Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker

The Bill Tracker will continually be updated as bills are filed and move.

Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker

The Bill Tracker will continually be updated as bills are filed and move.

Contact your state legislators in support of the following bills that are good for Kentucky kids with this Legislator Lookup tool. Check out ways to take action for kids.

Contact your state legislators in support of the following bills that are good for Kentucky kids with this Legislator Lookup tool. Check out ways to take action for kids.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Enforce T-21 Law and Protect Kids from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco and Nicotine Products

House Bill 11 would create a database of retailers selling tobacco and nicotine products, define escalating penalties to those selling to kids, and prohibit citation or arrest of a minor for tobacco or nicotine related violations, among other things.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 11 is sponsored by Representative Rebecca Raymer. It has passed the Kentucky House and awaits a hearing in the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee.

Read the latest statement on HB 11 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here. Read more on HB 11 and how to take action on vaping-related bills Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Passed KY House
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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Give Families a Second Chance at Housing Stability

House Bill 71 would seal dismissed eviction filings within 60 days, expunge evictions after three years, and prohibit minors from being named in evictions.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 71 is sponsored by Representative Nima Kulkarni and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

HB 71 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Expand Access to Safe and Healthy Prenatal and Birth Options

House Bill 199 would remove barriers to establishing freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, reducing disparities and offering pregnant and birthing women additional choices for their prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 199 is sponsored by Representative Jason Nemes and it has passed the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee.

Read the latest statement on HB 199 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.

Passed House Committee

HB 199 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Ensure Kids have a Safe Environment to Learn, Free from Abuse

House Bill 275 would reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation and increase the safety of students by mandating that public schools, charter schools, and certified nonpublic schools cannot enter into nondisclosure agreements regarding misconduct involving minors or students. It also introduces the definition of abusive conduct and requires rigorous background and reference checks for school district applicants, requires investigation of abusive conduct allegations, and establishes stringent employment standards and training related to sexual misconduct, among others.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 275 is sponsored by Representative James Tipton. It has passed the Kentucky House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.

Read the latest statement on HB 275 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here. Read more about HB 275 and Kotomi’s story on Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Passed KY House

HB 275 is a Face It policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Increase the Quality and Retention of Teachers by Supporting the Student-Teacher Pipeline

House Bill 377 would create Teacher Recruitment Student Loan Forgiveness Pilot Program, establish Student-Teacher stipends in eligible programs, and direct KY Higher Education Assistance Authority to administer the programs.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 377 is co-sponsored by Representative Kim Banta and Representative Jason Petrie. It has passed the Kentucky House.

Read the latest statement on HB 377 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.

Passed KY House

HB 377 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Support the Stability of the Child Care Infrastructure

House Bill 561 would permanently establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP), which allows employers to support employee access to child care. It also creates the Certified Child Care Community Designation Program to boost access to family child care homes.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy and budget priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 561 is sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin. It has passed the Kentucky House and the Senate Families & Children Committee.

Read the latest statement on HB 561 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here. Read more on HB 561 and other child care related bills on Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Passed Senate Committee
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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Support Youth Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Efforts

House Bill 813 would ensure that funds awarded to Kentucky as part of the JUUL settlement are allocated toward tobacco prevention and cessation programming.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HB 813 is sponsored by Representative Danny Bentley and is awaiting a hearing in the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing
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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Promote Kentuckians’ Access to Safe, Affordable, and Stable Housing

House Concurrent Resolution 68 would establish the Kentucky Housing Task Force to study, review, and provide policy recommendations on how to address the housing shortage in the Commonwealth by December 1, 2024.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

HCR 68 is co-sponsored by Representative Randy Bridges and Representative Jason Nemes and has passed the House Local Government Committee.

Passed House Committee

HCR 68 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Promote the Well-being of Children who have Experienced Abuse and Neglect by Supporting Kinship Caregivers

House Concurrent Resolution 117 would establish the Kentucky Kinship Task Force to study, review, and make recommendations regarding the current and future policy needs of the state to address access and availability of kinship care by December 1, 2024.

Status

HCR 117 is sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and has passed the House Families & Children Committee.

Passed House Committee

HCR 117 is a priority of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky.

2024-CAW-Sponsor-Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Support Parents in Meeting Their Family’s Basic Needs

Senate Bill 34 would help parents meet their basic needs by continuing pandemic-era child care supports, expanding Medicaid coverage for new parents, strengthening workforce supports for SNAP participants, increasing access to local foods, and providing support for families facing eviction, among others.

Learn more about SB 34 on our blog. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy and budget priorities fact sheets.

