Kentucky
2026 Regular Session·1,718 bills·Adjourned April 15, 2026
Track legislation moving through Kentucky. Browse 1,718 bills and resolutions during the 2026 Regular Session, each with a plain-language summary, current status from introduction to enactment, sponsors, and voting history.
Bills
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 117 to define "large public university campus"; require county boards of elections to conduct election day and no-excuse in-person absentee voting on large public university campuses; provide that this Act shall be known as the Right to Vote at College Campuses Act.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 117 to define "large public university campus"; require county boards of elections to conduct election day and no-excuse in-person absentee voting on large public university campuses; provide that this Act shall be known as the Right to Vote at College Campuses Act.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Robert E. "Bob" Purnell, Sr.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Robert E. "Bob" Purnell, Sr.
Amend KRS 158.196 to require the incorporation of instruction on the Civil Rights movement in the social studies academic standards for elementary through high school; specify minimum requirements; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.
Amend KRS 158.196 to require the incorporation of instruction on the Civil Rights movement in the social studies academic standards for elementary through high school; specify minimum requirements; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.
Amend KRS 29A.170 to increase juror pay from $5 per day to $15 per day and require that sequestered jurors be paid an additional $15 per day; amend KRS 32.011 to add local governmental units that may provide financial support for the court system and the offices of Commonwealth's attorneys serving that local community.
Amend KRS 29A.170 to increase juror pay from $5 per day to $15 per day and require that sequestered jurors be paid an additional $15 per day; amend KRS 32.011 to add local governmental units that may provide financial support for the court system and the offices of Commonwealth's attorneys serving that local community.
Amend KRS 334A.020 to redefine "practice of audiology" and define "sound processor."
Amend KRS 334A.020 to redefine "practice of audiology" and define "sound processor."
Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to require candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, member of the General Assembly, any justice or judge of the Kentucky Court of Justice, county officer, or any other statewide, judicial, legislative, or local elected office to be a citizen of the United States, and not a citizen or national of any foreign state or country, at the time of their election or appointment for the duration of their term, and for 18 years immediately preceding election or appointment, in order to hold each respective office; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.
Propose to create a new section of the Constitution of Kentucky to require candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, member of the General Assembly, any justice or judge of the Kentucky Court of Justice, county officer, or any other statewide, judicial, legislative, or local elected office to be a citizen of the United States, and not a citizen or national of any foreign state or country, at the time of their election or appointment for the duration of their term, and for 18 years immediately preceding election or appointment, in order to hold each respective office; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.
Amend KRS 61.315 to include additional cancers which, when they are the cause of death of a firefighter, would make the firefighter eligible for death benefits; make a technical correction.
Amend KRS 61.315 to include additional cancers which, when they are the cause of death of a firefighter, would make the firefighter eligible for death benefits; make a technical correction.
Amend KRS 160.145 to expand existing definitions and define "private electronic communication" and "qualified school volunteer"; limit the scope of unauthorized electronic communication to private electronic communication and exclude designated types of communication from the scope of the requirement to obtain written parental consent prior to communicating outside of the traceable communication system; limit the scope of the school volunteers subject to this section to qualified school volunteers; specify that the requirement to obtain written parental consent only applies to students enrolled within the same school district as the school district employee or qualified school volunteer; permit a local school district more flexibility in disciplinary actions arising from a violation of this section; permit a written parental consent form to designate more than 1 school district employee or qualified school volunteer; provide that the written consent may be revoked by the parent who filed the consent; require notice of the revocation to be sent to the identified school district employee or qualified school volunteer; prohibit a school or school district from refusing to accept parental consent forms; prohibit requiring parental consent forms under this section as a requirement for a student to participate in an academic, athletic, or extracurricular opportunity; provide an emergency exception to permit a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent if the individual discloses the communication after the fact; permit a school district to reconsider allowing previously prohibited volunteers; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to unauthorized electronic communication or misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school district applicants to disclose being the subject of any disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months relating to abusive conduct and consent to a reference check; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (ESPB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require all school district applicants to list all schools of previous and current employment on the application; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; require certified nonpublic school personnel to have a state criminal background check every 5 years; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; require a certified nonpublic school to conduct reference checks on all applicants; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo every 5 years; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; require that an allegation of abusive conduct be reported pursuant to KRS 620.030; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform; provide that Section 2 may be cited as Erin's Law; EMERGENCY.
