Deadlines have passed for filing new bills in the House and Senate, and Kentuckians now have a more comprehensive view of the issues that lawmakers plan to grapple with in the 2026 legislative session.
Overall, legislators have introduced 1,293 bills this year – 354 in the Senate and 939 in the House – along with scores of resolutions in each chamber.
Lawmakers have a little more than three weeks left on the calendar to apply the polish to bills and get them to the governor’s desk if they want a chance to override potential vetoes. That means later nights ahead as more bills begin moving off the chamber floors.
Energy and physician shortages were among the major themes that emerged in the Senate this week.
The chamber on Monday advanced Senate Bill 57, which would create the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program to help energy providers obtain licenses and permits related to site work for nuclear power projects.
The program would provide up to $25 million in grant funding to each of three projects in Kentucky. It’s part of a continuum of bills that lawmakers have passed in recent years to support nuclear energy development in the state.
Lawmakers also took up Senate Bill 8 this week, seeking to modernize the Kentucky Public Service Commission to better handle utility regulations, infrastructure investment and rate cases. Among many provisions, the bill would expand the commission from three to five seats and establish professional qualification standards for members.
The bill cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Wednesday and won support on the Senate floor Friday.
On the issue of physicians, the Senate Health Services Committee advanced Senate Joint Resolution 116 on Wednesday. SJR 116 would direct the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University to work together in meaningful ways to alleviate physician shortages in underserved areas of the state.
The chamber also passed Senate Bill 137 on Thursday, seeking to eliminate a duplicative residency requirement for international doctors to practice in Kentucky.
That change, supporters say, would make it easier for doctors from other countries to practice here and help address shortages in rural areas.
Meanwhile in the House, lawmakers passed a measure Wednesday that seeks to reduce recidivism and support workforce development.
House Bill 5 would establish the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Prison Education Program. It calls on KCTCS to partner with the state Department of Corrections to build and operate a vocational training campus at Northpoint Training Center.
The House also advanced a much-discussed bill on elections this week that, among other goals, aims to prevent felons and non-citizens from voting in Kentucky.
House Bill 534 would also allow a candidate to appear twice on the same ballot if that candidate already holds a federal office and is running in another federal race in which the outcome is decided by the Electoral College.
The bill stirred a long debate in the House on Thursday before advancing off the floor on a 53-40 vote. Supporters argued that changes are needed to protect election security, while critics said Kentucky’s elections are already secure and the bill could disenfranchise some legitimate voters.
One issue that has drawn concern from lawmakers in both chambers is the growing use of virtual currency in scams against Kentuckians.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 189 on Monday to create a licensing and regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks, and a similar measure, House Bill 380, received a nod from the House Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday.
Lawmakers say scammers are defrauding or extorting Kentuckians into transferring large sums of virtual currency through the kiosks and that the funds are nearly impossible to recover.
Many other bills continue to make headway through the legislative process. Here’s a look at some of the other bills that were moving this week:
Juvenile Justice – Senate Bill 125 would establish a comprehensive framework for identifying and treating high-acuity youth in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system and create a dedicated mental health residential treatment facility for them. The Senate passed the legislation on Monday.
Child Protection – House Bill 246 calls for animal control officers to complete training to help recognize signs of child abuse and neglect. A provision in the bill would allow local governments that employ animal control officers to opt out of the training by providing a written notice before the end of the year. The House voted in support of the measure Monday.
Machine Gun Conversion Devices – House Bill 299 would align Kentucky gun laws with federal law related to machine gun conversion devices. Federal law already bans possession of such devices, but supporters say the bill is needed to help law enforcement enforce the ban locally. Ultimately, possession of a conversation device would be a class C felony in Kentucky if the bill becomes law. HB 299 received approval in the House on Monday.
Deer Populations– House Bill 142 seeks to help farmers more easily file and renew claims for crop and property damage caused by deer while also addressing overpopulation concerns across the state. The House passed the bill Tuesday.
