor or student. Another section calls on schools to share information on disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct when applicants are considered for a job at another school.

Alternative Diplomas – House Bill 562 would create a new alternative diploma option for high school students with intellectual disabilities, allowing the students to be considered graduates rather than dropouts. It also calls for the state Department of Workforce Development to create a one-stop shop that identifies all employers in Kentucky that will recognize the new alternative diploma as a valid high school diploma.

Provisional Physician Licenses – Senate Bill 137 would allow the state Board of Medical Licensure to issue a provisional license to a physician who completed residency in a foreign country and can meet other requirements. The applicant would need to provide an offer of employment from a licensed health care provider located in an underserved area.

Impeding a First Responder – Senate Bill 104 seeks to prevent interference or harassment of first responders. It would create a 25-foot safe zone around police, firefighters and others while they are performing their official duties. Individuals who remain in the zone could face criminal charges if they ignore an initial warning to move back and intend to impede, threaten or harass a first responder.

Fishing in Private Waters – Senate Bill 39 would exempt private landowners from statewide fishing regulations related to creel, possession, size or method while fishing on their own property. It also clarifies that Kentucky residents are exempt from licensure while fishing on their own land even if they don't live on that land.

Prostheses and Orthoses Coverage – Senate Bill 97 seeks to expand existing prosthetics and orthotics insurance coverage to include devices designed specifically for physical activity such as running, swimming or biking.

Alternative Sentencing – Senate Bill 122 aims to keep families intact when a parent is convicted of a felony. It would require Kentucky courts to consider alternative sentences for certain nonviolent felony convictions when the defendant is a primary caretaker of a dependent child.

Prior Authorization – House Bill 176 seeks to streamline the prior authorization process for health insurance claims by creating exceptions for certain health care providers.

Real Estate Fraud – House Bill 264 seeks to combat real estate scams. It would create a legal presumption of fraud when someone advertises residential or commercial property for sale, lease or rent without ownership or authority.

Child Pornography – House Bill 366 would expand child pornography prohibitions to include computer-generated images of a minor. It would also require someone convicted of possessing or viewing child pornography to serve 85% of their criminal sentence.

Prison Education Programs – House Bill 5 would establish the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Prison Education Program, seeking to reduce recidivism and support workforce development. KCTCS would partner with the state Department of Corrections to build and operate a vocational training campus at Northpoint Training Center.

Eating Disorders – House Bill 169 calls on health insurance plans that provide behavioral or mental health care coverage to also provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of feeding or eating disorders.

Mental Health Care – House Bill 178 aims to support the psychiatric collaborative care model, allowing primary care providers, care managers and consulting psychiatrists to work together on a patient's mental health care.

Eminent Domain – House Bill 542 seeks to improve communications and transparency between landowners and officials seeking to condemn property.

Veteran Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – House Bill 369 would create provisions in state law that make veterans eligible to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in response to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Child Welfare – House Bill 778 proposes multiple changes to Kentucky law related to child welfare. It seeks to ensure safe and adequate foster care placements and that children in foster care are not placed with someone on the sex offender registry. Also under HB 778, child injuries caused by ingestion or inhalation of a controlled substance would be included in the definition of neglect, and neglect would be added to the child abuse statute.

Child Care Modernization – House Bill 6 proposes a broad overhaul of the regulatory framework for Kentucky's child care sector. Specifically, it seeks to modernize the system, enhance data collection, and improve access and quality of services. The bill was amended to include other provisions that would provide more flexibility to state agencies that oversee Kentucky's child care industry, allowing officials to consider certain mitigating factors before issuing a plan of correction, suspension or revocation of a license to a child care center. Another provision calls on the University of Kentucky to establish the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child Care Incentive Pilot Program, which would gauge the effectiveness of using financial incentives to encourage kindergarten readiness.

Stalking – House Bill 521 seeks to modernize state stalking laws to align with contemporary legal standards and better address behaviors that occur through electronic communications and social media.

