Every year, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates anxiously watch the final days and hours of the state legislative session, hopeful our legislators will send a few more ‘good for kids’ bills to the Governor’s desk – even as we know the realities of those odds are stacked against us. 

Of the 1,293 bills and resolutions filed this year, approximately 174 passed through both Chambers and were signed, vetoed and then overrode, or became law without a signature – meaning 13.5% of bills that were filed became law this legislative session.

One note of celebration is that each of the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2026 policy priorities were filed this legislative session by a diverse cohort of legislators, elevating issues impacting kids whether the bill reached the finish line this session or not.

Regardless of your feelings about the Kentucky General Assembly filing or passing ‘too many’ bills, by the time they gavel out and the dust settles advocates want to know: did kids win? And if not, what happened? 

Find a bill breakdown below outlining how and where kids won big, saw some progress, as well as missed opportunities. In another blog post, we discuss the biggest focus of the 2026 session: the state budget. 

Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Wins for Kids

House Bill 6, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and based on the recommendations of the Kentucky Chamber’s Early Childhood Collaborative, establishes stronger child care infrastructure throughout the state for child care centers and family child care homes. 

This robust legislation requires annual training for child care providers on special education, a Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team priority to boost the safety of young children with disabilities when in the care of others. It also permanently establishes the free child care for child care provider benefit and will help Kentucky update its subsidy system to a model based on what child care actually costs rather than what parents can afford, along with many other components. 

House Bill 102 (components adopted within House Bill 253), sponsored by Representative James Tipton, addresses the risk of sexual misconduct by school district employees. This legislation includes the following provisions:

  • Prohibits nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct involving minor students.
  • Requires school districts to disclose any disciplinary action and related terminations or resignations related to abusive conduct involving an applicant for a school district position.
  • Establishes requirements around reporting disclosures of abuse involving a school district employee. 
  • Requires all private, parochial, and church schools to complete comprehensive background checks for all new hires and student teachers, with the option to complete an updated background check every five years. 

This legislation is the result of several years of advocacy by the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team and others to ensure kids have a safe learning environment with safe adults.

Senate Bill 122, championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and Representative Nick Wilson, requires courts to consider alternative sentences for parents of dependent children who committed low-level and nonviolent offenses. In 2025, the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and Bloom Kentucky‘s legislative priorities included the Family Preservation and Accountability Act. 

With the hard work of advocates and legislative champions, it successfully passed both chambers in 2026 and was signed into law by the Governor.

Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Wins for Kids 

House Bill 6, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and based on the recommendations of the Kentucky Chamber’s Early Childhood Collaborative, establishes stronger child care infrastructure throughout the state for child care centers and family child care homes. 

This robust legislation requires annual training for child care providers on special education, a Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team priority to boost the safety of young children with disabilities when in the care of others. It also permanently establishes the free child care for child care provider benefit and will help Kentucky update its subsidy system to a model based on what child care actually costs rather than what parents can afford, along with many other components. 

House Bill 102 (components adopted within House Bill 253), sponsored by Representative James Tipton, addresses the risk of sexual misconduct by school district employees. This legislation includes the following provisions:

  • Prohibits nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct involving minor students.
  • Requires school districts to disclose any disciplinary action and related terminations or resignations related to abusive conduct involving an applicant for a school district position.
  • Establishes requirements around reporting disclosures of abuse involving a school district employee. 
  • Requires all private, parochial, and church schools to complete comprehensive background checks for all new hires and student teachers, with the option to complete an updated background check every five years. 

This legislation is the result of several years of advocacy by the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team and others to ensure kids have a safe learning environment with safe adults.

Senate Bill 122, championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and Representative Nick Wilson, requires courts to consider alternative sentences for parents of dependent children who committed low-level and nonviolent offenses. In 2025, the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and Bloom Kentucky‘s legislative priorities included the Family Preservation and Accountability Act. 

With the hard work of advocates and legislative champions, it successfully passed both chambers in 2026 and was signed into law by the Governor.

