Kentucky

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to require the Department of Kentucky State Police, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, to operate a pilot project from September 1, 2027, to June 30, 2029, to provide instruction permit testing in 1 public high school in each congressional district in the Commonwealth; set requirements for the pilot project; require that the state police report to the Legislative Research Commission by October 31, 2027, and annually thereafter as long as the pilot project continues, to provide data and the pilot project's effect on existing testing efforts.

Amend KRS 441.540 to insert gender-neutral language; make technical corrections.

Amend various sections of KRS 387.500 to 387.770 to change the term "ward" to "protected person"; allow the respondent the right to retain private counsel; set out the respondent's right to an attorney who does not act as a guardian ad litem; increase maximum allowable hourly rate for court-appointed attorneys; create new sections of KRS 387.500 to 387.770 to allow the court to address the needs of marital parties after the appointment of a guardian or conservator; allow the court to appoint a guardian ad litem for the respondent in certain circumstances; amend KRS 216B.303 to conform.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 383 to define terms; state that a tenant has a right of first refusal to purchase a rental property from the owner of the property; require the owner to notify a tenant prior to listing a rental property for sale or accepting an offer on the property; establish timelines for a tenant to exercise the right of first refusal; specify circumstances under which a tenant's right of first refusal may be waived; establish penalty for violation.

Direct the Department of Employee Insurance to study and report to the Legislative Research Commission on employer and employee cost sharing trends, health insurance expenditures and trends, health plan governance models, and administrative processes and costs associated with the Kentucky Employees' Health Plan and other state employee plans across the country; require the department to provide the report and a survey of other state employee health plans to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2027.

Amend KRS 224.73-100 to make grammatical and technical corrections.

Amend KRS 278.506, relating to the transportation of natural gas, to make a technical correction.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 525 to define terms; require peace officers and animal control officers to serve notice of seizure of an animal subjected to cruelty; create procedure for seizing agencies to petition a court to order owner to pay cost of care for a seized animal; establish penalties; amend KRS 258.215 to require owners to be responsible for cost of care of an impounded animal.

Amend KRS 224A.300 to ensure administrative regulations are promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A; make grammatical and technical corrections.

Recognize and honor Norton Children's for its commitment to serving children and families.

Amend KRS 205.1783 to define terms; require the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to exclude accessory foods such as candy, soft drinks, and specialty coffee drinks from being purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as SNAP; require the request to be resubmitted as instructed by the General Assembly; require the cabinet to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to allow the purchase of hot foods utilizing SNAP benefits; require the request be resubmitted as instructed by the General Assembly; specify waiver development and reporting requirements.

Recognize March 17, 2026, as Profound Autism Day in Kentucky.

Amend KRS 304.5-150 to include gender-neutral language.

Support the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' special pastoral message on immigration; affirm the protection of houses of worship, schools, and hospitals from immigration enforcement action within the Commonwealth.

Amend KRS 507A.010 to allow prosecution of a pregnant woman under KRS Chapter 507A, relating to fetal homicide.

Amend KRS 217.015, relating to the Kentucky Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, to add whole or ground roasted coffee beans to the definition of "home-based processor."

Amend KRS 164.515 to make the amount of tuition waived for the spouse or child of designated permanently disabled veterans a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.2841 to make the amount tuition waived for the survivor of police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter killed in line of duty last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.2842 to make the amount of tuition waived for the survivor of police officer, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter permanently and totally disabled in line of duty a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.507 to make the amount of tuition waived for the non-married spouse or child of a deceased veteran a last-dollar scholarship that shall not exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees less any state or federal grants; amend KRS 164.020 to delete the tuition waiver for employees and faculty of state and locally operated secondary area technology center staff.

Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Joseph H. Mattingly, Jr.

Commemorate the 80th Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments Southern Office.

Amend KRS 95A.292 to allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39F to direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program; provide that the Act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.

Amend KRS 139.010 to define "diaper"; amend KRS 139.480 to exempt all diapers from the sales and use tax.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 95 to define "city" and "firefighter"; provide that cities may employ retired firefighters provided the firefighter participated in the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund or retired pursuant to KRS Chapter 95, retired with at least 20 years of service credit with no administrative charges pending, and met the separation of employment requirements so that retirement benefits from the systems administered by the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) were not voided; provide that retired firefighters employed by a city shall continue to receive the benefits they were eligible to receive upon retirement, but shall not accrue any additional retirement or health benefits during reemployment except that a city may authorize health coverage by taking legislative action; provide that retirement and any health contributions shall not be paid by the city to the KPPA on a retired firefighter who is reemployed under the Act; provide that individuals employed under the Act may be employed for a term not to exceed 1 year, which may be renewed at the discretion and need of the city; establish limits on the number of reemployed firefighters a city may hire under the program; make technical corrections; amend KRS 61.637, 61.702, 78.5536, and 78.5540 to conform.

Recognizing The Links, Incorporated Day at the State Capitol on February 26, 2026.

Amend KRS 320.410 to make technical clarification.

Amend KRS 161.120 to modify disclosure requirements for certain complaints; remove requirement for a conference between the staff of the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) and a certificate holder after a determination of sufficient evidence; restructure provisions concerning written admonishments by EPSB and referrals to hearings; provide a timeline for EPSB hearings; modify the right of a certificate holder to request an expedited hearing; require the hearing to be conducted before a hearing officer who is a licensed attorney secured from the Office of the Attorney General; change the timeline for a superintendent's duty to report; amend KRS 160.380 to allow a superintendent to contact a prior employers and the EPSB concerning an applicant for a certified position; establish information that shall be provided to a requesting superintendent; provide record retention requirements; grant liability protections for qualifying disclosures.