By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
As lawmakers head into the last two days of the 2026 legislative session, Gov. Andy Beshear has addressed most of the health-related bills that were sent to him during the veto recess period.
Because the General Assembly has a super-majority in both chambers, any bills vetoed by Beshear will likely be overridden on April 14 and 15, when lawmakers wrap up the session. Any new bills passed on those days cannot be overridden if Beshear vetoes them.
Here are some of the health-related bills that Beshear either signed into law or vetoed during the veto recess, April 2 to 13:
Interstate compacts – HB 36, sponsored by Rep. Steve Bratcher, R-Elizabethtown, would allow Kentucky to participate in interstate licensure compacts for respiratory therapists, athletic trainers and dieticians. The final bill added changes made in the Senate to include the Dietitian Licensure Compact (SB 92) and the Athletic Trainer Compact (HB 628). Beshear signed the bill into law on April 6.
Physical therapy – HB 48, sponsored by Rep. Amy Neighbors, R-Edmonton, is a proposal to modernize and streamline statutes governing Kentucky’s Board of Physical Therapy to improve clarity, readability and understanding for both the public and licensed professionals. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 7.
Sexual assault nurse examiners – HB 134, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, would expand the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners across Kentucky. It calls for a statewide coordinator to recruit nurses, facilitate training and improve collaboration between hospitals, law enforcement and rape crisis centers. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Eating disorders – HB 169, sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, calls on health insurance plans that provide behavioral or mental health care coverage to also provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of feeding or eating disorders. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 13.
Mental health care – HB 178, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, aims to support the psychiatric collaborative care model, allowing primary care providers, care managers and consulting psychiatrists to work together on a patient’s mental health care. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 13.
Nursing licenses – HB 280, sponsored by Moser, would amend Kentucky law to require nurses licensed in other states to satisfy all Kentucky licensing requirements in order to be licensed to practice as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in the commonwealth. It would also give the Kentucky Board of Nursing the ability to ask the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for any validated, substantiated finding of adult abuse, neglect or exploitation existing for an individual who is under the state licensing board’s jurisdiction. The bill also addresses some medications prescribed and dispensed in schools. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Prescription drug monitoring system – HB 388, sponsored by Rep. Robert Duvall, R-Bowling Green, would make changes to Kentucky’s controlled substance statutes, including the integration of medical cannabis into the system. In addition, HB 388 removes all references to hydrocodone being a Schedule III drug since it is now a Schedule II drug. It also requires practitioners and pharmacists prescribing or dispensing Schedule II, III, IV or V drugs to humans to maintain an active account with KASPER. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 7.
Health care workforce licensure – HB 459, sponsored by Moser, would require the collection of health care workforce participation data by health care licensing authorities and create a license portability framework for out-of-state marriage and family therapists seeking to practice in Kentucky. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Peer support specialist – HB 470, sponsored by Moser, would extend the deadline for alcohol and drug peer support specialists to become registered to Jan. 1, 2028. This bill would address concerns that access to care may be limited due to the initial 2026 deadline that was put into place by HB 505, which was passed during the 2024 legislative session. A Senate committee substitute prohibits the alcohol and drug support specialists from providing psychoeducational services and creates a new section of law that prohibits Kentucky Medicaid from providing coverage for psychoeducational services. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Podiatry – Senate Bill 18, sponsored by Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville, addresses issues of licensing and supervision of podiatrists. HB 141, sponsored by Rep. Derek Lewis, R-London, was added to the bill, which creates guidelines for the Department of Education to develop high-quality Type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians of students. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Obesity drugs and Medicaid – SB 65, sponsored by Sen. Steve West, R-Paris, would nullify certain administrative regulations, including one that allows GLP-1s for weight loss in the state’s Medicaid program. Beshear vetoed the bill on April 6, calling it “another example of legislative overreach that violates the Kentucky Constitution. ” The veto letter also said the review of how GLP1s are used for weight loss in the Medicaid program was misrepresented.
Autism trust fund – SB 69, sponsored by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, would create an autism spectrum disorder trust fund administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The fund could accept grants, appropriations and other types of contributions to support research and services. The bill would not allow any donations to the fund through an income tax refund. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 3.
Prostheses and orthoses coverage – SB 97, sponsored by Sen. Rick Girdler, R-Somerset, seeks to expand existing prosthetics and orthotics insurance coverage to include devices designed specifically for physical activity such as running, swimming or biking. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 7.
Physician assistants – Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sen. Scott Madon, R-Pineville, would update Kentucky statutes governing physician assistants (PAs) to allow health care teams to operate more efficiently while preserving physician supervision and oversight. The bill also allows credentialed PAs to sign completed driver vision testing forms. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Physician residencies – SB 137, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, would allow the state Board of Medical Licensure to issue a provisional license to a physician who completed residency in a foreign country and can meet other requirements. The applicant would need to provide an offer of employment from a licensed health care provider located in an underserved area. Beshear signed the bill into law on April 10.
Medicaid oversight – SB 173, sponsored by President Pro Tempore David Givens, R-Greensburg, would create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to define terms and establish an annual Medicaid state plan and Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program state plan legislative review process. Beshear vetoed SB 173 on April 6, calling it a “legislative power grab” in his veto letter.
