Kentucky

Amend KRS 161.030 to specify the Education Professional Standards Board has authority only over educators hired by public schools; amend KRS 199.894 to define "learning pod" and exclude learning pods from the definition of "child-care center" and "family child-care home"; amend KRS 194A.381 to exclude learning pods from certain youth camp requirements.

Appropriate $96 million from the Kentucky Permanent Pension Fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority to fund 1-time supplemental payments on July 1, 2026, to recipients of a retirement allowance who have been retired for at least 12 months from the Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) and the State Police Retirement System (SPRS); allow the Board of Trustees of the County Employees Retirement System to, by board decision, provide a one-time supplemental payment to recipients of a retirement allowance who have been retired at least 12 months by increasing employer contribution rates over a one-year or two-year period; specify that the 1-time supplemental payment shall be equal to the monthly payment received by the recipient in the month of June 2026; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 138.220 to set a single excise tax on gasoline and special fuels; set initial base rate at 29.6 cents per gallon (cpg); subject tax to annual adjustment; eliminate references to taxation on the average wholesale price of gasoline and the supplemental tax on gasoline and special fuels; require annual notification to motor fuel dealers of the adjusted rate of the excise tax on gasoline and special fuels for each upcoming fiscal year; amend KRS 138.660 to set the initial base rate for the heavy equipment motor carrier surtax for gasoline at 2.2 cpg for fiscal year 26-27 and 4.3 cpg for fiscal year 27-28 and set the rate for special fuels at 3.6 cpg for fiscal year 26-27 and 7.2 cpg for fiscal year 27-28; subject the surtax to annual adjustment; create a new section of KRS Chapter 138 to define "taxes"; provide a mechanism for annual adjustment of the excise tax on gasoline and special fuels and the heavy equipment motor carrier surtax based on changes in the National Highway Construction Cost Index 2.0; allow these taxes to increase or decrease no more than 5% from one year to the next, subject to the statutory minimums; amend KRS 186.018 to increase the fee for a driving history record from $3 to $6; amend KRS 186.020 to eliminate the requirement to present a vehicle's registration receipt when renewing the vehicle registration and allow mail or online registration renewal with no additional fee; amend KRS 186.040 to eliminate the $30 county clerk fee for motor carrier registrations on vehicles in excess of 44,000 pounds; increase the county clerk fee for motor vehicle registrations from $6 to $8; amend KRS 186.050 to increase to state fee for motor vehicle registrations from $11.50 to $22; increase other state registration fees; provide for a $10 late charge for vehicle registrations not renewed within 30 days of expiration; make technical correction; amend KRS 186.162, 186.180, and 186.240 to conform; amend KRS 186.531 to set the reinstatement fee for a suspended operator's license at $100 and provide for distribution of funds; amend KRS 281A.150 to increase reinstatement fees for suspended CDLs from $50 to $100; amend KRS 186A.130 and 186A.245 to set the fee for an initial title at $25, the fee for a duplicate or replacement title at $10, and the fee for a speed title at $40, and adjust the distribution of fees between the Transportation Cabinet and the county clerk; amend KRS 189.574 to increase to fee for state traffic school from $15 to $50; create a new section of KRS Chapter 174 to create the multimodal transportation fund, specify allowable uses for moneys in the fund; amend KRS 177.320 and 177.365, regarding allocation of a portion of fuel tax revenue to county road aid funds and municipal road aid funds; change the revenue-sharing formula on the portion of fuel tax revenue available for revenue sharing which exceeds $825 million in any year from 18.3% to counties and 7.7% to cities to 13% for each fund; amend KRS 176.080 to establish limitations and awarding of single bid construction contracts the exceed, engineer's estimates, require reporting of such contracts; amend KRS 176.210 to prohibit the Department of Highways from revealing the identities of eligible bidders on a project until the project bid letting; amend KRS 138.210 to delete the definitions for "average wholesale price," "average wholesale floor price," and "quarterly survey value"; amend KRS 138.695, 138.270, 42.409, 234.320, 234.380, and 186A.035 to conform; repeal KRS 138.228, regarding the calculation of average wholesale price of gasoline, KRS 138.4602, regarding determination of total consideration on vehicles purchased between 2009 and 2014, and KRS 175.505, regarding the debt payment acceleration fund for turnpike authority debt; EFFECTIVE, in part, July, 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027; EMERGENCY.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to exempt the Commonwealth of Kentucky from the advancement of time known as daylight saving time; require the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its political subdivisions to at all times observe the standard time of the United States; EFFECTIVE October 31, 2026.

