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Kentucky House Majority Caucus — Legislative Update
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By Representative Scott Lewis
Week in Review: Families and Children, Judiciary, Education
With 28 days of the session behind us, the legislature continues to work hard throughout the 2026 Regular Session. The House’s Standing Committees continue to meet weekly and send bills to the House floor for passage. I would like to highlight the work that has been done this week and detail the legislative measures coming to the House for consideration.
Appropriations and Revenue: Members heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) on funding for victim advocacy, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) error-rate reduction and Medicaid. SNAP, administered by CHFS, provides monthly benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families in Kentucky to help purchase food. The committee also heard from the Kentucky Department of Education on funding for mental health services and from the Education and Labor Cabinet on the sale of property. Members also heard from the Auditor of Public Accounts.
Families and Children: Members approved two measures related to child care centers. First, the committee approved HB 6. This measure would significantly reform the statutory and regulatory environment that governs the child care sector. This includes the modernization of the Employee Child Care Assistance Program, standardization of data collection and an enhancement of the All-Stars child care rating system that emphasizes outcome-based standards. The committee approved HJR 50, which would direct the auditor’s office to study the statutes, administrative regulations and agency policies and processes that impact the opening and operation of licensed and certified child care services in the Commonwealth.
Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs: Members approved HB 136. The measure would expand current laws on the use of campaign funds to allow candidates for state office to use campaign funds for security measures.
Health Services: Members discussed House Bill 485, an act relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness. House Bill 485 would give doctors and judges more tools to care for and treat individuals with mental illness. Right now, the only options are hospitalization or release. Ultimately, this bill would substantially improve the laws around mental illness, so better help available to those with mental illness.
Judiciary: Members met to discuss three bills. HB 58 would address the balance of privacy and technology for the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). ALPRs are used to control parking access and security, collect tolls on public roads and enhance safety. HB 264 would add scam to theft by deception for real estate including residential and commercial property. HB 529 would establish a term of four years for parole board members, allow the governor to extend a board member’s term by one year, and allow the board to use a two-member panel if necessary to handle the volume of cases.
Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations: Members first discussed HB 526, which would make membership in the Kentucky Bar Association voluntary. Members then discussed HB 424, which would modernize and update statutes governing the practice of social work in Kentucky. Lastly, members discussed HB 459, which would require licensing authorities of health care occupations to collect workforce participation data during the licensure renewal process. It would also authorize the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists to grant licensure to an applicant who holds an active license from another state and meets other requirements to practice as an independent marriage and family therapist.
Local Government: Members met to discuss HB 448. The measure would clarify and modernize the sharing of criminal history records for federally authorized background checks while maintaining strong privacy protections. Additionally, HB 448 would allow Kentucky criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records information to authorized federal agencies conducting basic suitability or fitness assessments for federal or contractor employment. The bill would align state law with existing federal requirements by ensuring agencies can participate in background checks without placing additional monetary burdens on the Commonwealth.
Postsecondary Education: Members discussed and approved several legislative measures. First, the panel discussed HB 490, which would allow universities to remove faculty members due to bona fide financial reasons. Next, they approved HB 307. This measure would establish a proactive postsecondary enrollment program for prospective resident students. Finally, the committee approved HB 497, which would utilize Pell and other postsecondary grant programs for eligible students to offset the cost of higher education tuition waiver programs by requiring students using tuition waivers to complete the FAFSA.
Primary and Secondary Education: As chair of this committee, I was pleased to welcome representatives from the Career and Technical Education Student Organization and the Governor’s Scholars Program as they updated lawmakers on their accomplishments as well as needs. Afterwards, the committee shifted to considering bills. They approved HB 498, which would establish a pathway for adults to earn a high school diploma and develop workforce skills. The second and final bill for consideration was HB 562, which would establish an additional high school diploma option for eligible students who currently receive only a certificate of completion.
Transportation: Members discussed House Bill 293, which would require vehicles operating on a highway with an iron, steel, or wooden wheel to be equipped with a rubberized strip on the portion of the wheel that contacts the highway. Exceptions would be made for certain animal-drawn vehicles. Each violation would result in a fine ranging from $20 to $100.
Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection: Members met to discuss HB 335, 436, 508, and HCR 44. HB 508 aims to protect veterans benefits by enforcing guardrails for advising or assisting with veterans’ benefits. HCR 44 complements HB 508 urging Congress to pass an accreditation pathway for private companies assisting veterans with their benefits. Members then discussed HB 335, which would require schools to train staff to use anti-choking devices if they have purchased them. Members then discussed HB 436, which would allow PGA HOPE program graduates and one guest to use golf courses at state parks for golf cart rental fees only.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
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