FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lawmakers have concluded their business for the 2025 legislative session and are gaveled out until Jan. 6, 2026.
Both chambers passed a few of their final bills Friday, including legislation related to education, cutting the red tape for manufactured housing and a clarification to a veto override.
In its final form, House Bill 501 allows prescriptions from a dead doctor continue being prescribed for up to 180 days. It also clarifies Medicaid won’t pay for hormones when prescribed solely for gender dysphoria in a cleanup to House Bill 495.
State Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, said it provides clarity for patients who may be prescribed hormones for medical issues.
“What I saw is the need for clarification for hormone therapy that could be used in cancer treatments and things of that nature," Mills said.
Lawmakers also passed House Bill 622. It would provide dollars for school resource officers to be hired at private schools, among other things. That money would go directly to Kentucky State Police or other law enforcement agencies and not the schools themselves.
State Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said public dollars should not be used to support private schools.
“I don’t know how many private schools we have in this state, but $20,000 per private school? I am not going to agree to spend public dollars on that," Berg said.
However, Majority Floor Leader State Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, said the Kentucky Center for School Safety already inspects private schools and the state provides other training for non-public schools.
“For us to put dollars toward the safety of every child, every student, every teacher and staff, regardless of it being a public or private school, this commonwealth should stand up and be grateful for what the commonwealth of Kentucky is doing to protect our children," Wise said.
Despite it being a 30-day session, much was passed, including anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation, AI legislation and the reduction of the state income tax to 3.5% next year. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said many policies continued to show the state is open and ready for business.
“We’re becoming a much more competitive state, and I think that has done well and you’re seeing what it has done for attracting people to come here, businesses to stay here or come here and keeping people here," Stivers said.
Also getting final passage Friday was Senate Bill 9 from State Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon. The bill aims to address rising costs in the state's teacher retirement system and standardizes benefits across school districts.
In its final form, the bill also says all school districts must provide up to 30 days of paid maternity leave annually by 2030. Teachers and employees who give birth will be required to use this leave before drawing from other accrued time off, and any unused maternity leave will not convert to sick leave or other leave types.
Both chambers also sent to Gov. Andy Beshear's (D) desk Senate Bill 181 from State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield. The bill aims to give better protection to students, among other things.
SB 181 requires school staff and volunteers to use a traceable form of communication for all electronic communications to students. It also prohibits the use of any personal texts, emails or social media to be used for communicating with students unless parental consent is given. The bill, which passed unanimously, also requires immediate reporting of any unauthorized communications to the school principal or superintendent.
Lawmakers will return to Frankfort on Jan. 6, 2026, for a 60-day legislative session.
This was the last session in the State Capitol building. For at least the next three years, lawmakers will convene in temporary chambers—built on the existing campus.
Renovations on the capitol are expected to begin in the coming months.
