The descriptions of the new laws are just that, a description, and if you want to see the actual bills go to: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/law.html
Below are some of the laws that went into effect, if you would like to see the entire list:
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/law.html
LAWS BY TOPIC:
OFFICIAL STATE MUSHROOM
SB 19: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 2 to name and designate the indigo milk cap as the official state mushroom of Kentucky.
MEDICAL
HB 2 AN ACT relating to Medicaid, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergency. Slashes Medicaid
PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB 4 Grooming of Minors: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 510 to establish the offense of grooming a minor; amend KRS 510.010 to define “course of conduct,” “grooming behavior,” and “sexual conduct”; amend various sections to conform; make technical corrections.
HB 7 School Bus Safety: Create new sections of KRS Chapter 158 to define terms; allow the use of camera monitoring systems on school buses operated by a school district and allow the enforcement of a civil penalty for stop arm camera violations recorded by a camera monitoring system; establish the amount of the civil penalty; require that the revenue generated from a civil penalty be retained by the school district; allow a law enforcement agency to charge a fee of $25 from every civil penalty enforced by the law enforcement agency; require specific notice for a stop arm camera violation; establish defenses to a violation; establish procedures for a contest to a violation; allow for suspension of motor vehicle registration for failure to timely pay a penalty; require a school district or law enforcement agency to notify the Transportation Cabinet of the need to release a motor vehicle registration suspension within 1 business day of payment; to require traffic in the opposite direction of a school or church bus to stop for the bus on a highway that is not divided by an elevated barrier or unpaved median; to increase the maximum fines for failing to stop for a school or church bus that is receiving or discharging passengers.
SB 17 CASA NETWORK: Amend KRS 620.500 to add the Kentucky CASA Network to the definition of “association”; amend KRS 620.505 to decrease the minimum number of local CASA board members from 15 to 12; remove the provision that local CASA programs are required to comply with National CASA Association Standards for programs make technical corrections; remove “cabinet” and replace with “the Department for Community Based Services” relating to employees who are prohibited from becoming volunteers or employees of the court-appointed special advocate program; amend KRS 620.537 to make technical corrections; amend KRS 620.055 to conform.
SB 66 OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE :Amend KRS 189A.010 to expand the list of controlled substances to include clonazepam, cyclobenzaprine, and fentanyl; amend KRS 189A.105 to provide a person shall be informed at the time blood test is requested that the fact of a refusal to submit to the blood test will result in suspension of his or her driver’s license and if the person is convicted of a violation of KRS 189A.010, his or her license will be suspended; amend KRS 186.018 to require the Transportation Cabinet to destroy records of moving traffic convictions that are more than 10 years old. (There are multiple issues I can see on this, one is that is a certain blook level that makes one impaired that has been determined on these drugs, and at least one of these drugs can be used an anti-anxiety drug, not a drug that impairs driving).
SB 104 known as the “Halo Act,” creates a new criminal offense for “impeding a first responder.” Under the bill, once a verbal warning is issued, a person may not remain within 25 feet of a first responder or law enforcement officer if the officer believes the individual intends to interfere, threaten or harass. Violations can begin as a misdemeanor and escalate to a felony if the conduct continues. Vague enough that it can used against peaceful protestors
SB 122 ALTERNATIVE SENTENCES: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 533 to define terms; require the court, upon conviction of the defendant, to consider the defendant’s status as a caretaker of a dependent child; provide that a court’s determination of a defendant’s status as a caretaker of a dependent child shall not be admissible as evidence or be determinative in any subsequent proceeding; provide that the defendant shall have the right to present an alternative sentencing plan and a family impact statement to the court; provide that in issuing an alternative sentence, the court may require the defendant to participate in programs and services that support the parent-child relationship; provide that the court may modify or revoke the alternative sentence and commit the defendant to an institution if the defendant fails to adhere to or complete the conditions of an alternative sentence; amend KRS 610.340 to provide that a court determining whether to impose an alternative sentence for a defendant who is a caretaker of a dependent child has access to court records under KRS Chapters 600 to 645; provide that the Act may be cited as the Family Preservation and Accountability Act.
