As we approach the halfway point of the 2025 Legislative Session, my colleagues and I continue to debate the merits of legislation filed for consideration this year. During the second week of February, legislative committees met to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from healthcare and education, to transportation and agriculture. More than 500 House Bills (HBs) have been filed, but here is a snapshot of the measures considered February 11-13:Â
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Agriculture: Lawmakers discussed HB 24, which relates to district audits by adding specific language to the definition of “special purpose governmental entity” to include soil and water conservation services. They also approved HB 216, which focuses on the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy and introduces a new section in KRS Chapter 246 to facilitate participation, application, or receipt of funds, awards, or contracts administered by the department’s Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy.
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Banking and Insurance: Members met this week to discuss and consider HB 184 and HB 233. HB 184 would extend the insurance regulatory sandbox program until December 31, 2030, and prolong the Commissioner of Insurance’s reporting requirements. Members also considered HB 233, which would enhance consumer protection by preventing harmful practices associated with property and casualty insurance related to real estate goods or service contracts through establishing clear consumer rights and penalties. Â
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Health Services:Â Members considered HB 219 and HB 303, as well as House Concurrent Resolution 20. The measure, HB 219, would require hospitals that offer emergency services to develop and provide training for emergency department staff on sexual assault response protocols and resources. HB 303 would direct Kentucky Universities to develop academic career pathways and integrated bridge programs to prepare military healthcare personnel for licensure in various healthcare-related fields. Finally, HCR 20 would direct the Legislative Research Commission to study access to sexual assault nurse examiners across the Commonwealth. All measures passed with favorable expression and will move to the House floor for a vote.
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Judiciary:Â Legislators discussed HB 38 and HB 206. HB 38, would enhance criminal penalties for repeated violations of a protection order. HB 206 would establish a course of action for a person who was wrongfully convicted of a felony in the Commonwealth. HB 206 specifies that the claimant would receive $65,000 for each year if imprisonment, $75,000 for each year of imprisonment if the claimant had a death sentence, or $32,5000 for each additional year that the claimant served on parole or post incarceration supervision or was required to serve as a sex offender.Â
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Local Government:Â Legislators on the committee approved HB 160 and HB 211. HB 160 would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that treat manufactured homes differently from single-family homes. HB 211 would prevent local governments from restricting cigar bars.
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Natural Resources and Energy:Â Members approved HB 137, which relates to air quality monitoring, and would require that only the most current data collection methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) be used for air quality monitoring, and specifies that data collected using unapproved methods shall not be admissible in enforcement proceedings. They also approved HB 196, which would reduce the number of emergency medical or mine emergency technicians on shift at active coal mines from two to one for shifts with 10 or fewer employees. Both bills passed with favorable expression and will move to the House Floor for a vote.
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Postsecondary Education:Â Lawmakers on the committee approved HB 251, which transfers oversight authority of teacher education programs from the Council on Postsecondary Education to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB). Currently, CPE provides oversight with collaboration from EPSB. This legislation swaps the roles of the organizations, granting oversight authority to EPSB. Committee members also approved HB 263, which clarifies residency requires for student-teachers to receive funds from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority through the Student Teacher Stipend Program.Â
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Primary and Secondary Education: Members approved several legislative measures. First, the committee approved HB 132, which would allow students in inpatient facilities to receive home and hospital education services from the day of admittance. The panel also approved HB 272. This measure would require local school boards to establish policies to support students with dyslexia and other reading and writing difficulties. Additionally, members approved HB 240 and HB 193. HB 193 combines sections of state statutes related to dual credit scholarships into a single statute for clarity. And, lawmakers on the committee passed HB 240, which would implement a universal reading proficiency screener for kindergarten students, placing more emphasis on ensuring students are ready to proceed to first grade and allowing educators and parents to work together to strengthen a child’s reading ability.Â
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Transportation: Legislators on the committee approved HB 15, which would allow a person who is at least 15-years-old to apply for an instruction permit. Additionally, the committee approved HB 161, which would allow third party entities to issues driver’s license renewals.
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Veterans, Military Affairs, Public Protection: Members passed two bills, HB 152 and HB 191, this week. HB 152 would require the Department for Medicaid Services to submit a Medicaid preprint to establish a supplemental payment program for public ground ambulance providers. HB 191 would expand interment eligibility in Kentucky state veterans’ cemeteries to include eligible National Guard and reserve members and their families.Â
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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 e-mail at Patrick.Flannery@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
