In Committee
2026 Regular Session

SB72

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AN ACT relating to the recruitment and retention of health care professionals and declaring an emergency.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 344 to ensure federal law relating to emergency medical treatment and the collection of evidence is not overridden; define terms; prohibit discrimination against health care professionals who decline to perform procedures that violate their conscience; grant health care professionals the right not to participate in services that violate their conscience; exempt health care professionals from liability for exercising these rights; prohibit hiring or licensing authorities from reprimanding health care professionals; require hiring or licensing authorities to provide complaints it has received to health care professionals; establish a civil cause of action for persons injured by violations; provide that the Act may be cited as the Health Care Heroes Recruitment and Retention Act; EMERGENCY.

Civil ActionsEffective Dates, EmergencyMedicaidNursesOptometristsPersonnel and EmploymentPharmacistsPublic HealthShort Titles and Popular NamesState AgenciesLocal Mandate

Introduced: January 12, 2026

Last action: February 17, 2026

To Committee On Committees (H)
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Legislative History

Jan 12, 2026 · Senate
Introduced In Senate
Jan 12, 2026 · Senate
To Committee On Committees (S)
Feb 6, 2026 · Senate
To Health Services (S)
Feb 11, 2026 · Senate
Reported Favorably, 1st Reading, To Calendar
Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
2nd Reading, To Rules (clerical)
Feb 12, 2026 · Senate
Posted For Passage In The Regular Orders Of The Day For Friday, February 13 2026 (clerical)
Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
3rd Reading, Passed 28-5 (clerical)
Feb 17, 2026 · House
Received In House

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of Donald Douglas
Donald Douglas

Senator · Senate District 22

Primary sponsor
Donald.Douglas@kylegislature.gov
BallotpediaOfficial profile

Co-sponsors (7)

Portrait of Gary Boswell
Gary Boswell

Senator · Senate District 08

Co-sponsor
gary.boswell@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Greg Elkins
Greg Elkins

Senator · Senate District 28

Co-sponsor
greg.elkins@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Robert Mills
Robert Mills

Senator · Senate District 04

Co-sponsor
Robby.Mills@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Matt Nunn
Matt Nunn

Senator · Senate District 17

Co-sponsor
matt.nunn@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Steve Rawlings
Steve Rawlings

Senator · Senate District 11

Co-sponsor
steve.rawlings@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Gex Williams
Gex Williams

Senator · Senate District 20

Co-sponsor
gex.williams@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of George Wise
George Wise

Senator · Senate District 16

Co-sponsor
Max.Wise@kylegislature.gov

Roll calls

February 13, 2026

Senate: 3rd reading, passed 28-5

Yea: 28
Nay: 5
LegiScan roll call