SB 195 – Elimination of Responsibility Act : This sweeping legislation includes provisions impacting Comparative Fault, Collateral Source, new procedural “gotcha” requirements, and other unconstitutional restrictions on access to the courts. It would allow the insurance industry and large corporations to avoid personal responsibility—shifting the cost of their negligence onto injured Kentuckians and taxpayers
SB 199 – Pesticide Immunity The bill would remove the last remaining avenue for individuals to bring claims against manufacturers for health harms arising from pesticide exposure. “Pesticides” is an umbrella term that includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides. An approved label will be sufficient warning (think of the one on cigarettes or alcohol).
SB 278 Establishes policies related to off-duty employment for Kentucky State Police officers.
HB 58 PRIVACY PROTECTION Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to define terms related to automated license plate readers; restrict use of automated license plate readers; establish limitations on use and sale of data captured by automated license plate readers; provide that captured license plate data may be retained longer than 90 days only if it is being used in a criminal or insurance investigation or has become subject to a preservation of evidence notification; require law enforcement agencies to adopt and make public a written policy governing use of automated license plate readers; provide that any recorded images or data captured by an automated license plate reader may be made available to the National Insurance Crime Bureau or its successor organization; require the Transportation Cabinet to establish a permit process for installation of automated license plate readers on highway rights-of-way and to promulgate administrative regulations; amend KRS 189.990 to establish penalty for violation.
HB 305 GRAND JURY SERVICE: Create a new section of KRS Chapter 29A to establish that a person present at any part of a grand jury proceeding shall not knowingly record the proceeding or disclose any information gathered while present during a proceeding; amend KRS 29A.990 to establish the penalty for knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding as a Class A misdemeanor unless the person is a public servant as defined in KRS 519.010, in which case it is a Class D felony; amend KRS 500.050 to provide that a misdemeanor violation of knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding shall be prosecuted within 10 years after the act is committed.
HB 366 : MATTER PORTRAYING SEXUAL PERFORMANCE BY A MINOR: Amend KRS 531.335, relating to possession or viewing of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, to provide that the sexual performance may be by a computer-generated image of a minor; provide that any person convicted of possession or viewing of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor shall not be released on probation or parole without serving 85% of the sentence imposed.
HB 627 – Personal Injury Protection (PIP); Requires PIP to reimburse healthcare providers at the workers’ compensation fee schedule, increases weekly wage loss benefits from $200 to $500, Increases funeral benefits from $1,000 to $5,000
HB 422 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS: Amend KRS 439.3401 to provide that a violent offender who has received a life sentence and has not been sentenced to 35 years without probation or parole or imprisonment for life without the benefit of probation or parole shall not be released on probation or parole until he or she has served at least 30 years; amend KRS 439.3406 to prohibit a person who has been convicted of a Class B felony or a person who is a violent offender who has been unanimously denied discretionary parole from qualifying for mandatory reentry supervisions; provide that the Department of Corrections shall provide an annual report on the results of the mandatory reentry supervision program to the Legislative Research Commission by February 1 of each year; amend KRS 504.150 to require a treating professional for a defendant who has received a sentence of guilty but mentally ill to file a petition for involuntary hospitalization under KRS Chapter 202A or 202B; amend KRS 532.025 to provide that if a defendant has been found guilty of intentional murder, the jury or court does not have to find any aggravating circumstance to sentence a defendant to imprisonment for life without benefit of probation or parole or imprisonment for life without benefit of probation or parole for 35 years; amend KRS 532.030 to enhance the sentence of imprisonment for life without benefit of probation or parole for 25 years to 35 years; amend KRS 532.110 to provide that sentences of a defendant convicted of 2 or more capital offenses, Class A felonies, Class B felonies, or a combination of those offenses or 2 or more violent offenses involving 2 or more victims shall run consecutively; amend various KRS sections to conform; repeal KRS 504.020 and 504.030; provide that the Act may be cited as Logan’s Law.
HB 521 Stalking: Amend KRS 508.130 to define “course of conduct” and “social media platform”; establish elements of the crime of stalking and penalize as a Class D felony unless certain aggravating circumstances are met, in which case it is a Class C felony; provide that the Act shall not affect the validity of restraining orders, interpersonal protective orders, or domestic violence orders in place prior to the effective date of the Act; repeal KRS 508.140 and 508.150, relating to stalking in the first and second degrees; amend KRS 14.300, 23A.208, 24A.178, 431.005, 411.220, 456.010, 500.092, 500.120, 506.160, 508.155, and 532.080 to conform.
