Kentucky
General Assembly

01/08/26	introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
01/15/26	to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
02/04/26	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
02/05/26	2nd reading, to Rules
02/10/26	posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 11 2026
02/12/26	3rd reading, passed 94-1 with Committee Substitute (1)
02/13/26	received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
03/11/26	to Education (S)
03/19/26	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
03/20/26	2nd reading, to Rules floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (3-title) filed to bill posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026
03/24/26	passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
03/25/26	3rd reading floor amendment (1) withdrawn passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Floor Amendment (3-title)
03/26/26	received in House to Rules (H)
03/27/26	posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Floor Amendments (2) and (3-title) and Committee Substitute (1)
03/31/26	House concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (2) and Floor Amendment (3-title) passed 93-1 enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
04/10/26	signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 74)

Amendment	House Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Retain original provisions; specify dates by which three-cueing shall no longer be used in public school districts; specify dates by which interdisciplinary early childhood through fifth grade teachers are required to complete a science of reading professional learning program; require all interdisciplinary early childhood through grade 5 educators who received certification through Options 1 to 5 and 8 to complete a science of reading professional learning program within 2 years of initial employment.
Index Headings	Education, Elementary And Secondary - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition Education, Higher - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition State Agencies - Kentucky Department of Education, approved list of reading curriculum, establishment Teachers - Three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition Universities And Colleges - Teacher preparation programs, three-cueing system of instruction, prohibition

Amendment	Senate Committee Substitute 1
Summary	Retain original provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 160 to prohibit a public school district or public charter school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement relating to misconduct involving a minor or student; amend KRS 160.380 to define "abusive conduct"; require school districts to conduct reference checks; require nonpublic schools and public school districts to disclose any disciplinary actions related to abusive conduct of applicants; provide immunity for disclosures made about school employee conduct; require school districts to request all related information from public and nonpublic schools and the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB); require schools and EPSB to provide the records; require requests for information to be satisfied in 10 working days; require EPSB to create and implement procedures for information requests; require a school district to internally report and investigate to completion all allegations of abusive conduct; require all records relating to an allegation of abusive conduct to be retained in an employee's personnel file unless the allegation is proven false; require the superintendent to annually notify school district employees of self-reporting requirements; provide that certain requirements apply to public charter schools; amend KRS 156.160 to direct the Kentucky Board of Education to include employment standards in the voluntary certification standards for private schools; make technical corrections; amend KRS 160.151 to define "certified nonpublic school"; require employees of certified nonpublic schools to submit to a national and state criminal background check and a CA/N check; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from hiring a violent or felony sex crime offender; prohibit a certified nonpublic school from entering into a nondisclosure agreement related to misconduct involving a minor or student; make technical corrections; amend KRS 156.095 to require the Kentucky Department of Education to develop a training related to sexual misconduct and inappropriate relationships for employees to undergo; make technical corrections; amend KRS 161.151 to conform; amend KRS 158.4431, 156.492, and 158.200 to conform.
Index Headings	Background Checks - School district applicants, disclosure statement Boards And Commissions - Education Professional Standards Board, records Education, Elementary And Secondary - Misconduct involving minors, nondisclosure agreement, prohibition Education, Elementary And Secondary - School district applicants, disclosure of abusive conduct Education, Elementary And Secondary - School district applicants, employment history request, deadline State Agencies - Department of Education, certified nonpublic schools, requirements State Agencies - Department of Education, development of training for school employees, appropriate conduct Teachers - Misconduct involving minors, reporting requirement Teachers - Background check, requirement Teachers - Felony charge, disclosure Teachers - Misconduct involving minors, nondisclosure agreement, prohibition

Amendment	Senate Committee Amendment 1
Sponsor	S. West
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Boards And Commissions - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion Fire Prevention - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion Firefighters And Fire Departments - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion Technology - Kentucky Fire Commission, technical devices, grant program fund, inclusion

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 1
Sponsor	A. Reed
Summary	Retain original provisions; amend KRS 158.200 to require the board of education of a local school district to allow students to attend moral instruction when the moral instruction offering complies with the requirements enumerated; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to authorize the Attorney General to bring an action for a writ of mandamus to compel a board of education to comply; create a cause of action to permit a qualified individual to file a civil action against a board of education for injunctive relief arising from a violation of this Act; permit recovery of monetary damages for a willful and intentional violation; waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity; prohibit retaliation.
Index Headings	Attorney General - Moral Instruction, public schools, enforcement Children And Minors - Moral Instruction, public schools, requirements Civil Actions - Moral Instruction, public schools Claims - Moral Instruction, public schools, cause of action Education, Elementary And Secondary - Moral Instruction, public schools, requirements Education, Vocational - Moral Instruction, public schools, requirements Piggybacked Bills - HB 829 Religion - Moral Instruction, public schools, requirements

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 2
Sponsor	A. Reed
Summary	Retain original provisions; add an emergency clause.
Index Headings	Effective Dates, Emergency - School districts, abusive conduct

Amendment	Senate Floor Amendment 3
Sponsor	A. Reed
Summary	Make title amendment.
Index Headings	Title Amendments - HB 253/GA