Status

SB 34 is sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Read more about SB 34 on Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

SB 34 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Expand Access to Safe and Healthy Prenatal and Birth Options

Senate Bill 103 would remove barriers to establishing freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, reducing disparities and offering pregnant and birthing women additional choices for their prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

SB 103 is sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Health Services Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

SB 103 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Prioritize Children who have Experienced Abuse and Neglect by Supporting Kinship Caregivers

Senate Bill 151 would amend the statue to define “child-specific foster home” and allow a child, when able, to identify possible relative or fictive kin caregivers whom the child could be placed with, if removed from their home. It would also allow a relative or fictive kin caregiver to apply at any time to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to be a certified as a child-specific foster home.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children fact sheet.

Status

SB 151 is sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and the House Families & Children Committee.

Read the latest statement on SB 151 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.

Passed House Committee

SB 151 is a priority of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky.

2024-CAW-Sponsor-Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Ensure High-Quality Early Childhood Environments to Support Working Families and Children’s Early Learning

Senate Bill 203, referred to as the Horizons Act, would increase affordable early childhood programs to more families through the Child Care Assistance Program; provide well-trained, quality early childhood staff and offer higher salaries; create an associates program in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurship through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System; provide start-up funds for in-home and new providers ensuring access throughout the state; and ensure local early childhood education facilities are more financially secure in serving their local communities; amongst others.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy and budget priority fact sheet.

Status

SB 203 is sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll. It has passed the Senate Families & Children Committee and has been recommitted to the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Read the latest statement on SB 203 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here. Read more on the Horizons Act (SB 203) and other child care related bills on Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Passed Senate Committee

SB 203 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

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Blueprint Legislative Priority

Support Youth Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Efforts

Senate Bill 335 would ensure that funds awarded to Kentucky as part of the JUUL settlement are allocated toward tobacco prevention and cessation programming.

Review the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priority fact sheet.

Status

SB 335 is sponsored by Senate Jason Howell and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 10

Ensure mothers have adequate health coverage and care

Summary

HB 10 would establish the Kentucky maternal psychiatry access program to connect new mothers with mental health services when needed, enhance education for breastfeeding and safe sleep through the HANDS program, create special enrollment periods within heath plans for pregnant individuals, and ensure health plans offer comprehensive maternal health care during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum.

Status

HB 10 is co-sponsored by Representative Kim Moser and Representative Nancy Tate. It has passed the Kentucky House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Health Services Committee.

Passed KY House

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 36

Establish a Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being

Summary

HB 36 would establish a Center for Student Resiliency and Well-Being within the Kentucky Department of Education. Key responsibilities of the Center would include: monitoring and helping support resiliency and well-being plans, coordinating supports, providing training and information related to adversity and trauma, collaboration with the Center for School Safety, the establishment of resiliency and well-being teams within each district, support for evidence-based suicide prevention lessons, among others.

Status

HB 36 is sponsored by Representative Lisa Willner and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 64

Improve financial accessibility of menstrual products

Summary

HB 64 would remove the sales tax from period products, such as tampons, panty liners, and menstrual cups.

Status

HB 64 is sponsored by Representative Kim Banta and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 93

Increase access to healthy foods for families

Summary

HB 93 would establish a trust through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to increase the number of farmers’ markets participating in nutrition incentive programs, such as Double Dollars, to expand access to healthy foods to all Kentucky families.

Status

HB 93 is sponsored by Representative Myron Dossett and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 118

Promote the well-being and financial stability of survivor of domestic violence and stalking

Summary

HB 118 would ensure access to unemployment insurance benefits for individuals who have to leave a job as a result of domestic or dating violence, sexual abuse, or stalking.

Status

HB 118 is co-sponsored by Representative Nima Kulkarni and Representative Samara Heavrin. It is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

HB 118 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 157

Protect children from deceptive interrogation methods

Summary

HB 157 would prohibit a child from being interrogated using deceptive methods and create a new rule of evidence to limit the admissibility of statements made in the interrogation of a child in violation of a statute.

Status

HB 157 is co-sponsored by Representative Keturah Herron and Representative Jason Nemes. It is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 162

Aid in the improvement of math proficiency

Summary

HB 162 would expand math interventions, increase accountability through improvement plans, align postsecondary preparation for teacher candidates, clarify the roles of the Committee for Mathematics Achievement, and establish the KY Numeracy Counts Funds that would support teachers in local school districts and improve math proficiency.

Status

HB 162 is sponsored by Representative James Tipton. It has passed the Kentucky House and the Senate Education Committee.

