Kentucky Bill Book

This bill would stop Kentucky's government from paying for gender transition care, making it harder for people to get these services.

This bill would stop all public money, including Medicaid and state employee plans, from covering gender transition services. If this bill passes, people who rely on public health plans would have to pay for these services themselves or not get them at all. Doctors who provide these services and accept public money could lose their licenses. Supporters of the bill might say it saves taxpayer money or aligns with certain values. But for people needing this care, it would make it much harder to get. Now is the time to speak up because the bill is still being reviewed by lawmakers.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — Removes state responsibility for care. The bill would stop health care providers from accepting state or local government payment for gender transition services and would revoke licenses for violations, reducing accountability for the state to provide comprehensive care.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Removes access to healthcare. This bill would remove the right for individuals relying on public funds or health plans to receive coverage for gender transition services, effectively blocking access for many.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts costs to individuals. The bill would shift the entire cost of gender transition services from public health plans and government funds directly onto individuals who need these services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No direct impact on transparency. The bill's text does not indicate any specific issues with process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Defunds specific healthcare services. The bill would prohibit the use of state or local government funds and publicly funded health plans for gender transition services, tilting funding away from this care.

Pushing for it: Taxpayers (potential savings from not funding services)
Bearing the cost: Individuals needing gender transition services (would pay out-of-pocket)

• Official text (KY HB553)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb553.html
• LegiScan — HB553https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB553/2026

The bill would let insurers from other states skip Kentucky insurance rules and taxes, which could lower consumer protections and cost the state money.

If passed, Kentucky residents could see fewer protections on their health plans and the state could lose tax revenue, while out‑of‑state insurers get a cheaper way to sell policies.

Insurers

• Accountability (hurts) — Insurers not held to state insurance regulations. Exempting out‑of‑state insurers reduces oversight and accountability.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Consumer protections weakened. Skipping state insurance rules may lower safeguards for policyholders.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Tax revenue lost to state. State loses taxes and fees that would otherwise help fund public services.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Early stage bill. The bill is just introduced; details are limited.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Reduces state funding. Exempting taxes shifts financial burden away from insurers toward taxpayers.

• Official text (KY HB91)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb91.html
• LegiScan — HB91https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB91/2026

Racing facilities could not be sued for noise or other problems if they were built before nearby land was bought or built on.

Neighbors of a race track would lose the chance to sue if the track was there first. That means any noise, traffic, or other trouble stays with them. The bill helps track owners, not everyday people.

Motorsports racing facilities

• Accountability (hurts) — Immunity reduces accountability for track owners. Track owners cannot be sued for nuisance, limiting oversight.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Removes right to sue. Nearby property owners lose the ability to take legal action.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs shift to neighbors. Neighbors must absorb noise and traffic impacts without compensation.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency measures. Bill does not require public reporting or oversight.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. Bill does not allocate or shift money.

Pushing for it: Motorsports racing facilities
Bearing the cost: Nearby property owners

• Official text (KY HB423)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb423.html
• LegiScan — HB423https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB423/2026

The bill would force agencies to decide permits in 60 days or automatically approve them, and let applicants sue for fees if denied unfairly.

If passed, developers could get projects moving faster and avoid costly delays, while neighbors lose a chance to challenge permits unless they own nearby land.

Construction

• Accountability (neutral) — Adds some accountability but grants immunity. Requires timely decisions and fee awards, but authority immunity reduces accountability.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Limits who can challenge permits. Only adjacent property owners with concrete harm can sue.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs shift depending on outcome. Authority pays fees when losing, applicant may pay fees if challenge fails.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Sets clear timelines. Mandates info on requirements and quick reviews.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding. No budget changes mentioned.

• Official text (KY HB530)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb530.html
• LegiScan — HB530https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB530/2026

Kentucky would let patients get experimental treatments but could force them to pay and stop them from suing manufacturers.

The bill could give sick people a new hope, yet it may leave them with huge bills and no legal recourse if things go wrong, so voters should watch it closely.