Other Wins for Kids

House Bill 4, sponsored by Representative Marianne Proctor, criminalizes grooming of minors and classifies the offense as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the perpetrators age and relationship to the child. With passage of this Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team priority, Kentucky becomes one of less than 20 states with an anti-grooming law, giving local law enforcement the ability to intervene in potential child sexual abuse cases earlier. 

House Bill 333, sponsored by Representative Michael Pollock, promotes access to affordable housing by creating certain exemptions for religious institutions building affordable housing on their property. With a shortage in housing units across the Commonwealth, this allows religious institutions to develop on their property and expand access to housing options. 

House Bill 669, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, ensures that a child’s earned federal benefits, such as Social Security survivor benefits, are preserved for the youth rather than used to reimburse the state. It requires CHFS to determine eligibility, apply for benefits, conserve funds in approved accounts, and release them when a young person exits care. It also establishes a program allowing youth to access a portion of these funds after reaching key milestones toward financial independence. This will allow young people better access to their benefits and ensure they are transitioning to adulthood with more support. 

House Bill 778, sponsored by Representative Nick Wilson, is a comprehensive child welfare bill that creates modifications to several current policies, including:

  • Prohibits children from being placed in the care of someone who is a registered sex offender or has a registered sex offender living in their home.
  • Clarifies access to summary information related to youth diversion agreements and notifications when a child is listed on a protective order.
  • Requires comprehensive drug screens for certain child abuse and neglect-related reports.
  • Expands the child fatality and near fatality external review panels access to documentation maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
  • Enhances the penalty for criminal abuse or neglect if the child is under the age of 13 and has suffered a serious physical injury resulting from ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance.
  • Requires ongoing training for various professions on recognizing and preventing pediatric ingestions including law enforcement, child care, medical professionals, and social workers. 

Rep. Wilson and co-sponsors have listened to advocates from across the state as well as the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel members with efforts to continue to address child safety. 

Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Senator Brandon Storm, establishes the ‘Supporting Opportunities for Accountability and Restoration’ pilot program in at least 10 school districts. The program requires any student in grades 6-12 who has missed 5 days of school, as well as their parents, to participate in the program to address barriers to attendance and successful completion of diversion programs. It’s especially important given the increase in the number of children and parents entering the juvenile and family court systems for attendance-related issues. 

Other Wins for Kids

House Bill 4, sponsored by Representative Marianne Proctor, criminalizes grooming of minors and classifies the offense as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the perpetrators age and relationship to the child. With passage of this Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team priority, Kentucky becomes one of less than 20 states with an anti-grooming law, giving local law enforcement the ability to intervene in potential child sexual abuse cases earlier. 

House Bill 333, sponsored by Representative Michael Pollock, promotes access to affordable housing by creating certain exemptions for religious institutions building affordable housing on their property. With a shortage in housing units across the Commonwealth, this allows religious institutions to develop on their property and expand access to housing options. 

House Bill 669, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, ensures that a child’s earned federal benefits, such as Social Security survivor benefits, are preserved for the youth rather than used to reimburse the state. It requires CHFS to determine eligibility, apply for benefits, conserve funds in approved accounts, and release them when a young person exits care. It also establishes a program allowing youth to access a portion of these funds after reaching key milestones toward financial independence. This will allow young people better access to their benefits and ensure they are transitioning to adulthood with more support. 

House Bill 778, sponsored by Representative Nick Wilson, is a comprehensive child welfare bill that creates modifications to several current policies, including:

  • Prohibits children from being placed in the care of someone who is a registered sex offender or has a registered sex offender living in their home.
  • Clarifies access to summary information related to youth diversion agreements and notifications when a child is listed on a protective order.
  • Requires comprehensive drug screens for certain child abuse and neglect-related reports.
  • Expands the child fatality and near fatality external review panels access to documentation maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
  • Enhances the penalty for criminal abuse or neglect if the child is under the age of 13 and has suffered a serious physical injury resulting from ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance.
  • Requires ongoing training for various professions on recognizing and preventing pediatric ingestions including law enforcement, child care, medical professionals, and social workers. 

Rep. Wilson and co-sponsors have listened to advocates from across the state as well as the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel members with efforts to continue to address child safety. 

Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Senator Brandon Storm, establishes the ‘Supporting Opportunities for Accountability and Restoration’ pilot program in at least 10 school districts. The program requires any student in grades 6-12 who has missed 5 days of school, as well as their parents, to participate in the program to address barriers to attendance and successful completion of diversion programs. It’s especially important given the increase in the number of children and parents entering the juvenile and family court systems for attendance-related issues. 

Missed Opportunities for Kids

House Bill 338, sponsored by Representative Susan Witten, would have promoted family housing stability by expunging dismissed eviction filings and prohibiting minors from being named on eviction filings. The average family facing eviction in Kentucky has at least one child in the household. By making common sense changes to the eviction process, this bill would have helped protect the future well-being and housing security of children. 

HB 338 passed unanimously out of the House, but failed to advance in the Senate. 

House Bill 598, sponsored by Representative Stephanie Dietz, would have strengthened the quality and consistency of guardians ad litem and other court-appointed counsel in child welfare cases. In an effort to improve family legal representation, the bill would have created an independent agency known as the Department of Family Representation and Advocacy to centralize attorney appointment, compensation, training, and oversight. 

HB 598 advanced through the House Families and Children Committee with favorable intent, but did not receive a vote on the House Floor.

House Bill 686, sponsored by Representative Kim Moser, would have established the Kentucky Positive Youth Development commission and trust fund, consisting of any incoming social media settlements monies, in addition to state appropriations, gifts, grants and federal funds. These funds would have been used to support the research and development of positive youth development programming for children and transition age youth. The bill also would have established a Suicide Awareness and Reduction Network within the State Interagency Council. Relatedly, House Bill 227, sponsored by Matt Lockett, would have created guardrails to protect children from addictive online platforms. 

As we begin to see social media companies settle with individuals and jurisdictions, the development of a Commission is critical to ensure Kentucky is prepared to direct funds to what youth need to address the harms social media has shown to cause. 

Both bills saw progress in the House but unfortunately stalled in the Senate. 

Senate Bill 74, sponsored by Senator Craig Richardson, would have directed funds awarded to Kentucky as part of the JUUL settlement to be allocated toward tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation programming for youth. 

Unfortunately the General Assembly did not direct those funds so settlement monies are continuing to be added to the state’s general fund and not invested in prevention opportunities.

Missed Opportunities for Kids

House Bill 338, sponsored by Representative Susan Witten, would have promoted family housing stability by expunging dismissed eviction filings and prohibiting minors from being named on eviction filings. The average family facing eviction in Kentucky has at least one child in the household. By making common sense changes to the eviction process, this bill would have helped protect the future well-being and housing security of children. 

HB 338 passed unanimously out of the House, but failed to advance in the Senate. 

House Bill 598, sponsored by Representative Stephanie Dietz, would have strengthened the quality and consistency of guardians ad litem and other court-appointed counsel in child welfare cases. In an effort to improve family legal representation, the bill would have created an independent agency known as the Department of Family Representation and Advocacy to centralize attorney appointment, compensation, training, and oversight. 

HB 598 advanced through the House Families and Children Committee with favorable intent, but did not receive a vote on the House Floor.

House Bill 686, sponsored by Representative Kim Moser, would have established the Kentucky Positive Youth Development commission and trust fund, consisting of any incoming social media settlements monies, in addition to state appropriations, gifts, grants and federal funds. These funds would have been used to support the research and development of positive youth development programming for children and transition age youth. The bill also would have established a Suicide Awareness and Reduction Network within the State Interagency Council. Relatedly, House Bill 227, sponsored by Matt Lockett, would have created guardrails to protect children from addictive online platforms. 

As we begin to see social media companies settle with individuals and jurisdictions, the development of a Commission is critical to ensure Kentucky is prepared to direct funds to what youth need to address the harms social media has shown to cause. 

Both bills saw progress in the House but unfortunately stalled in the Senate. 

Senate Bill 74, sponsored by Senator Craig Richardson, would have directed funds awarded to Kentucky as part of the JUUL settlement to be allocated toward tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation programming for youth. 

