Kentucky

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to establish a nonrefundable credit against the tax imposed under KRS 141.020 for qualifying contributions made to a Kentucky Educational Savings Plan trust account in accordance with the guidelines in 26 U.S.C. sec. 529; for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2031; amend KRS 141.0205 to provide the ordering of the tax credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the department to report on the credit.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 100 to define "accessory dwelling unit"; allow accessory dwelling unit as a permitted use in all residential zones; prohibit a planning unit from adopting regulations which would not allow a property owner to have 1 accessory dwelling unit on the owner's property, impose requirements on accessory dwelling units different than those placed on single-family homes, or assess additional fees on accessory dwelling units; allow a planning unit to enforce regulations that require notification of the construction of a new accessory dwelling unit, prohibit more than 1 accessory dwelling unit on a property, assess a one-time fee of $250 at the time the accessory dwelling unit is created, and prohibit the accessory dwelling unit's use as a short-term rental.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 237 to define "assault weapon," "large capacity ammunition feeding device," and "seller of ammunition"; require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms; require the Department of Kentucky State Police to promulgate administrative regulations relating to the licensing of persons to possess handguns and assault weapons, the registration of handguns and assault weapons, and the logging of firearms and ammunition sales effective January 1, 2027; amend KRS 237.990 to establish penalties; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to establish the offense of criminal purchase or transfer of a weapon as a Class D felony; amend KRS 395.250 to require an estate's inventory to list each firearm; amend KRS 403.735 to require judges, when issuing an order of protection, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing a firearm; amend KRS 456.050 to require judges, when issuing an interpersonal protective order, to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing a firearm; amend KRS 504.030 to require judges in criminal cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity to demand the surrender of the defendant's firearms; amend KRS 506.080 to add that the offense of facilitation includes assistance in providing firearms; amend KRS 508.020 to include physical injury to a minor by virtue of the intentional discharge of a firearm within the offense of assault in the second degree; amend KRS 527.040 to require that the sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm be served consecutively to any other felony sentence; amend KRS 527.070 to include postsecondary education facilities within the existing ban on firearms in schools; amend KRS 532.030 to require the judge pronouncing a defendant guilty but mentally ill to demand the surrender of the person's firearms; amend KRS 65.1591, 237.104, 237.115, and 532.025 to conform; repeal KRS 65.870, relating to the prohibition of local firearm control ordinances; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 311B.020 to define and redefine terms; amend KRS 311B.030 to add a magnetic resonance imaging technologist and a diagnostic medical sonographer to the Kentucky Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy; amend KRS 311B.050 to grant the board the authority to recognize and enforce rules and standards of the recognized national professional organizations and certifying bodies and issue advisory opinions; amend KRS 311B.090 to add nonionizing radiation to practices requiring licensure, and exempt ultrasounds for therapeutic, nonmedical, or keepsake purposes from licensure requirements; amend KRS 311B.100 to provide for licensure of magnetic resonance imaging technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers; require the board to promulgate administrative regulations to permit licensure of magnetic resonance imaging technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers who are not credentialed by a national organization recognized by the board prior to January 1, 2028; amend KRS 311B.110 to add magnetic resonance imaging technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers to application requirement; require all applicants for any form of licensure by the board to submit to national and state criminal background checks; amend KRS 311B.120 to add magnetic resonance imaging technologists and diagnostic medical sonographers to fee and penalty requirements; delete reference to duplicate licenses and home study courses; amend KRS 311B.150 to conform; amend KRS 311B.160 to set forth penalties for violations; amend KRS 311.727 to make technical corrections; repeal KRS 311B.080, 311B.180, and 311B.190.

Propose to amend Section 1 of the Constitution of Kentucky to provide citizens of the Commonwealth the right to exempt from property taxation a property owned and maintained solely as their primary residence and a motor vehicle owned and maintained solely as their primary vehicle after calendar year 2028; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Amend KRS 61.702, relating to the Kentucky Employees Retirement System and the State Police Retirement System, to increase the nonhazardous and hazardous duty under age 65 retiree health subsidy to $40 and $50 per month for each year of service, respectively, for those members who meet the "career threshold" who began participating in the system on or after July 1, 2003, and who are eligible for a fixed-dollar retiree health subsidy not tied to the premium; extend the employee contribution used to fund retiree health benefits to include members who began participating in the system on or after July 1, 2003, and increase the current hazardous employee contribution rate to 2% of pay for those eligible for the fixed-dollar retiree health subsidy; make technical amendments regarding the retiree health premium reimbursement program to conform to current policy; provide that the amendments to the employee contributions shall be effective July 1, 2027; for calculation of the retiree health subsidy increase, provide that the change shall apply to service earned prior to the effective date of this Act by eligible members, including retirees, and shall prospectively be adjusted annually by the 1.5% increase currently provided in statute; provide that subsidies payable to impacted retirees shall begin on or after January 1, 2027, to coincide with the next health plan year; direct the Public Pension Oversight Board to continue to review the retiree health fund actuarial data and evaluate potential legislative options to address any future continued improvements in the funds; RETROACTIVE.

Amend KRS 148.021 to establish a discount at state park lodging resorts and golf courses for Kentucky residents; provide that the Act may be cited as the J.E. Jones Kentucky Fairways Act.