GUNS
HB 78 FIREARM LIABILITY PROTECTIONS : Create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms; establish liability protections for manufacturers and sellers of firearms against specified legal actions arising from criminal or unlawful use of firearms or ammunition; establish criteria for proceedings including timelines and burden of proof; establish a civil cause of action for violation of the extended protections for manufacturers and sellers and delineate available damages; provide the Attorney General with enforcement authority; provide that the Act may be cited as the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms (PLCAA) Clarification Act of 2026
HB 312 A bill that allows 18–20-year-olds to obtain a concealed carry permit.
PROBATE, TRUSTS
SB 85 SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST: Amend KRS 16.505, 61.510, and 78.510 to define “special needs trust” (SNT) for purposes of the State Police Retirement System, Kentucky Employees Retirement System, and County Employees Retirement System; amend the definition of “beneficiary” to include a SNT; amend KRS 16.578 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement payment if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 61.635 to allow a person who is the beneficiary of a SNT to be designated as the beneficiary of a lifetime retirement benefit; require the trustee of a SNT to notify the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) upon the death of the beneficiary of a SNT and repay any payment not properly payable to the SNT; allow KPPA to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the SNT provisions; amend KRS 61.640 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement payment if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 61.690 to allow a recipient or legal representative to direct retirement benefits to be paid to a SNT and clarify that it is not an assignment or transfer; amend KRS 78.5532 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement benefit if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 161.525, relating to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime annuity if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 161.640 to allow checks to be sent by mail to the trustee of a SNT; require the trustee to notify the TRS upon the death of the beneficiary; require any payments not properly payable to the SNT to be repaid to TRS; allow TRS to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the SNT provisions; amend KRS 161.700 to require TRS to assign annuity payments to a SNT, issue payments to the trustee, and prevent annuity payments from being used to reimburse any state for any Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary of a SNT; amend KRS 21.420, relating to the Judicial Retirement Plan, to allow for a SNT to be selected as a beneficiary, and define “special needs trust”; amend KRS 21.425 to allow a member to designate a SNT to receive lifetime survivorship benefits on behalf of a surviving spouse, dependent child, or disabled child.
INTERSTATE LICENSURE
HB 36 RESPIRATORY CARE Create a new section of KRS Chapter 314A to enact and enter into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact with all other jurisdictions that legally join in the compact; declare the purpose of the compact; define terms; establish participation requirements; recognize a licensure privilege and establish requirements; designate home state licensure for active military members; establish penalties and adverse actions against a licensee; establish the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission; create membership rules, establish voting requirements, and permit the commission 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.
BUDGET
HB 500 Budget for State: The Democratic package focuses on stabilizing health insurance for public employees and retirees, protecting Medicaid funding, feeding hungry Kentuckians, investing in affordable housing, supporting rural hospitals, and strengthening public education.
House Democrats propose adding $279 million to fully support the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan and prevent dramatic premium increases for more than 310,000 Kentuckians, including teachers, bus drivers, state troopers, retirees, and their families. Without that investment, a five percent annual cap on the state’s contribution under HB 500 would create a projected $202 million shortfall and could result in premium increases of up to 78 percent over the next two years. The amendments also provide a 13th pension check for retired state employees and State Troopers, who have not received a cost-of-living adjustment since 2011. The proposal shores up Medicaid by closing the $815 million gap in HB 500. It includes $101.5 million to stabilize SNAP administration, $140 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $125 million for the Rural Hospital Assistance Fund, and increases SEEK school district funding by 11.6 percent while delivering a 6.9 percent educator pay increase over two years. (from Senator Neal’s updates)
If you have questions about these new laws or how they may affect you, please contact my office, 502-569-7710.
If you want to speak with your State Legislator about these bills are upcoming ones, contact your legislator directly by calling 502-564-8100. A Spanish-language assistance line is available at 1-866-840-6574, and those with hearing impairments can use Kentucky Relay (7-1-1).