Recognize January 2026 as Kentucky Mentorship Month.

Amend KRS 278.160 to prohibit the collection of charges and fees for other governmental units by an investor-owned electric utility; prohibit the collection of certain surcharges and amounts that are not directly and exclusively related to the provision of electric service; require investor owned utilities to file new tariffs 90 days after December 30, 2026; EFFECTIVE December 30, 2026.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to define "automated license plate reader" or "ALPR"; prohibit the use, deployment, and maintenance of an ALPR system; allow a person to bring a civil action for a violation and allow recovery of actual and punitive damages; make the use, deployment, and maintenance of an ALPR system a Class D felony and set a fine of $10,000.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to allow a customer of an electric retail electric supplier to opt out of having a smart meter installed if the customer owns the premises where the meter will be installed; require the retail electric supplier to give the customer 30 days' notice and give the customer 30 days to respond; prohibit the retail electric supplier for charging the customer for the installation of the meter or imposing a surcharge or fee for opting out of having the smart meter installed.

Amend KRS 344.010 to define terms; amend KRS 344.020, relating to the purpose of the Kentucky's civil rights chapter, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; amend KRS 344.025, 344.040, 344.050, 344.060, 344.070, and 344.080, relating to prohibited discrimination in various labor and employment practices, to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; amend KRS 344.100 and 344.110 to conform; amend KRS 344.120 and 344.140, relating to prohibited discrimination in places of public accommodation, to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; amend KRS 344.170, 344.180, 344.190, 344.300, and 344.310, relating to the state and local human rights commissions, to include prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the scope of their powers and duties; amend KRS 344.360, 344.370, 344.380, and 344.680, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain housing, real estate, and other financial transactions, to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; amend KRS 344.367, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain insurance sales, to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; amend KRS 344.400, relating to prohibited discrimination in certain credit transactions, to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; make various technical amendments; amend KRS 18A.095 to conform.

Recognize January 22, 2026, as Kentucky Arts Day.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to allow perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings of an accompanying parent or legal guardian to be claimed as a service for the child as part of the early and periodic diagnostic, screening, and treatment benefit; amend KRS 205.6497 to require the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program to cover perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings; create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require a health plan to cover perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings as part of a well-child or well-baby visit; suspend the coverage requirement for qualified health plans if the requirement results, or would result, in the state being required to defray the cost under federal law; amend KRS 164.2871 and 18A.225 to require self-insured employer group health plans offered by a state postsecondary education institution and the state employee health plan to comply with the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders screenings coverage requirement; provide that various sections apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to obtain federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes in the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1); 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 16.220, relating to firearms confiscated by law enforcement, to provide that firearms which were used in a homicide be destroyed; provide that firearms in the possession of the Department of Kentucky State Police may be destroyed if they have been defaced, are contaminated by hazardous material, unsafe to discharge, or upon request of an innocent owner; amend KRS 500.090, relating to forfeiture of property in criminal cases, to require local law enforcement agencies to destroy firearms that have been used in a homicide; require that all firearms that are transferred to the Department of Kentucky State Police not be intentionally damaged, modified, or disabled by the agency having custody, except as may be necessary for forensic testing; amend KRS 15.440 to require law enforcement agencies to have a written policy and procedures manual relating to the destruction of firearms used in homicides by January 1, 2027; amend KRS 15.512 to conform.

Amend KRS 164.020 to prohibit the Council on Postsecondary Education from raising tuition for a postsecondary education institution more than 5% a year for Kentucky resident students and 7% a year for non-Kentucky resident students; provide a 4-year tuition freeze for an enrolled Kentucky resident student; require an institution to notify a student before expiration of a tuition freeze; require any increase in tuition or fees to be approved before March 1; provide that the Act may be cited as the Kentucky Student Tuition Protection and Accountability Act; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2029.