Interstate Compacts – House Bill 36 would allow Kentucky to participate in interstate licensure compacts for respiratory therapists, athletic trainers and dieticians. The goal is to make it easier for people in these professions to locate to and practice in Kentucky.

Logan's Law – House Bill 422 would clarify the insanity defense in criminal law. It would also prevent juries and courts from applying the insanity defense inconsistently when returning verdicts for multiple counts arising from a single course of conduct. In addition, HB 422 would make repeat violent offenders ineligible for mandatory reentry supervision. The bill was filed after Ronald Exantus, the man who killed 6-year-old Logan Tipton in 2015, was released early from prison last year on mandatory reentry supervision.

Virtual Currency Kiosks – Senate Bill 189 seeks to combat virtual currency scams in Kentucky by creating a licensing and regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks.

School District Governance – Senate Bill 1 would effectively revamp the governance structure of Jefferson County Public Schools by creating more specific responsibilities for superintendents and boards of education in large, complex school districts. The legislation also seeks to lay out a legal justification for why the general assembly has a compelling interest in intervening in large districts like Jefferson County. It follows a similar measure that passed the legislature in 2022, but was later struck down in the courts.

School Communications – House Bill 67 seeks to clarify a law adopted last year regarding communications between school employees and students.

Gubernatorial Pardons – Senate Bill 10 proposes to amend the state constitution and limit the governor's ability to grant pardons and commutations for 90 days surrounding a gubernatorial election.

School Leadership – Senate Bill 4 would create a new training program that provides leadership development and mentorship opportunities for new school principals in Kentucky. Under the final version of the bill, an employee of any Kentucky school district could not run for a school board seat in a large school district. The legislation would also reduce the number of school board members in Jefferson County from seven to five. SB 4 also includes provisions to boost civics education at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville.

Ibogaine Research – Senate Bill 77 calls for creation of an ibogaine research and intellectual property fund to be administered by the Department of Agriculture. It would allow the department to partner with a drug developer to conduct clinical trials on using ibogaine to treat substance use disorders and other neurological and mental health conditions.

Postsecondary Employment – House Bill 490 allows the governing boards of public postsecondary institutions to remove faculty members for bona fide financial reasons such as financial exigency, low enrollment or misalignment of revenue and costs.

Kentucky Medicaid Reform Act – House Bill 2 seeks to align Kentucky's Medicaid program with the One Big Beautiful Big Act that Congress passed last year. Among many provisions, the bill would implement federal community engagement requirements for certain able-bodied adults. Other sections of the bill address cost-sharing, eligibility reviews, non-emergency transportation services, accountability for managed care organizations and delivery of dental services. HB 2 also aims to enhance transparency by creating a performance dashboard and requiring regular program audits. Supporters say the goal is to streamline operations, improve outcomes, combat fraud and ensure that the program prioritizes those Kentuckians who most need services. Lawmakers amended the final version of the bill to better align with the federal implementation timelines.

Medicaid Delivery Study – Senate Concurrent Resolution 9 calls for a study of accountable care models used for Medicaid programs in other states. The study would also look at opportunities to implement such a model in Kentucky through a pilot program. The effort seeks to control costs and improve health outcomes.

Death Penalty Regulations – Senate Bill 251 would give the Kentucky Department of Corrections the option to implement execution protocols and procedures through internal policy, memorandum or similar action. Right now, the department is required to promulgate administrative regulations to prescribe and implement execution protocols. Supporters say the change could help resolve long term delays surrounding Kentucky's death penalty regulations.

Food is Medicine Initiatives – Senate Joint Resolution 23 would declare Kentucky as a "Food is Medicine" state and direct state agencies to advance Food is Medicine initiatives.

Public Utilities – Senate Bill 8 seeks to revamp the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Among many provisions, it would expand the commission from three to five members and establish professional qualification standards for members. SB 8 also stipulates that the commission is an independent department with sole discretion as to which functions are deemed necessary.

Two days remain in the 2026 legislative session Kentuckians can track the action through Legislative Record Webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.

Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the general assembly's toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.

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