Manufacturers

• Accountability (hurts) — Manufacturers gain broad protection from lawsuits.. The bill prohibits private actions against manufacturers that exercised reasonable care.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Reduces patient ability to sue for harms.. It bars lawsuits and limits licensing board actions against providers.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs shift to patients.. Manufacturers may require patients to pay for the investigational treatment.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No clear changes to transparency.. The bill adds definitions but does not require public reporting.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding provisions.. The text does not allocate money or create funding mechanisms.

• Official text (KY HB543)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb543.html
• LegiScan — HB543https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB543/2026

The bill would raise monthly health subsidies for retired state employees, but would also raise current workers' contributions to fund those benefits.

Retirees would see more help with medical costs, but the extra money would come from today's workers, so families may feel higher payroll cuts while hoping for better retirement care.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral. Bill does not change oversight mechanisms.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — positive. Increases health subsidies for retirees.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — negative. Raises employee contribution to 2% of pay.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. No new reporting requirements.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — negative. Costs shift to current workers via higher contributions.

• Official text (KY HB98)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb98.html
• LegiScan — HB98https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB98/2026

This bill would make it against the law to share fake videos of people without their permission and set a time limit to take action.

This bill aims to protect people from having fake videos of them spread online. It would create new rules about sharing these 'deep fakes' and set penalties for breaking them. It also sets a deadline for people to take legal action if their image is used without permission. This is important because fake videos can harm someone's reputation and cause distress. The bill is still early in the process, so now is the time for people to let their lawmakers know if they support these protections.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Creates new accountability for those who create and spread deep fakes.. This bill establishes criminal penalties and a civil statute of limitations for the unlawful dissemination of deep fakes, thereby creating a new avenue for accountability.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Adds protections against the misuse of a person's likeness.. The bill creates limitations on the dissemination of deep fakes, aiming to protect individuals from the unauthorized and potentially harmful use of their likeness.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs associated with enforcement and potential legal action.. The bill outlines criminal penalties and civil statutes of limitations, implying potential costs for enforcement by the state and legal costs for individuals involved in lawsuits.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill has been introduced and referred to a committee, following a standard legislative process for review and potential amendment.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding mentioned.. The provided text does not detail any specific funding mechanisms or allocations related to the implementation or enforcement of this bill.

• Official text (KY HB63)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb63.html
• LegiScan — HB63https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB63/2026

People could sue the government if tax money is used to push or oppose ballot measures, and officials could lose jobs for ten years.

The bill would let taxpayers hold officials accountable for misusing public money on politics, protecting fair elections and deterring corrupt lobbying, but it could also chill government communication.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds civil liability. creates cause of action for misuse of tax dollars
• Rights & Protections (helps) — gives citizens right to sue. allows class actions and damages per violation
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts cost to officials. bars liable persons from public positions for ten years
• Process Transparency (neutral) — sets filing limits and venue. establishes time limit and appropriate court
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new spending. does not allocate money

• Official text (KY HB394)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb394.html
• LegiScan — HB394https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB394/2026

The bill would make health plans cover counseling for pregnant and postpartum people at risk of depression.

This could help moms get needed mental health help early, but it may shift some costs to the state if private insurers are exempted.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — positive. requires insurers to provide mental health counseling coverage
• Rights & Protections (helps) — positive. expands access to mental health care for pregnant people
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — negative. may shift cost to state if private plans are exempted
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. adds federal approval step for health cabinet
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — negative. potentially increases state spending on coverage

• Official text (KY HB21)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb21.html
• LegiScan — HB21https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB21/2026

Renters could claim a refundable credit worth 25% of their rent, up to $1,000, lowering their tax bill.

The credit would put money back in renters’ pockets, helping low‑income families afford housing, but it would also reduce state tax revenue, meaning other services might feel the pinch.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. Bill does not add accountability mechanisms
• Rights & Protections (helps) — expands renter benefit. Provides refundable credit to renters
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — state loses revenue. Refundable credit reduces tax receipts
• Process Transparency (neutral) — requires reporting. Dept of Revenue must track credits
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — cost to state budget. Refundable credit shifts money to renters

• Official text (KY HB426)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb426.html
• LegiScan — HB426https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB426/2026

This bill would let renters sue landlords who don't fix serious housing problems, making landlords fix things or pay up.

