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.
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.
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.
HB 71 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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 Kentucky House.
Read the latest statement on HB 199 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.
HB 199 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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 Senate.
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.
HB 275 is a Face It policy priority.
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 and the Senate Education Committee.
Read the latest statement on HB 377 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.
HB 377 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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.
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.
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.
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. It has passed the Kentucky House.
Read the latest statement on HCR 68 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.
HCR 68 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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.
HCR 117 is a priority of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky.
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.
SB 34 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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.
SB 103 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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 House.
Read the latest statement on SB 151 from Kentucky Youth Advocates here.
SB 151 is a priority of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky.
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.
SB 203 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority.
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.
Other Legislative Item
House Bill 3
Promote efforts against human trafficking
Summary
HB 3 would expand the definition of promoting human trafficking, permit the Attorney General to establish a group to discuss human trafficking in Kentucky, expand promotion signs in hotels and transportation services about human trafficking, and establish penalties when there is noncompliance, amongst others.
Status
HB 3 is sponsored by Representative Suzanne Miles. It has passed the Kentucky House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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 the Senate Health Services Committee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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.
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 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.
Other Legislative Item
Senate Bill 56
Ensure safe storage of firearms to promote safety for families
Status
SB 56 is sponsored by Senator Gerald Neal and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SB 145 is a Face It policy priority.
Other Legislative Item
Senate Bill 181
Establish support and education surrounding sexual extortion
Summary
SB 181 would establish the crime of sexual extortion as a felony, including sexual extortion in the definition of a sex crime, require superintendents of local school districts to notify students in grades 4 and above and parents and guardians of all students of the crime of sexual extortion, and require schools and postsecondary institutions to include posters about sexual extortion and offer assistance to victims of sexual extortion.
Status
SB 181 is sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Committee.
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.