This Week at the State Capitol (2-13-26) February 13, 2026 The gavel for House Speaker David W. Osborne rests on the striking block in the House chamber, where lawmakers were busy this week moving bills closer to passage in the 2026 legislative session. A high-res version can be found here. FRANKFORT — During another jam-packed week in the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers advanced two bills on child care, gave a nod to first responders and sparred twice over a proposal to allow conscientious objections for health care workers in Kentucky. The sixth week of the session was brimming with back-to-back committee meetings as lawmakers also moved measures on choking prevention, fraudulent contractors, agritourism and campaign finance, among many others. Meanwhile, talks on the state’s new two-year budget plan continue to steam ahead. The House held six budget review subcommittees throughout the week along with an hour-long hearing in the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee that touched on funding for four state agencies. On Monday, the Senate passed a trio of education bills related to salaries for school administrators, new principal training and financial training for school board members. The attention turned to child care on Tuesday when the Senate Families and Children Committee took up Senate Bill 160, which would provide more flexibility to state agencies that oversee Kentucky’s child care industry. The measure calls on state officials to consider certain mitigating factors before issuing a plan of correction, suspension or revocation of a license to a child care center. It would also require officials to provide two weekly support contacts during a center’s six-month probationary period. Supporters say the changes would help child care centers succeed at a time when demand is outpacing supply in the child care industry. SB 160 cleared the Senate floor on Thursday and now heads to the House, which acted on a separate child care measure in the House Families and Children Committee. That legislation, House Bill 6, proposes a broad overhaul of the regulatory framework for Kentucky’s child care sector – all part of an effort to modernize the system, enhance data collection, and improve access and quality of services. HB 6 advanced out of committee without opposition and now heads to the full House for consideration. Thursday also brought action on a bill that seeks to prevent interference or harassment of first responders. Senate Bill 104 would create a 25-foot safe zone around police, firefighters and others while they are performing their official duties. Individuals who remain in the zone could face criminal charges if they ignore an initial warning to move back. The Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection voted 9-2 to send the bill to the full Senate. Of all the measures this week, none garnered more debate than Senate Bill 72, which seeks to protect conscientious objections among professionals in the health care sector. The measure would let health care workers refuse to participate in services that violate their sincerely held beliefs. It would also protect such workers from discrimination or retaliation from employers and government agencies. The Senate Health Services Committee passed the legislation 8-2 following a long debate on Wednesday, and lawmakers clashed for nearly an hour Friday before moving the bill off the Senate floor on a 28-5 vote. Supporters say the measure is vital to protecting the rights of health care workers and to improving recruitment and retention in a state struggling with shortages in the industry. Critics, however, say the bill would allow workers to discriminate against patients based on personal beliefs, leaving some patients without access to care. SB 72 now heads to the House. Many other bills are gaining ground in the legislature, including measures on literacy, grand juries, autism and robotics. Here’s a look at some of the bills making headway. School Bus Safety – House Bill 7 would allow school districts to install traffic cameras on school buses to help enforce laws against stop-arm violations. The House voted for the measure Monday. School Administrator Salaries – Senate Bill 2 would prohibit school administrators from receiving a percentage pay increase that is greater than the average percentage pay increase provided to classroom teachers in that district. The bill cleared the Senate on Monday. New Principal Training – Senate Bill 4 would create a five-year training program that provides leadership development and mentorship opportunities for new school principals in Kentucky. The state would partner with the Kentucky Chamber Foundation to provide intensive training during the fourth year of the program. The Senate advanced the bill Monday. School Board Financial Training – Senate Bill 71 would enhance the financial training requirements for local school board members. The legislation won approval Monday in the Senate. Choking Prevention – House Bill 335 would allow schools and other government facilities to obtain anti-choking devices and provide legal protections for staff who use them during emergencies. The House Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection approved the bill Tuesday. Autism Trust Fund – Senate Bill 69 would create an autism spectrum disorder trust fund administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. It would allow individuals to donate their tax refunds to support research and support services. The fund could also accept grants, appropriations and other types of contributions. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee advanced the bill Wednesday. License Plate Reader Data – Under House Bill 58, data from automated license plate readers could be stored for only 90 days, with some exceptions. The bill would also limit the use of license plate readers to specific activities like regulating parking, collecting tolls, and promoting public safety, among others. The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill Wednesday. Robotics Education – House Bill 44 would create a state trust fund for promoting robotics education in Kentucky high schools. Grants from the trust fund would also support efforts to create community partnerships and career pathways for students in the field. The House voted in support of the bill Wednesday. Grand Jury Confidentiality – House Bill 305 would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting anyone who secretly records grand jury proceedings. It would also extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting anyone who unlawfully shares grand jury testimony. The bill received a green light from the House on Wednesday. Missing Persons – Senate Bill 159 calls on local law enforcement to submit case information on missing people to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The bill received a go ahead from the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection on Thursday. Campaign Finance – House Bill 136 would allow the use of campaign funds to pay for the “reasonable costs” of security measures for candidates, office holders and family members. The House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs passed the bill Thursday. School-Based Councils – Senate Bill 152 would replace school-based decision-making councils with school-based advisory councils. The advisory councils would continue to provide feedback and recommendations to school officials, but final authority over hiring, curriculum and leadership would rest with the principal and superintendent under the bill. The Senate Education Committee advanced the legislation on Thursday. Mental Illness – House Bill 485 would change procedures for involuntary hospitalization and care of individuals with mental illness. The measure is intended to improve oversight of treatment decisions while ensuring individuals receive appropriate mental health care. The bill cleared the House Health Services Committee on Thursday. Fraudulent Contractors – Senate Bill 153 would help protect Kentucky homeowners from abusive and fraudulent contractors following severe weather. It would clarify that vandalism committed for the purpose of an insurance claim is fraud. It would also create a post-disaster registry for roofing, siding and tree-removal businesses, and it would prohibit door-to-door solicitations during declared emergencies. The measure received a nod from the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday and cleared the Senate floor Thursday. Literacy – House Bill 253 would end the use of the three-cuing method, a system used to teach reading, in Kentucky schools by the 2029-30 academic year. The bill seeks to replace that model with evidence-based reading approaches that emphasize techniques like phonics, vocabulary and fluency. The House passed the bill Thursday. Agritourism – Senate Bill 45 would prohibit local governments from enacting “unreasonable or impractical” restrictions on agritourism activities such as rodeos, livestock shows and horseback riding. The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the bill Tuesday, and the Senate voted in favor of the measure Thursday. Bar Association Membership – House Bill 526 would make membership in the Kentucky Bar Association voluntary for attorneys staring in 2027. The measure cleared the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee on Wednesday and received a favorable vote in the House on Friday. Lawmakers will break in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday but are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday for day 28 of the session. Kentuckians are urged to check the general assembly’s calendar for updates. Kentuckians can track the action through the Legislative Record Webpage, which allows users to read bills and follow their progression through the chambers. Citizens can also share their views on issues with lawmakers by calling the general assembly’s toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. The post This Week at the State Capitol (2-13-26) appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less