Propose to amend Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit persons adjudged mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction from voting; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms, establish limitations on disseminating "deep fakes," and specify exceptions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 413 to establish a statute of limitations for an action filed for the unlawful dissemination of a deep fake; create a new section of KRS Chapter 519 to establish a criminal penalty for illegally disseminating a deep fake.

Repeal and reenact various sections of KRS Chapter 383 to amend the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; create new sections of KRS Chapter 383 to conform; amend KRS 383.240 to conform; repeal KRS 383.300, 303.302, 383.500, 383.505, 383.515, 383.525, 383.540, 383.580, 383.620, and 383.665; apply to a lease made on or after the effective date of the Act.

Create a new section of KRS 237.060 to 237.090 to prohibit ex parte orders that restrict the ability of a person to possess firearms and ammunition, firearm accessories, holsters, or firearm storage devices; amend KRS 403.730 and 456.040 to prohibit emergency protective orders and temporary interpersonal protective orders that restrict the ability of a person to possess firearms and ammunition, firearm accessories, holsters, or firearm storage devices; provide that the Act may be cited as the Red Flag Repeal Act of 2026.

Amend KRS 222.504 and 222.506 to require that recovery residences be inspected at least annually by state or local officials capable of ensuring compliance with all state and local zoning, building code, and fire safety laws, administrative regulations, and ordinances and establish maximum occupancy standards for recovery residences; amend KRS 222.510 to permit local governments to require an individual or entity seeking to establish a recovery residence to provide notice up to 6 months in advance to all property owners within 1,000 feet of the property on which the recovery residence will be located; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 6.691 to increase the maximum penalty that may be imposed by the Legislative Ethics Commission from $2,000 to $10,000.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 39A to establish the Kentucky Severe Weather Alert System; specify purpose and allowable uses of the system.

Condemn political violence and affirm protection of freedom in the Commonwealth.

Amend KRS 148.280 to allow the Kentucky Horse Park Commission, through its president, to eject or exclude any person whose participation in Olympic, Paralympic, or equestrian sports or activities has been restricted by the United States Center for SafeSport and any person who engages or has engaged in conduct that would negatively impact the safety and security of park attendees; allow the commission to promulgate administrative regulations regarding ejections and exclusions from park property.

Repeal, reenact, and amend KRS 216B.250 as a new section of KRS Chapter 367 to define terms; require health facilities and other health care providers to provide itemized health care statements in certain circumstances; specify the contents of the health care statements; require that health care statements contain information about price classifications and claims made with third-party payors; prohibit health facilities and providers from charging for the health care statements; establish means by which patients may request a health care statement to be furnished; require health facilities and providers to make public postings and have appropriate staff available to respond to questions and resolve disputes; make conforming amendments; prohibit health facilities and other providers from requesting or accepting a total payment for health care services that exceeds an agreed-upon price or the amount the facility or provider is entitled to receive under state or federal law; authorize the Attorney General to enforce certain state and federal laws regulating health care prices; allow a violation to be cured for good-faith errors; establish causes of action and penalties for violation of health care billing requirements; authorize the Attorney General to enforce health care billing requirements; specify that remedies and penalties are cumulative; authorize the Attorney General to promulgate administrative regulations to effectuate or aid in the effectuation of health care billing requirements; amend KRS 304.14-410, 304.32-1551, 214.556, 216B.990, and 216B.300 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

Amend KRS 61.621 to allow a member of a state-administered retirement system who works in a nonhazardous position that could be certified as a hazardous position and who receives a duty-related injury to be eligible for the same minimum retirement benefit provided to members who receive a hazardous disability retirement; amend KRS 61.702 to allow Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS) members working in a nonhazardous position that could be certified as a hazardous position who receive a duty-related injury to receive the same health benefit provided to members who receive a hazardous disability retirement; amend KRS 78.5536 to allow County Employees Retirement System (CERS) members working in a nonhazardous position that could be certified as a hazardous position who receive a duty-related injury to receive the same health benefit provided to members who receive a hazardous disability retirement; allow certain persons whose last day of paid employment was on or after January 1, 2022, but prior to the effective date of the Act to apply for benefits; RETROACTIVE.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to name and designate as the official pets of Kentucky domestic cats and dogs that reside in or have been adopted from Kentucky animal shelters or rescue organizations.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to designate January 15 to April 4 of each year as Black History Season; require the Governor to proclaim Black History Season and to encourage Kentuckians to acknowledge its significance.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to designate October 14 of each year as Charlie Kirk Day.

Amend KRS 141.019 to allow a deduction for theft losses in accordance with Section 165(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Create a new section of KRS 100.401 to 100.419 to specify that if a land use development plan or subdivision plan is for a proposed development adjacent to a county not part of the planning unit and the development would have a substantial impact on the infrastructure of that county, then the planning unit shall require as a binding element of the plan application an agreement from the other county approving the plan.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 277 to define "light engine"; require a crew of at least 2 persons during operation of a train or light engine; amend KRS 277.990 to include penalties on railroad companies for crews of less than 2 persons.

Amend KRS 189.2226, regarding overweight allowances for hauling of building materials for homes, to require any builder of 10 or more homes in a 1 mile radius to apply for a permit before the person may operate under the exemptions; require all persons applying for a permit issued under this section to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Transportation Cabinet; allow the Transportation Cabinet to require a bond as part of the cooperative agreement; require funds collected under a cooperative agreement to be used for maintanence of state roads covered under the cooperative agreement.