With just 38 days remaining in the 2026 Regular Session, lawmakers have officially crossed the one-third mark. The pace has only accelerated as committees continue to meet, bills move through the legislative process, and work on the state budget remains front and center. These final weeks are critical, as decisions made now will shape Kentucky’s priorities for years to come.
The Capitol Annex has also been packed as Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth traveled to Frankfort to share their perspectives, advocate for issues important to their communities, and take part in the legislative process. From farmers and veterans to students, educators, and small business owners, these voices play a big role in our work and remind lawmakers who we serve. As the session moves into its next phase, working with stakeholders like them will remain key as we work to deliver responsible solutions for Kentucky’s future.
In the meantime, here are several of the bills that cleared the House this week and are now in the Senate for consideration:
HB 4 would define and criminalize behavior commonly referred to as grooming. Under provisions of HB 4, grooming refers to the manipulative and deceptive process by which a predator builds a relationship with a vulnerable person, such as a child, to gain trust and access for abuse or exploitation.
HB 103 would clarify that local governments may vote to opt out of state water fluoridation programs.
HB 143 would require a fiduciary bond ordered by a court to be signed by the fiduciary in the presence of a notary public rather than before the clerk of the court.
HB 164 would modernize how state law defines hearing aids and increase the amount covered by both public and private health insurance plans from $1,400 to $2,500. The measure also includes standards for services offered within a network required by an insurer or plan administrator.
HB 169 would remove BMI, commonly known as body mass index, from treatment standards used by health insurance plans marketed in Kentucky, ensuring that care decisions are based on clinical need rather than an arbitrary numerical threshold. Instead, the bill outlines factors such as eating behaviors and the need for support interventions that should be used to determine the medical necessity of treatment.
HB 188 would expand the scope of third-degree assault to include healthcare workers in jails, penitentiaries, and local or state correctional or detention facilities.
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 not designated for pedestrian use, with a few exceptions. Violators would be fined between $20 and $100 for each offense, as outlined in Kentucky law.
HB 194 would establish a formal definition for cigar bars to ensure these establishments are recognized for their unique contributions to Kentucky’s hospitality and retail sectors. Under the measure, a cigar bar must generate at least 25% of its annual gross income from the sale of cigars, pipe tobacco, and related accessories.
HB 212 would expand access to routine animal health care by authorizing Kentucky-licensed veterinary technicians to administer rabies vaccinations to dogs, cats, and ferrets, under the direct supervision of a veterinarian who is on the premises.
HB 258 would modernize transportation rules for dairy farmers by allowing vehicles weighing up to 90,000 pounds and transporting fluid milk from a farm to the first market to operate on any state highway, with a 10% weight tolerance.
HB 314 would strengthen accountability of KentuckyWired, the taxpayer-funded program that allows internet service providers to connect to critical infrastructure and expand broadband access across Kentucky’s counties, especially in rural and underserved communities. The bill transfers administrative control of KentuckyWired to the Commonwealth Office of Technology, the agency that already provides technology support for all of state government.
HB 387 would add a licensed equine veterinarian and a licensed livestock veterinarian—both of whom prescribe and dispense scheduled drugs—to the Controlled Substances Prescribing Council, ensuring the veterinary profession has a meaningful voice in discussions and decisions that directly affect their work.
HB 393 would address the critical need for early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Specifically, the proposal would require the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) Advisory Council to develop, implement, and disseminate a health care provider toolkit on early detection and diagnosis.
HB 398 would clarify existing law to ensure the costs of decommissioning coal-fired plants can be recovered throughout the life of the plant, rather than at the end of the facility’s life after misinterpretation by the Public Service Commission.
HB 419 would strengthen firefighter representation on the Kentucky Fire Commission and expand access to lifesaving cancer screenings.
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)