Amend KRS 529.160 to allow a person charged with or convicted of certain offenses to petition the court in which the charges were filed to vacate the judgment of conviction, expunge all records of the offense, or both, when the person's participation in the offense is determined to be the result of being a victim of human trafficking; restore voting rights to a person whose felony conviction is vacated; RETROACTIVE.

Create a new section of Subchapter 12 of KRS Chapter 154 to establish the Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry within the Cabinet for Economic Development; establish the office duties and responsibilities; amend KRS 12.020 to conform.

Honor the life and accomplishments of former Governor Martha Layne Collins.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 198B to define terms; require the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to permit a private swimming pool to be constructed without a barrier or enclosure if the swimming pool will be equipped with an approved safety pool cover; require the department to incorporate this provision into the Kentucky Building Code by administrative regulation; permit the legislative body of a local government to adopt more stringent local ordinances relating to approved safety pool covers, barriers, and enclosures.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 36 to define "employee"; and "employer" provide employment protections for members of the Civil Air Patrol in private businesses and local governments; amend KRS 61.394 to extend state government employment protections to members of the Civil Air Patrol.

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.

Recognize United States Constitution Day on September 17, 2026, and Kentucky Constitution Day on June 1, 2026.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to create winter and summer temperature standards for disconnection of service by retail electric and gas utilities; allow resumption of disconnection only after a 72-hour period during which the temperature standard is exceeded; establish a certificate of need for persons who are at risk if utility service is disconnected that can be provided by a physician, physician assistant, community-based service organization, or faith-based service organization; prohibit disconnection of service on holidays and weekends, including Fridays, and before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; allow for reconnection of service for partial payment with a payment plan; require waiver of termination fees, reconnection fees, and late fees for customers having obtained a certificate of need; require utility to make reasonable effort towards reestablishing service for a customer terminated after having obtained a certificate of need but no more than 24 hours after repayment is commenced; require separate, written notice 14 days prior to a disconnection to residential household; require that notice be distinguishable from the regular billing notices; establish font size and typeset for material to be printed on the notice; require a hardship reconnection order for persons at risk who have had service terminated by the utility after meeting specific repayment requirements; require the Public Service Commission to promulgate administrative regulations and issue an order setting forth any applicable rules and procedures.

Amend KRS 160.210 to require a county school district having reached an end-of-year enrollment of 25,000 or more students have 7 divisions with 1 board member appointed from each division and 4 members appointed from the county at large; require board members to be appointed by the chief executive officer of the county and confirmed by the legislative body of the county; require appointments to the board reflect no less than the proportional representation of the 2 leading political parties; amend KRS 160.160 to define "chief executive officer"; require school districts having reached 25,000 or more students to be under the management and control of a board of education consisting of 11 members; amend KRS 160.170 to require every person appointed to a board of education to take the board oath; amend KRS 160.190 require a board vacancy in a county school district having reached an end-of-year enrollment of 25,000 or more students be filled by the chief executive officer of the county; amend KRS 160.180 to require an appointed member of a board of education be subject to removal pursuant to KRS 156.132; amend KRS 156.132 require the chief state school officer recommend removal of appointed county board of education members guilty of immorality, misconduct, incompetency, willful neglect of duty, or nonfeasance; authorize the chief executive officer to remove an appointed member for cause in accordance with KRS 160.210; amend KRS 160.240, 304.48-250, and 304.50-055 to conform; allow elected members of county boards of education in districts having reached an enrollment of 25,000 to serve out the terms elected for; require initial appointments of 2 at large members to be for 2 years and 2 appointments to be for 4 years; require boards that require additional divisions to have accomplished those divisions by January 1, 2027; require additional positions not represented by an elected member to be filled by January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

Amend KRS 317.450 and 317A.050 to require that all licensed barbers and Board of Cosmetology licensees receive up to 1 hour of antidomestic violence training at no cost to the applicant or licensee; require the respective board to make training available online; provide civil and criminal immunity to licensees and employers.

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; amend KRS 438.3061, 438.3063, 438.3065, 438.3067, 438.3069, 438.310, 438.312, 438.316, and 438.337 to delay the retailer tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product license requirement until February 1, 2027; make the delay RETROACTIVE to January 1, 2026; EMERGENCY.