Kentucky 2026 Legislative Session End

This blog post is to inform you that Kentucky has completed its 2026 legislative session.

KY H 185 Employment
The law requires hiring or licensing authorities to establish a process where an individual can request a formal determination on whether a past conviction would disqualify them from a specific public position or occupational license. Authorities must evaluate applicant testimony and evidence of rehabilitation factors before making disqualification decisions and provide written findings of fact when denying applications based on criminal history. Authorities must display application policies on their websites and provide public notice to applicants and educational institutions about background check requirements. The law is now effective.

KY S 136 Unemployment Insurance
Under this law, unemployed workers may avoid active job search requirements if they have a definite return-to-work or recall-to-work prospect within one year, subject to specific employer attestation requirements. A “return-to-work” or “recall-to-work” prospect is defined as prospective employment that allows an employee to return to their former employer after a break in service not exceeding one year.

To qualify, the employer must submit a letter to the Secretary that:
States the reasons for the period of unemployment;
Identifies the affected worker(s) by name;
Specifies each worker’s expected return-to-work or recall-to-work date; and
Authorizes the employer’s reserve account to be charged for benefits payable to the affected employee(s).
Additionally, the Education and Labor Cabinet is now required to refer all cases of suspected unemployment insurance fraud to the U.S. Department of Labor for further investigation and potential prosecution. The law is now effective.