House
Signed By Governor
2026 Regular Session

HB185

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AN ACT relating to employment and declaring an emergency.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 335B.010 to 335B.070 to require hiring or licensing authorities to establish an application process that gives persons convicted of a crime an opportunity to obtain a determination about whether the crime will disqualify the individual from a position of public employment or occupational license before pursuing employment or training; require hiring or licensing authorities to formulate policies and procedures for the application process by promulgating regulations no later than January 1, 2027; provide an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2027; provide that certain entities are exempted from the requirements of the application process; amend KRS 335B.020 to add criteria for hiring and licensing authorities to consider when determining if a conviction directly relates to the position of public employment or occupational license sought; amend KRS 335B.030 to require hiring or licensing authorities to evaluate information and provide written findings of fact to the applicant upon determination.

Administrative Regulations and ProceedingsBackground ChecksCrimes and PunishmentsLicensingOccupations and ProfessionsPersonnel and EmploymentState AgenciesState EmployeesWorkforce

Introduced: January 7, 2026

Last action: April 10, 2026

Signed By Governor (Acts Ch. 72)
Read the full textKentucky LegislatureLegiScan

Legislative History

Jan 7, 2026 · House
Introduced In House
Jan 7, 2026 · House
To Committee On Committees (H)
Jan 14, 2026 · House
To Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
Feb 18, 2026 · House
Reported Favorably, 1st Reading, To Calendar
Feb 19, 2026 · House
2nd Reading, To Rules (clerical)
Feb 20, 2026 · House
Posted For Passage In The Regular Orders Of The Day For Monday, February 23 2026 (clerical)
Feb 23, 2026 · House
3rd Reading, Passed 95-0 (clerical)
Feb 24, 2026 · Senate
Received In Senate

Primary Sponsor

Portrait of Emily Callaway
Emily Callaway

Representative · House District 037

Primary sponsor
emily.callaway@kylegislature.gov
BallotpediaOfficial profile

Co-sponsors (5)

Portrait of Jared Bauman
Jared Bauman

Representative · House District 028

Co-sponsor
jared.bauman@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall

Representative · House District 017

Co-sponsor
robert.duvall@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Matthew Koch
Matthew Koch

Representative · House District 072

Co-sponsor
Matthew.Koch@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of T.J. Roberts
T.J. Roberts

Representative · House District 066

Co-sponsor
tj.roberts@kylegislature.gov
Portrait of Walker Thomas
Walker Thomas

Representative · House District 008

Co-sponsor
Walker.Thomas@kylegislature.gov

Roll calls

February 23, 2026

House: 3rd reading, passed 95-0

Yea: 95
Nay: 0
LegiScan roll call
March 20, 2026

Senate: 3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)

Yea: 37
Nay: 0
March 31, 2026

House: Passed 91-0

Yea: 91
Nay: 0