Kentucky House members have filed more than 400 bills and resolutions for consideration as of January 16, when we broke for the three-day weekend. Among them are measures aimed at protecting children, recruiting teachers, making health care more accessible, updating outdated childcare regulations, and providing a framework for a disaster-response volunteer network.
Based on past sessions, I expect several hundred more bills to be filed before the March 4 filing deadline for House bills. However, only a fraction will make their way through the entire legislative process – which includes committee consideration and passage in both the House and Senate. This is by design, as our system recognizes that good laws provide solutions, but more laws tend to create more problems.
Among the bills filed so far this session are the following:
HB 3, which I am the proud sponsor of, would ensure pharmacists are paid for providing routine, preventative, and chronic-care services they are already delivering every day in communities across Kentucky, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
HB 4 would criminalize grooming behavior, the manipulative and deceptive process by which a predator builds a relationship with a vulnerable person, such as a child, to gain their trust and access for abuse or exploitation.
HB 61 would establish the Kentucky Emergency Volunteer (KEV) Corps, an all-volunteer, unarmed adjunct to the Kentucky National Guard that reports to the local emergency management coordinators in emergency situations such as floods, tornados, storms, and earthquakes.
HB 189 would prohibit a person from sitting, kneeling, reclining, standing, or remaining physically stationary in any portion of a state-maintained right-of-way that is not designated for pedestrian use, with a few exceptions.
HB 190 would eliminate an unnecessary regulatory burden for childcare centers by modernizing the square-footage calculation used to determine capacity.
HB 213 would provide city and county governments the ability to reemploy retired police officers without incurring employer retirement contributions.
HB 249 would close a loophole in state law that allows individuals accused of unlawful sexual conduct to be released from custody if they are mentally incompetent to stand trial.
House Bill 338 would ensure that dismissed eviction filings are automatically sealed, protecting youth and others from public disclosure. Currently, even dismissed cases can appear on background checks for years, limiting housing opportunities. The bill helps prevent past, resolved matters from unfairly blocking access to safe, stable housing.
HB 360 is aimed at protecting children from sexually explicit performances by banning them from places children are likely to be present.
HB 416 would shift entry requirements for teacher preparation programs away from summative assessments such as the ACT or SAT and toward formative assessments that better identify students’ strengths and areas for growth.
In addition, two bills pertaining to driver’s licensing have been filed in the House:
HB 162 would eliminate the state’s regional driver licensing offices and return the responsibility for issuing driver’s licenses, REAL IDs, and identification cards to local circuit court clerk offices in every county.
HB 332 would increase access and convenience to driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards by allowing local governments or local officials to provide these services — rather than requiring all applicants to travel to regional driver licensing offices.
Before I finish this week’s update, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr., who often spoke about character, responsibility, and service. He reminded us that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” On MLK Day, we honor this timeless message, encouraging each of us to act with integrity, support our neighbors, and contribute to a stronger, more connected community. It’s a day to remember that meaningful leadership and true progress come not from words alone, but from the actions we take to serve others and lift up those around us.
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 Amy.Neighbors@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
(HD21 – News from the Office of Rep. Neighbors)