Kentucky

Honor the 10th anniversary of 2026 Regular Session Senate Bill 228.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 216B to allow certain hospitals licensed under that chapter to establish hospital police departments; provide each hospital police officer with full general police powers, including the power to arrest, in performing his or her duties; specify the qualifications each officer shall have at the time of his or her employment; provide for the appointment or promotion to the ranks and grades of the department; prohibit persons from falsely representing themselves to be an officer; establish a citizen complaint and investigation process for complaints against an officer alleging misconduct.

Amend KRS 100.123, relating to regional planning units, to make a technical correction.

Propose to amend Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances, including as punishment for a crime; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Create a new section of KRS 311 to adopt the Athletic Trainer Compact; declare the intent and purpose of the compact; define terms; establish conditions under which an individual may

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 310 to enact and enter into the Dietitian Licensure Compact with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact; declare the purpose of the compact; define terms; establish participation requirements; recognize licensure privilege and establish requirements; set requirements for transferring a home state license; designate home state licensure for active members of the military; establish penalties and adverse actions against a licensee; establish a joint government agency, create membership rules, establish voting requirements, and permit the government agency to establish rules and perform duties; require the compact commission to create a data system and outline the requirements; permit the executive and judicial branches within each state to enforce the compact; establish dispute resolution and outline termination procedures.

Amend KRS 70.260, 70.261, 70.262, 70.263, 70.267, 70.270 and 70.273 to include certified court security officers employed by sheriffs within the purview of deputy sheriff merit boards.

Amend KRS 151B.190 to include gender-neutral language.

Amend KRS 387.510 to amend definitions; amend KRS 387.710 relating to filing of inventory by conservators, to provide that a limited conservator or conservator shall file a verified report and financial account annually, unless the limited conservator or conservator is the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, in which case the verified report and financial account shall be filed biennially; require the limited conservator or conservator to include in a verified report filed with the court whether the conservator or limited conservator delegated power to any other person; amend KRS 387.740 relating to emergency powers of the court, to provide that the authority of a limited guardian or conservator appointed on an emergency basis shall be time limited; amend various sections of KRS to conform.

Amend KRS 198B.050 to require that building code standards for 2, 3, and 4 family homes not be more stringent than those for single-family homes; amend KRS 198B.060 to apply exemption for single-family homes to 2, 3, and 4 family homes; permit third-party plan review and inspections under new procedures; create a new section of KRS Chapter 198B to define terms; require regulatory authorities to provide information to prospective applicants regarding requirements to apply for a permit; require a regulatory authority to inform an applicant of whether the application is complete within 3 days and include whether the regulatory authority is able to perform plan review and inspection within specified time limits; require a regulatory authority to conduct plan review within 14 days of receipt of a complete application and inspections within 5 days of any request for an inspection being made; provide for circumstances in which deadlines may be extended; permit an applicant to use a qualifying third-party inspector; set out circumstances under which a regulatory authority may collect fees depending on use of a third-party inspector; set out what a third-party inspector may review and set out qualifications and requirements the third-party inspector must meet; require a regulatory authority to issue a permit within 1 business day of the completion of required plan reviews and inspections associated with an otherwise complete application; state that any ordinance, rule, or regulation contrary is void and unenforceable; state that a regulatory authority may issue a stop work order if a condition of a project constitute an immediate threat to public safety and welfare; establish immunity for the regulatory authority for action of an applicant or third-party inspector; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 199 to define terms; create the Kentucky Kindergarten Readiness Performance-Based Child-Care Incentive Pilot Program; require the University of Kentucky to operate the pilot program; establish the purpose and directives of the pilot program; establish completion date and reporting requirements.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense or subject to a court order to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan, and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge of the child from inpatient admission under specific circumstances.

Amend KRS 38.030 to define "Commonwealth emergency response pay" and entitle Kentucky National Guard members to receive Commonwealth emergency response pay when called to state active duty service when an emergency is declared by the Governor; amend KRS 38.010 to conform.

Create a new section of Subchapter 20 of KRS Chapter 154 to establish the high-growth loan program and high-growth loan fund to be administered by the Cabinet for Economic Development; Define terms; specify the program requirements and eligible uses of fund moneys.

Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies after completion of imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Amend KRS 154.12-205 to include gender-neutral language.

Amend KRS 100.283, relating to the approval of subdivision plats, to make a technical correction.

Amend KRS 243.033 to modify alcoholic beverage caterer duties and privileges; remove caterer Sunday sales restrictions; prohibit the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from imposing or attempting to enforce minimum customer thresholds or maximum event limits for caterers; amend KRS 243.090 to require the department to approve or deny a license application within 45 days after receipt of the application; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 95A to establish the volunteer fire department emergency medical expenses fund to be administered by the Kentucky Fire Commission; establish use of fund; authorize the Kentucky Fire Commission to promulgate administrative regulations.

Amend KRS 200.470 to insert gender-neutral language.

Amend KRS 67.035, relating to branch offices of county clerks and sheriffs, to make technical changes.

Amend KRS 154.32-010, relating to the Kentucky Business Investment Program, to add laboratory equipment, computer servers, software, capitalized leases, and leasehold improvements directly related to research and development, headquarters, high-technology operations, or service sector facilities to the definitions of "eligible costs" and "start-up costs," respectively.

Amend KRS 620.180, relating to child in out-of-home care, to insert gender-neutral language.

Amend KRS 154.12-100, relating to the economic development fund, to make a technical correction.

Amend KRS 199.430 to insert gender-neutral language.