Amend KRS 160.145 to expand existing definitions and define "private electronic communication" and "qualified school volunteer"; limit the scope of unauthorized electronic communication to private electronic communication and exclude designated types of communication from the scope of the requirement to obtain written parental consent prior to communicating outside of the traceable communication system; limit the scope of the school volunteers subject to this section to qualified school volunteers; specify that the requirement to obtain written parental consent only applies to students enrolled within the same school district as the school district employee or qualified school volunteer; permit a local school district more flexibility in disciplinary actions arising from a violation of this section; permit a written parental consent form to designate more than 1 school district employee or qualified school volunteer; provide that the written consent may be revoked by the parent who filed the consent; require notice of the revocation to be sent to the identified school district employee or qualified school volunteer; prohibit a school or school district from refusing to accept parental consent forms; prohibit requiring parental consent forms under this section as a requirement for a student to participate in an academic, athletic, or extracurricular opportunity; provide an emergency exception to permit a school district employee or qualified school volunteer to communicate electronically without prior written parental consent if the individual discloses the communication after the fact; permit a school district to reconsider allowing previously prohibited volunteers; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to unauthorized electronic communication or misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school district applicants to disclose being the subject of any disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months relating to abusive conduct and consent to a reference check; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (ESPB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require all school district applicants to list all schools of previous and current employment on the application; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; require certified nonpublic school personnel to have a state criminal background check every 5 years; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; require a certified nonpublic school to conduct reference checks on all applicants; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo every 5 years; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; require that an allegation of abusive conduct be reported pursuant to KRS 620.030; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform; provide that Section 2 may be cited as Erin's Law; EMERGENCY.
Amend KRS 61.530 to insert gender-neutral language.
Amend KRS 140.070 and 140.080 to include a foster child as a Class A beneficiary and to delete language that only applies to deaths occurring prior to July 1, 1995, or between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 1998; apply to estates of decedents who die on or after August 1, 2026.
Amend KRS 140.070 and 140.080 to include a foster child as a Class A beneficiary and to delete language that only applies to deaths occurring prior to July 1, 1995, or between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 1998; apply to estates of decedents who die on or after August 1, 2026.
Amend KRS 511.010 to define terms; amend KRS 511.070 to expand the elements of criminal trespass in the second degree to include knowingly entering or remaining in a workplace while engaging in disruptive or threatening behavior where notice against trespass is given; establish that a second or subsequent criminal trespass in the second degree offense within 3 years is a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 511.080 to establish that a second or subsequent criminal trespass in the third degree offense within 3 years is a Class B misdemeanor.
Amend KRS 511.010 to define terms; amend KRS 511.070 to expand the elements of criminal trespass in the second degree to include knowingly entering or remaining in a workplace while engaging in disruptive or threatening behavior where notice against trespass is given; establish that a second or subsequent criminal trespass in the second degree offense within 3 years is a Class A misdemeanor; amend KRS 511.080 to establish that a second or subsequent criminal trespass in the third degree offense within 3 years is a Class B misdemeanor.
Amend KRS 304.17A-164 to define and redefine terms; establish cost-sharing requirements for prescription drugs; require rebates to be passed through; establish confidentiality requirements for the rebate information; create a new section of KRS 365.880 to 365.900 to provide that the actual amount of rebates received is a trade secret; provide that compliance with prescription drug cost-sharing and rebate requirements shall not be in violation of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act; amend KRS 304.17C-125, 304.38A-115, 18A.225, and 164.2871 to apply the cost-sharing and rebate requirements for prescription drugs to limited health service benefit plans, limited health service organizations, the state employee health plan, and self-insured employer group health plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution; apply provisions to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.
Amend KRS 304.17A-164 to define and redefine terms; establish cost-sharing requirements for prescription drugs; require rebates to be passed through; establish confidentiality requirements for the rebate information; create a new section of KRS 365.880 to 365.900 to provide that the actual amount of rebates received is a trade secret; provide that compliance with prescription drug cost-sharing and rebate requirements shall not be in violation of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act; amend KRS 304.17C-125, 304.38A-115, 18A.225, and 164.2871 to apply the cost-sharing and rebate requirements for prescription drugs to limited health service benefit plans, limited health service organizations, the state employee health plan, and self-insured employer group health plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution; apply provisions to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.
Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to provide that every citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years old and who has resided in Kentucky for at least 30 days before an election shall be entitled to vote in the precinct of his or her residence; automatically restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies upon completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole and automatically restore their civil rights 5 years after completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.
Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to provide that every citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years old and who has resided in Kentucky for at least 30 days before an election shall be entitled to vote in the precinct of his or her residence; automatically restore the voting rights of persons convicted of certain felonies upon completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole and automatically restore their civil rights 5 years after completion of their imprisonment, probation, or parole; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.