Passed Senate Committee

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 179

Support families with access to paid leave

Summary

HB 179 would allow insurance companies to offer paid family and medical leave as a rider to their health insurance coverage.

Status

HB 179 is sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin. It has passed the Kentucky House and Senate Banking & Insurance Committee.

Passed Senate Committee

HB 179 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 189

Increase accessibility to Kentucky-grown food in school systems

Summary

HB 189 would establish the Kentucky Proud School Match Program, which offers additional funding to eligible schools participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision. It also encourages schools to develop plans for purchasing Kentucky-grown products and optimizing food usage to reduce waste and support local agriculture.

SB 256 is its companion bill in the Senate

Status

HB 189 is co-sponsored by Representative Chad Aull and Representative Scott Lewis and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 253

Include animal control officers as mandated child abuse reporters

Summary

HB 253 would require animal control officers to receive training on the recognition of child abuse and neglect. It also includes animal control officers as identified professionals in the list of persons required to report suspected abuse and notify their supervisor of that report.

SB 106 is the companion bill in the Senate.

Read more about Kyan’s Law (HB 253) on Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Status

HB 253 is sponsored by Representative Susan Witten and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 330

Promote mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ Youth

Summary

HB 330 would protect the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth by prohibiting licensed professionals from engaging in sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.

Status

HB 330 is sponsored by Representative Lisa Willner and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 404

Establish a bill of rights for children who are incarcerated

Summary

HB 404, named The Incarcerated Children’s Bill of Rights, would establish rights for children incarcerated under the statewide detention program, including safety, family contact, access to health care and education, and legal representation, among others.

Status

HB 404 is sponsored by Representative Lisa Willner and is awaiting committee assignment.

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 436

Improve representation of children

Summary

HB 436 would require a paid guardian ad litem be appointed to any unrepresented minors named in an interpersonal protective order, emergency protective order, or domestic violence order that is being heard.

Status

HB 436 is sponsored by Representative Stephanie Dietz. It has passed the Kentucky House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Passed KY House

Other Legislative Item

House Bill 564

Establishes an educational tax credit for dependents

Summary

HB 564 would establish a refundable tax credit for a dependent’s qualified education expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year, such as books, computer equipment, and other supplies, and not exceeding $150 per dependent.

Status

HB 564 is sponsored by Representative William Lawrence and is awaiting a hearing in the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 2

Reinforce school safety efforts

Summary

SB 2 would, among other things, require school trauma-informed teams to submit their improvement plan to the Kentucky Department of Education, require schools to provide suicide prevention awareness training twice a year, and create the School Mapping Data Program for schools to include school mapping data, if available, in their emergency plans.

Status

SB 2 is sponsored by Senator Max Wise. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and is awaiting a hearing in the House Education Committee.

Read the latest statement on SB 2 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here. Read more about SB 2 Kentucky Youth Advocates’ blog.

Passed KY Senate

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 56

Ensure safe storage of firearms to promote safety for families

Summary

SB 56 would require gun owners to secure their firearms in a lock box or with a gun lock when they’re not in use and to report any lost or stolen firearms or ammunition to the police.

HB 240 is the companion bill in the House.

Status

SB 56 is sponsored by Senator Gerald Neal and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 74

Support efforts to reduce maternal mortality

Summary

SB 74 would require the Department of Public Health to establish a state child and maternal fatality review team to examine trends in maternal and child fatalities and require data reporting on maternal health indicators.

Status

SB 74 is sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and the House Families & Children Committee.

Passed House Committee

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 97

Increase financial accessibility of diapers for families

Summary

SB 97 would exempt diapers from state sales tax.

Status

SB 97 is sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong with several co-sponsors. It is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee.

Awaiting Committee Hearing

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 142

Promote familial support through family leave

Summary

SB 142 would allow state employees to access four weeks of paid leave postpartum and two weeks for foster or kinship care placement.

Status

SB 142 is sponsored by Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and is awaiting a hearing in the House Families & Children Committee.

Passed KY Senate

Other Legislative Item

Senate Bill 145

Increase safety through child abuse and neglect checks within the healthcare system

Summary

SB 145 would allow healthcare providers and health facilities currently enrolled in the Medicaid program to submit a current or prospective employee to a background check of the CAN or adult abuse registries.

Status

SB 145 is sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and the House Families & Children Committee.

Passed House Committee

SB 145 is a Face It policy priority.

Other Legislative Item

House Joint Resolution 116

Promote the well-being of children who are in foster care

Summary

HJR 116 would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to evaluate and report on services offered to children in out-of-home care settings.

Status

HJR 116 is sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and has passed the House Families & Children Committee.

Passed House Committee