This bill is a big win for renters. Right now, it can be hard to make landlords fix broken things, even when they are supposed to. This bill would give you a clear way to take your landlord to court if they get a ticket for a housing problem and don't fix it in 90 days. It means landlords would have to take housing problems more seriously. If this bill passes, it would make sure landlords are held responsible for keeping homes safe and livable. You should pay attention to this bill because it could give you more power as a renter.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Landlords would be more accountable for fixing housing code violations.. Creates a civil cause of action for a tenant against a landlord who receives a citation for a violation of a local housing code and does not remedy the violation within 90 days.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Tenants would gain a new right to sue for unmade repairs.. Establishes a civil cause of action for a tenant against a landlord for housing code violations and specifies recoverable damages.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Landlords would bear the cost of repairs or damages if they fail to fix issues.. Specifies recoverable damages for tenants and provides that the landlord may refund rent if the cost of repair exceeds 12 months' rent.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill establishes clear procedures for lawsuits and rent payments.. Establishes procedure for determining cost of repair, specifies recoverable damages, and establishes procedure for maintaining a forcible detainer action during the pendency of the tenant's civil action.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No direct funding changes, but shifts financial risk for non-compliance to landlords.. The bill does not include specific funding provisions, but outlines financial consequences for landlords who do not remedy housing code violations.

Pushing for it: Tenants (through damages or forced repairs)
Bearing the cost: Landlords (through repair costs or damages paid)

• Official text (KY HB319)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb319.html
• LegiScan — HB319https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB319/2026

This bill would let local towns have more control over where big tech buildings are built, making sure neighbors know what's happening and get benefits.

This bill is a big win for local communities. It would give towns more power to decide where huge tech buildings, like data centers, can be placed. It means these big projects would have to tell everyone what they plan to do and offer benefits to the community. Right now, it can be hard for regular people to have a say when big companies want to build something huge nearby. This bill would make sure communities get public notice, impact reports, and a chance to make sure these projects fit in. Some might say these rules make it harder or more costly to build, but the bill aims to balance growth with protecting local neighborhoods. Since it's still moving, now is the time to tell your lawmakers if you think local voices should be heard.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability. Requires disclosure of project owners/operators, community impact reports, and site review plans.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Strengthens local control and community rights. Prevents state preemption of stricter local rules, requires public notice, and consideration of mitigation conditions.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts some costs/benefits to developers. Establishes minimum requirements for community benefits packages, meaning developers would contribute to the community.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Boosts transparency. Mandates public notice, disclosure of owners, and detailed reports for HITI projects.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts funding towards communities. Community benefits packages would provide resources or value to local communities from developers.

Pushing for it: Local communities and residents
Bearing the cost: High intensity technological infrastructure project owners and operators

• Official text (KY HB937)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb937.html
• LegiScan — HB937https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB937/2026

This bill would make gun owners report lost or stolen guns and could make them pay if those guns hurt someone, helping keep communities safer.

This bill would make gun owners tell the police if their guns or bullets go missing. If they do not report it and that gun hurts someone, the owner could have to pay. It would also make people who give guns to kids pay if those kids hurt someone with the gun. This could help keep guns out of the wrong hands and make our neighborhoods safer. But some people might say it puts too many rules on gun owners. Now is the time to speak up while lawmakers are still thinking about this bill.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases responsibility for gun owners.. The bill would make gun owners report lost or stolen firearms and ammunition, and creates civil liability for failing to report or for furnishing a firearm to a minor who causes injury or death.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Boosts public safety and victim recourse.. It would create new ways for people to sue if they are hurt by a lost, stolen, or improperly furnished firearm, offering a path to justice.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Negligent owners could pay.. Civil liability would mean that gun owners who fail to report a lost or stolen firearm, or who furnish a firearm to a minor, could be made to pay for injuries or deaths caused by those firearms.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process.. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, with no unusual procedural aspects noted.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No direct funding changes.. The bill primarily establishes civil liabilities and reporting requirements, with no specific funding allocations or shifts mentioned.

