| Last Action | 03/27/25: delivered to Secretary of State (Acts Ch. 107) | 
|---|---|
| Title | AN ACT relating to healthcare services and declaring an emergency. | 
| Bill Documents | Acts Chapter 107 Current/Final Introduced | 
| Fiscal Impact Statement | Local Mandate | 
| Bill Request Number | 1601 | 
| Sponsors | D. Hale, C. Fugate, K. King, S. Maddox, S. McPherson, B. Wesley | 
| Summary of Enacted Version | Creates a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit the expenditure of Medicaid funds on cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgery; establishes that Executive Order 2024-632 is of no force or effect as of the effective date of this Act; and establishes that any administrative regulation, executive order, or directive that is identical or substantially the same as Executive Order 2024-632 is of no force or effect as of the effective date of this Act through January 1, 2028; EMERGENCY, in part. | 
| Summary of Original Version | Create new sections of KRS Chapter 344 to define terms; prohibit discrimination against mental health care professionals, mental health care institutions, and ordained ministry for providing protected counseling services; prohibit discrimination against individuals for offering information, training, and referrals for protected counseling services; prohibit discrimination against parents and guardians who consent to their child receiving protected counseling services; prohibit reporting of a mental health care professional or mental health care institution to a hiring or licensing authority solely on the basis that it provides protected counseling services; prohibit a hiring or licensing authority from investigating a mental health care professional or mental health care institution solely on the basis that it provides protected counseling services; establish a civil cause of action for a person injured by a violation; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mental Health Counseling Protection Act; EMERGENCY. | 
| Index Headings of Original Version | Effective Dates, Emergency - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services Mental Health - Discrimination, protected counseling services Personnel and Employment - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services State Agencies - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services Medicaid - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services Civil Actions - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services Short Titles and Popular Names - Mental Health Counseling Protection Act Local Mandate - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services | 
| Jump to Proposed Amendments | House Floor Amendment 1 House Floor Amendment 2 House Floor Amendment 3 House Floor Amendment 4 House Floor Amendment 5 Senate Committee Substitute 1 Senate Committee Amendment 1 Senate Floor Amendment 1 | 
| Votes | Vote History | 
| Governor's Veto Message | Veto | 
| 02/13/25 | 
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|---|---|
| 02/21/25 | 
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| 02/27/25 | 
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| 02/28/25 | 
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| 03/04/25 | 
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| 03/05/25 | 
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| 03/06/25 | 
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| 03/11/25 | 
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| 03/12/25 | 
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| 03/13/25 | 
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| 03/14/25 | 
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| 03/24/25 | 
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| 03/27/25 | 
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| Amendment | House Floor Amendment 1 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | E. Hancock | 
| Summary | Amend to repeal KRS 311.372 related to treatment inconsistent with a minor's sex. | 
| Index Headings | Children and Minors - Treatment inconsistent with minor's sex. prohibition, repeal Health and Medical Services - Treatment inconsistent with minor's sex. prohibition, repeal Hospitals and Nursing Homes - Treatment inconsistent with minor's sex. prohibition, repeal Physicians and Practitioners - Treatment inconsistent with minor's sex. prohibition, repeal Public Health - Treatment inconsistent with minor's sex. prohibition, repeal | 
| Amendment | House Floor Amendment 2 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | E. Hancock | 
| Summary | Make title amendment. | 
| Index Headings | Title Amendments - HB 495 | 
| Amendment | House Floor Amendment 3 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | A. Camuel | 
| Summary | Retain original provisions, except include that "protective counseling service" means a service performed in accordance with established professional standards of care and evidence-based practices; include practices that are not included in the definition of "protective counseling service"; prohibit this Act from being construed as preventing the enforcement of measures that promote professional standards of care, ethical guidelines, or evidence-based practices established by relevant professional organizations or hiring or licensing authorities. | 
| Index Headings | Mental Health - Discrimination, protected counseling services Personnel and Employment - Mental health service, discrimination, protected counseling service State Agencies - Mental health care service, discrimination, protected counseling services | 
| Amendment | House Floor Amendment 4 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | D. Hale | 
| Summary | Remove original provisions; establish that Executive Order 2024-632 isof no force or effect as of the effective date of this Act; establish that any administrative regulation, executive order, or directive that is identical or substantially the same as Executive Order 2024-632 is of no force or effective as of the effect date of this Act through January 1, 2028; EMERGENCY. | 
| Index Headings | Effective Dates, Emergency - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect Governor - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect Public Health - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect | 
| Amendment | House Floor Amendment 5 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | D. Hale | 
| Summary | Make title amendment. | 
| Index Headings | Title Amendments - HB 495 | 
| Amendment | Senate Committee Substitute 1 | 
|---|---|
| Summary | Retain original provisions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit the expenditure of Medicaid funds on cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgery; EMERGENCY, in part. | 
| Index Headings | Public Health - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect Public Medical Assistance - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services, prohibition State Agencies - Department for Medicaid Services, expenditure of funds, gender transition services, prohibition Medicaid - Expenditure of funds, gender transition services, prohibition Effective Dates, Emergency - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect Governor - Executive order, conversion therapy, no force or effect Health and Medical Services - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services, prohibition Public Assistance - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services, prohibition | 
| Amendment | Senate Committee Amendment 1 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | S. Meredith | 
| Summary | Make title amendment. | 
| Index Headings | Title Amendments - HB 495/GA | 
| Amendment | Senate Floor Amendment 1 | 
|---|---|
| Sponsor | K. Berg | 
| Summary | Retain original provisions, except delete Section 1 creating a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit the expenditure of Medicaid funds on cross-sex hormones and gender reassignment surgery. | 
| Index Headings | Health and Medical Services - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services Public Assistance - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services Public Health - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services Public Medical Assistance - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services State Agencies - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services Medicaid - Medicaid, expenditure of funds, gender transition services | 
Last updated: 7/24/2025 3:26 PM (EDT)