From AI rules to Medicaid changes: 40 bills on track to become law in Kentucky

Yahoo

17-03-2025

The sprint is over.
In the last full week of Kentucky's legislative session, lawmakers pushed more than 100 bills through both chambers, sending them on to Gov. Andy Beshear to sign, veto or let become law without his signature.
That includes controversial bills banning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public universities, clarifying when abortions are legal and prohibiting Medicaid from funding hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries.
Beshear has until March 26 to decide what he'll do with each bill passed. After that, Republican-controlled legislature will meet for two final days so lawmakers can choose whether to override the Democratic governor's vetoes.
Below is information on 40 bills (and one resolution) that have been sent on to this desk.
Find all bills that have been delivered to Beshear here. Find bills Beshear has already signed into law here.
More: In stunning final hour, 3 controversial bills pass Kentucky legislature
: Creates a Kentucky Film Office to encourage and incentive film production in the Bluegrass State.
: Prohibits public funds from being spent on hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery for inmates.
: Lets state universities directly pay student-athletes through "name, image and likeness" agreements. This bill was signed into law by Beshear on March 13.
: Establishes regulations for the use of artificial intelligence by state agencies and requires disclosure when AI-generated content is used in political messaging.
: Requires schools to have a moment of silence at the start of each school day. It also lets school boards allow students to be excused for up to one hour each week for "moral instruction."
: Establishes a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board, requires state agencies to give software access to the state auditor and requires each state agency to submit biannual reports on cost-saving measures and possible staff reductions, among other measures.
: Prevents the Cabinet for Health and Family Services from disapproving someone for a child placement — including through foster care and adoption — because they have a disability.
: Criminalizes sexual extortion, or "sextortion." This bill was signed into law on March 12.
: Ensures courts do not defer to state agencies' interpretations of laws.
: Reduces pollution protections for some water resources, including groundwater.
: Requires all tobacco and vape retailers to obtain a license through the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and grants the department enforcement authority.
: Updates an existing law for high school sports to add information regarding mandatory reporting around child abuse and neglect for students, parents and coaches.
: Makes tampering with a gift card a felony.
: Regulates hemp-based beverages by capping THC at five milligrams per drink and moving regulatory authority under the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
: Authorizes public schools to become "schools of innovation."
: Voids a controversial line-item budget veto by Beshear that prevented state lawmakers from exempting "bullion currency" — or gold and silver coins — from taxation. It also give people who have paid sales taxes on gold and silver since August the power to use the courts to seek a refund along with $1,000 for "each day that the violation occurred," paid by the governor's office.
: Bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs and offices at public colleges and universities.
: Requires all new regulations put in place by state cabinets that would cause an economic impact of $500,000 or greater over a two-year period to be approved by the legislature before going into effect. It's modeled after a federal bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, known as the REINS Act.
: Lets property owners request law enforcement to remove "squatters," or people unlawfully occupying their property.
: Lowers the age teens are eligible to apply for a driver's permit from 16 to 15.
: Enhances criminal penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection.
: Removes the certificate of need requirement for freestanding birth centers. An amendment also outlines medical conditions and obstetrical complications that are not considered abortion under Kentucky law.
: Allows air pollution control boards to only consider methods or tests that are accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for enforcement. That excludes citizen-collected pollution data.
: Authorizes posthumous adoption if a child dies while going through the court proceeding. This bill was signed into law on March 15.
: Mandates that a person is guilty of theft if they fail to vacate a rented property by an agreed time. This bill was signed into law on March 15.
: Requires local school boards to adopt policies banning cellphones during instructional time, except during an emergency or if authorized by a teacher.
: Requires hospitals to provide training for emergency department staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, protocols and resources. This bill was signed into law on March 12.
: Allows kindergarteners to repeat a year if they don't meet certain academic standards.
: Lets school districts establish virtual programs and caps enrollment of nonresident students in those programs to 1% of the previous year's total enrollment statewide. It also allows the commissioner of education to grant up to five disaster relief days for each school district.
: Requires the Kentucky Department of Education to identify schools for comprehensive support and improvement annually, instead of every three years.
: Designates June as "Kentucky History Month."
: Requires high school students to take a financial literacy course.
: Prevents the state from adopting or enforcing any occupational safety and health administrative regulations that are more strict than federal standards.
: Criminalizes interference with a legislative proceeding. The bill is a response to a 2023 protest in the House gallery over anti-trans legislation, during which 19 people were arrested.
: Lets universities fire employees, regardless of status, if they fail to meet performance and productivity requirements.
: Strikes down Beshear's executive order banning conversion therapy and prohibits Medicaid from funding hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery.
: Lets law enforcement agencies deny records requests if the release "could pose an articulable risk of harm" to the agency or its investigation.
: Requires Medicaid recipients to work in order to receive benefits and prohibits the Department for Medicaid Services from making changes without approval from the General Assembly.
: Lets individuals accept cryptocurrency and other digital assets as payment for goods and services.
: Changes how Kentucky can lower its income tax, among other measures.
: Returns a Ten Commandments monument for display on the Capitol grounds.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky legislature: These bills are on track to become law in 2025