Pushing for it: Victims of gun violence
Bearing the cost: Gun owners who fail to report lost/stolen firearms or furnish firearms to minors

• Official text (KY HB18)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb18.html
• LegiScan — HB18https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB18/2026

This bill would make online platforms protect kids from harmful features and let parents take companies to court if they don't.

This bill is a big win for parents and kids. It would make online companies like social media and AI companion apps take real steps to keep kids safe. This means better age checks and needing a parent's OK for kids to have accounts. If companies don't follow these rules, parents would be able to sue them. This is important because it gives regular people power to make sure big companies protect children online. It also lets the state's Attorney General step in to enforce these rules. This bill is still moving through the legislature, so now is the time to pay attention.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability for online platforms.. Creates a private right of action for violations, allowing individuals to sue online platforms that do not comply with the new protections for minors.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Enhances protections for minors.. Establishes requirements to protect minors from AI companion platforms and social media platforms using addictive features and predatory data collection.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs primarily borne by platforms.. The bill's requirements would place the burden of implementing new protections and age verification on AI companion platforms and social media platforms.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific provisions mentioned.. The official text does not detail any specific provisions related to process transparency for the public.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details provided.. The bill does not mention specific funding allocations or financial tilts.

Pushing for it: Kids and parents seeking damages for violations
Bearing the cost: AI companion platforms and social media platforms

• Official text (KY HB227)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb227.html
• LegiScan — HB227https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB227/2026

This bill would stop landlords from using computer programs to set your rent, making it fairer for you.

This bill would protect renters from potentially unfair rent increases driven by computer programs. These programs can make rents go up quickly, making it harder for people to afford their homes. If this bill passes, landlords would have to set rents in a different way, which could lead to more stable and reasonable prices. Some might say these programs help landlords set fair market prices and make things more efficient. But for regular people, it means less worry about a computer deciding how much they pay for a roof over their head.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Landlords would be more accountable for rent prices.. The bill prohibits algorithmic rent setting, placing the decision-making back with landlords, making them directly responsible for rent amounts.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Tenants gain protection from algorithmic pricing.. By banning algorithmic devices for rent setting, the bill protects residential tenants from potentially unfair or rapidly increasing rents driven by automated systems, treating such use as a violation of consumer protection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Tenants benefit from more stable rent setting.. Tenants would likely benefit from more stable and predictable rent increases, while landlords might incur costs related to manual rent assessment or reduced efficiency from automated systems.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Rent setting becomes more transparent.. Removing algorithmic devices from rent calculation would make the process more transparent, as landlords would need to justify rent amounts based on human-understandable factors.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No direct funding impact.. The bill does not directly involve state funding or appropriations.

Pushing for it: Residential tenants (potential savings from fairer rent)
Bearing the cost: Landlords (potential loss of efficiency or profit from automated rent setting)

• Official text (KY HB201)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb201.html
• LegiScan — HB201https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB201/2026

This bill would make app stores and developers check kids' ages and get parent permission, so parents can better protect their children online.

This bill would give parents more power to protect their kids online. It would make big app stores and the people who make apps check how old users are and get a parent's 'yes' before a child can make an account. If companies don't follow these rules, parents would have the right to take them to court. Some might say these rules are too much work for app makers and could make it harder for kids to use apps. But supporters believe it's a fair way to keep kids safer from things they shouldn't see or do online. This is your chance to speak up while the bill is still being discussed.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Companies would be held responsible for protecting minors.. App stores and developers would be held responsible for verifying ages and getting parental consent, and parents could sue if rules are broken.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Minors' online privacy and safety would be enhanced.. Minors would have more protection online through required age checks and parental consent for their accounts.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — App stores and developers would incur costs for compliance.. App store providers and developers would have to pay to create and run systems for age verification and parental consent.
• Process Transparency (helps) — The Attorney General's Office would establish clear standards.. The Attorney General's Office would set clear standards for how age verification must be done.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding changes are mentioned.. No specific funding changes or allocations are mentioned in the bill's summary.

