Legislative Agenda Update/Wrap-up: Kentucky
As the legislative session continues, we are working hard to advance our policy priorities. Here's a quick update to keep you up-to-speed with the goings-on at the Capitol!


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It’s a wrap…at least for now. The Kentucky legislature adjourned on April 15th after failing to reach an agreement on the state budget, which beings July 1st. A special legislative session to address the budget and possibly a handful of other issues is expected in May. The stakes are exceptionally high. Failure to enact a state budget on July 1st would result in a partial shutdown of some areas of state government. AHA has a couple of issues that are in limbo as a result of the budget impasse---funding for Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation and a pilot worksite wellness project for state employees. We will continue to advocate for these issues when the legislature reconvenes next month for the special session.

AHA advocates and volunteers did score one significant legislative victory during the regular session and that is passage of Senate Bill 1. SB 1, sponsored by Senate President David Williams, unanimously passed the House and Senate and has been signed into law by the governor. When the law takes effect later this year, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services will be required to designate hospitals that have been certified by The Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers. A special thanks to President Williams for sponsoring the legislation and to Dr. Kerri Remmel for championing the legislation and for helping secure its passage.

Legislation to establish time requirements for physical activity in elementary schools failed once again to make it through the legislature. This is likely to be an ongoing issue as Kentucky, like the rest of the nation, continues to debate policies to address the obesity epidemic.

This update is part of our legislative updates series. The first post on Kentucky's legislative agenda can be found here.