Unfortunately the General Assembly did not direct those funds so settlement monies are continuing to be added to the state’s general fund and not invested in prevention opportunities.

Bills for Kids that Made Some Progress 

House Bill 51, filed by Representative Shane Baker, would have established a process for bills to be evaluated through Family Impact Statements. By requiring a data-driven assessment of how legislation affects various determinants of family well-being, Kentucky could have ensured that proposed legislation considers conditions that may exacerbate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and promote Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). 

Several bills were filed this session to address diaper need in Kentucky. Senate Bill 258, House Bill 865, and House Bill 114 would have removed Kentucky’s sales tax on diapers. Senate Bill 58 and House Bill 302 would have established a diaper trust fund to provide financial support for diaper access programs across the state. Diaper need affects households across Kentucky and these bills would have taken an important step toward supporting healthy children and families. Despite six bills filed to address diaper needs, there was limited movement on this common-sense priority. 

Two bills were filed to establish common sense standards around utility disconnection in Kentucky. House Bill 377, sponsored by Representative Susan Witten, would have prohibited utility disconnection due to nonpayment during specific weather conditions and codified it into law for all utility providers to follow. Senate Bill 88, sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, would have required utility providers to develop and submit their extreme weather disconnection policies to the Public Service Commission, which serves as the regulatory body for utilities. This would have ensured each utility provider has an extreme weather policy and increases transparency for consumers. Though we are disappointed that neither of these bills advanced, we are glad to see that the need for common sense utility disconnection policies is continuing to be discussed in Frankfort. 

Senate Bill 14, filed by Matthew Deneen, would have expanded the current state paid family medical leave policy to all three branches of government and let employees utilize the leave with each new birth of a child. Unfortunately, the bill was not heard in committee and Executive Branch employees must still wait 10 years to take paid parental leave in between children.

Senate Bill 358, filed by Senator Jason Howell, would have required law enforcement or court designated workers to arrange for a child to speak with an attorney about their legal rights prior to an interrogation or interview and before waiving their Miranda rights. This developmentally appropriate measure would have ensured young people were making informed, unspontaneous decisions. 

Bills for Kids that Made Some Progress

House Bill 51, filed by Representative Shane Baker, would have established a process for bills to be evaluated through Family Impact Statements. By requiring a data-driven assessment of how legislation affects various determinants of family well-being, Kentucky could have ensured that proposed legislation considers conditions that may exacerbate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and promote Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). 

Several bills were filed this session to address diaper need in Kentucky. Senate Bill 258, House Bill 865, and House Bill 114 would have removed Kentucky’s sales tax on diapers. Senate Bill 58 and House Bill 302 would have established a diaper trust fund to provide financial support for diaper access programs across the state. Diaper need affects households across Kentucky and these bills would have taken an important step toward supporting healthy children and families. Despite six bills filed to address diaper needs, there was limited movement on this common-sense priority. 

Two bills were filed to establish common sense standards around utility disconnection in Kentucky. House Bill 377, sponsored by Representative Susan Witten, would have prohibited utility disconnection due to nonpayment during specific weather conditions and codified it into law for all utility providers to follow. Senate Bill 88, sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, would have required utility providers to develop and submit their extreme weather disconnection policies to the Public Service Commission, which serves as the regulatory body for utilities. This would have ensured each utility provider has an extreme weather policy and increases transparency for consumers. Though we are disappointed that neither of these bills advanced, we are glad to see that the need for common sense utility disconnection policies is continuing to be discussed in Frankfort. 

Senate Bill 14, filed by Matthew Deneen, would have expanded the current state paid family medical leave policy to all three branches of government and let employees utilize the leave with each new birth of a child. Unfortunately, the bill was not heard in committee and Executive Branch employees must still wait 10 years to take paid parental leave in between children.

Senate Bill 358, filed by Senator Jason Howell, would have required law enforcement or court designated workers to arrange for a child to speak with an attorney about their legal rights prior to an interrogation or interview and before waiving their Miranda rights. This developmentally appropriate measure would have ensured young people were making informed, unspontaneous decisions.