Pushing for it: Parents and minors (through protection and right to sue)
Bearing the cost: App store providers and developers

• Official text (KY HB632)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb632.html
• LegiScan — HB632https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB632/2026

This bill would make online services keep kids' private information safer and stop tricky ads from reaching them.

This bill is good for kids. It would make sure that online games and apps protect kids' private information. It would stop companies from using tricky ways to get kids to buy things or share too much. Some companies might say it is too hard or costly to change their apps. But protecting kids online is very important. You can tell your lawmakers if you think this bill should pass.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Companies would be more responsible for kids' data. The bill would require online services to set privacy defaults high and prevent certain practices for minors, increasing their accountability.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Kids' privacy rights would be stronger. The bill would give covered minors and parents tools to protect against profiling, targeted advertising, and dark patterns.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Online companies would pay to change their systems. Covered online services would need to reconfigure default privacy settings and implement new protections, incurring costs.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No information on transparency changes. The bill text does not address changes to process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding mentioned. The bill does not specify any new funding or appropriations.

Pushing for it: Kentucky kids and their parents
Bearing the cost: Covered online services

• Official text (KY HB633)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb633.html
• LegiScan — HB633https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB633/2026

This bill would help people get better mental health care and hold insurers accountable for fair treatment.

Now is the time to support this bill. It can make mental health care easier and fairer for everyone. If passed, it could help many people get the help they need.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Strengthens mental health care rights. The bill enhances protections for mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
• Accountability (helps) — Increases accountability for insurers. Insurers must report on their mental health treatment practices.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Improves transparency in mental health coverage. The bill mandates public reporting and oversight by the Attorney General.

• Official text (KY HB279)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb279.html
• LegiScan — HB279https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/HB279/2026

This bill would stop construction companies from pretending their workers are independent contractors to avoid paying them fairly.

Right now, some construction companies tell their workers they are independent contractors. This means the workers don't get benefits like overtime pay or protections. This bill would make sure these workers are treated like employees and get the pay and rights they deserve. It also sets up ways to report problems and punishes companies that break the rules. This is important for making sure everyone in construction gets a fair shake.

Workers

• Accountability (helps) — increases accountability. The bill creates penalties for misclassification and restricts future state contracts for repeat offenders, increasing accountability for construction companies.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — strengthens rights. By prohibiting misclassification, the bill aims to ensure construction workers receive employee benefits and protections they would otherwise be denied.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — shifts costs to employers. The bill shifts the cost of compliance and potential penalties onto employers who misclassify workers, rather than onto the workers themselves.
• Process Transparency (helps) — improves transparency. The bill requires posting notices about complaint procedures and mandates information sharing between government agencies, improving transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — neutral. The bill does not appear to directly create new funding streams or significantly alter existing ones for government agencies involved, making its funding impact neutral.

Pushing for it: construction workers
Bearing the cost: companies that misclassify workers

• Official text (KY SB117)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb117.html
• LegiScan — SB117https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/SB117/2026

The bill would make insurance companies share their mental health coverage data, let people sue if they break parity, and set up a hotline for complaints.

Consumers could finally see if their plans treat mental health the same as physical health, and they could hold insurers accountable without fear of retaliation, protecting their right to care.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds enforcement and private lawsuits. strengthens oversight of insurers
• Rights & Protections (helps) — expands consumer rights. creates private cause of action and protects professionals
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts compliance costs to insurers. audit and reporting duties fall on insurers
• Process Transparency (helps) — requires public reporting. reports and review criteria must be posted online
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding provided. mandates without dedicated budget

• Official text (KY SB212)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb212.html
• LegiScan — SB212https://legiscan.com/KY/bill/SB212/2026