Sunscreen in Schools – House Bill 586 would clarify that sunscreen is not a medication and that students can apply sunscreen at school without a written order from a health care provider. The legislation won approval in the House on Tuesday.
Child Marriage – Senate Bill 156 would close a loophole in state law to ensure that 18 is the youngest legal age for marriage in Kentucky. Right now, state law still allows 17-year-olds to get married if they have approval from the judicial system. The Senate passed the bill Tuesday.
Research Fund – Senate Bill 6 would appropriate $150 million to the Endowment Research Fund to support research collaboration and innovation across Kentucky universities. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved the measure Wednesday.
Driving Under the Influence – House Bill 563 takes aim at repeat drunk drivers. Among several provisions, it would prohibit anyone convicted of drunk driving four times within a 10-year period from purchasing alcohol while their license is suspended and for two years after the suspension ends. The legislation moved out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Constitutional Amendments – Senate Bill 262 seeks a change to the state constitution regarding how proposed constitutional amendments appear on the ballot. Instead of printing the full text of the proposed amendment on the ballot, SB 262 seeks to have the proposal appear in the form of a ballot question or summary that clearly and accurately states the substance and effect of the amendment. SB 262 received a favorable vote in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday.
Fraudulent Contractors – Senate Bill 153 would help protect Kentucky homeowners from abusive and fraudulent contractors following severe weather. It would clarify that vandalism committed for the purpose of an insurance claim is fraud. It would also create a post-disaster registry for roofing, siding and tree-removal businesses, and it would prohibit door-to-door solicitations during declared emergencies. The measure cleared the House Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday.
Kindergarten Readiness – Senate Bill 191 calls on the University of Kentucky to establish a pilot program that gauges the effectiveness of using financial incentives to encourage kindergarten readiness. The Senate voted in favor of the bill Wednesday.
School Board Candidates – House Bill 469 would require candidates for local school board seats to undergo background checks. The House passed the bill Wednesday.
Energy Study – House Joint Resolution 77 would direct the Kentucky Energy Planning and Inventory Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment of coal resources and electricity affordability in the region. The study aims to provide lawmakers with research and data that could guide future energy and economic policy decisions affecting coal-producing communities. The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
Abuse of a Corpse – Senate Bill 221 would make clear that knowingly purchasing, selling, transferring a corpse or part of one after the corpse has been authorized for cremation or burial would be a class D felony in the commonwealth. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure Thursday.
Impaired Driving – Senate Bill 66 would add clonazepam, cyclobenzaprine and fentanyl to the list of drugs that, when detected in a driver’s blood, could lead to an impaired driving conviction. The bill would also stipulate that refusing a blood test will result in suspension of a driver’s license. The legislation won support from the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.
Workplace Violence in Health Care – House Bill 713 seeks to combat workplace violence in health care facilities. Among several provisions, it calls on health facilities to annually verify that they maintain workplace safety plans and assessments and provide violence prevention training to staff. The House Health Services Committee advanced the bill Thursday.
Pesticide Labeling – Under Senate Bill 199, pesticides that display an EPA-approved label will have satisfied state laws related to the duty to warn consumers. The bill includes an exception for manufacturers that knowingly mislead the EPA about potential health risks. The measure cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday and advanced off the Senate floor on Thursday.
Eminent Domain – House Bill 542 seeks to improve communications and transparency between landowners and officials seeking to condemn property. The measure moved out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and cleared the House floor on Friday.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Senate Joint Resolution 54 calls on the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to cooperate in exploring ways to increase enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Senate passed the bill Friday.
School Communications – House Bill 67 seeks to clarify a law adopted last year regarding communications between school employees and students. The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee advanced HB 67 on Wednesday and the bill cleared the House floor Friday.
The general assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Monday for day 42 of the session.
Kentuckians are urged to check the general assembly’s calendar for updates.
Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record Webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers.
Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the general assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181.
Legislative Research Commission