Amend KRS 416.670 to establish the right of a landowner to repurchase condemned property that was not used after the completion of a highway project.
Amend KRS 416.670 to establish the right of a landowner to repurchase condemned property that was not used after the completion of a highway project.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define "area of the racing facility" and "racing facility"; provide civil immunity from suit to racing facilities regarding nuisance and taking actions if the racing facility was lawfully constructed before the surrounding real property owner either purchased the real property or constructed any building in the area of the racing facility; EMERGENCY.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define "area of the racing facility" and "racing facility"; provide civil immunity from suit to racing facilities regarding nuisance and taking actions if the racing facility was lawfully constructed before the surrounding real property owner either purchased the real property or constructed any building in the area of the racing facility; EMERGENCY.
Recognize January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Recognize January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Recognize January 25 to 31, 2026, as Physician Anesthesiologist Week.
Recognize January 25 to 31, 2026, as Physician Anesthesiologist Week.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to authorize participation in a public school interscholastic extracurricular activity by an at-home private school student; establish criteria for participation; require a parent, guardian, or teacher of an at-home private school student participating in a public school interscholastic activity to verify the student's academic progress; declare a public school student who does not make academic progress at a public school and withdraws and enters an at-home private school program ineligible for participation in an interscholastic activity for the remainder of the school year; provide that the Act may be cited as the Play Fair Kentucky Act.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to authorize participation in a public school interscholastic extracurricular activity by an at-home private school student; establish criteria for participation; require a parent, guardian, or teacher of an at-home private school student participating in a public school interscholastic activity to verify the student's academic progress; declare a public school student who does not make academic progress at a public school and withdraws and enters an at-home private school program ineligible for participation in an interscholastic activity for the remainder of the school year; provide that the Act may be cited as the Play Fair Kentucky Act.
The Chief Justice's recommended Judicial Branch Budget: Detail Part I, Operating Budget; detail Part II, Capital Projects Budget; detail Part III, General Provisions; detail Part IV, Budget Reduction or Surplus Expenditure Plan; APPROPRIATION.
The Chief Justice's recommended Judicial Branch Budget: Detail Part I, Operating Budget; detail Part II, Capital Projects Budget; detail Part III, General Provisions; detail Part IV, Budget Reduction or Surplus Expenditure Plan; APPROPRIATION.
Recognize January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Recognize January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Amend KRS 68.180, 68.185, 160.482, and 160.607, relating to local occupational license fees, taxes, and limitations, to increase certain population thresholds from 300,000 to 500,000; EFFECTIVE August 1, 2026.
Amend KRS 68.180, 68.185, 160.482, and 160.607, relating to local occupational license fees, taxes, and limitations, to increase certain population thresholds from 300,000 to 500,000; EFFECTIVE August 1, 2026.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Dixie P. Hibbs.
Adjourn in honor and loving memory of Dixie P. Hibbs.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish a refundable qualified rent payment credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2031, in the amount of 25% of the qualified rent payments made during the taxable year, not to exceed $1,000; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow reporting by the Department of Revenue.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish a refundable qualified rent payment credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2031, in the amount of 25% of the qualified rent payments made during the taxable year, not to exceed $1,000; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow reporting by the Department of Revenue.
The LRC Director's recommended Legislative Branch Budget: Detail Part I, Operating Budget; detail Part II, General Provisions; detail Part III, Budget Reduction or Surplus Expenditure Plan; APPROPRIATION.
The LRC Director's recommended Legislative Branch Budget: Detail Part I, Operating Budget; detail Part II, General Provisions; detail Part III, Budget Reduction or Surplus Expenditure Plan; APPROPRIATION.
Amend KRS 65.013 to create a cause of action for violations of the use of tax dollars to advocate for or against public questions on the ballot or to lobby or participate in executive agency lobbying; establish time limitation to commence suit and appropriate venue; provide damages recoverable per violation; allow for a class action; prohibit persons held civilly liable from holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years; create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for individuals found guilty of a violation.
Amend KRS 65.013 to create a cause of action for violations of the use of tax dollars to advocate for or against public questions on the ballot or to lobby or participate in executive agency lobbying; establish time limitation to commence suit and appropriate venue; provide damages recoverable per violation; allow for a class action; prohibit persons held civilly liable from holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years; create a new section of KRS Chapter 65 to establish a criminal penalty and a prohibition against holding a position of public trust or profit for 10 years for individuals found guilty of a violation.