summary
Introduced
01/15/2026
01/15/2026
In Committee
01/23/2026
01/23/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 311 to define terms; establish a qualified terminally ill patient's right to voluntarily request medication to self-administer to cause death; establish conditions required to make request; permit patient to rescind request at any time; permit an attending provider to provide medication; establish requirements for attending providers to inform patients and document request; require disposal of unused medications; require report by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; establish provisions for contracts, insurance policies, and beneficiaries; prohibit applicability of provisions to ending a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia; establish that a health care provider is not required to provide medication to a qualified patient; permit health care providers to prohibit persons or entities from participating in a qualified patient's request during or on the premises of employment; prohibit reporting a health care provider to a licensing board for participating in a qualified patient's request; state that actions under this Act do not authorize lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia; establish that actions under this Act do not constitute suicide or homicide; create the offenses of forging or altering a request for end-of-life medications, concealing or destroying a rescession of a request for end-of-life medication, and coercing or exerting undue influence on a terminally ill patient to request or utilize end-of-life medications; create a form for a qualified patient to make a request; create a form for an interpreter for a qualified patient making a request; create a new section of Subtitle 12 of KRS Chapter 304 to establish provisions for insurance policies and beneficiaries of qualified patients; amend KRS 507.020 and 507.030 to create an affirmative defense to a charge of murder and manslaughter in the first degree; provide that the Act may be cited Rena's Law.
AI Summary
This bill, known as Rena's Law, establishes a framework for qualified terminally ill patients in Kentucky to voluntarily request and self-administer medication to end their lives. It defines key terms such as "qualified patient" (a mentally capable adult with a terminal disease), "attending provider" (the primary physician or advanced practice registered nurse responsible for the patient's care), and "terminal disease" (an incurable and irreversible condition expected to result in death within six months). The bill outlines the conditions for making such a request, including multiple consultations with healthcare providers, ensuring the patient is mentally capable and not under duress, and providing information on all feasible alternatives like palliative care. It permits attending providers to prescribe the medication after these requirements are met, but explicitly states that no healthcare provider is required to participate, and healthcare facilities can prohibit participation on their premises. The bill also addresses the disposal of unused medications, mandates reporting by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and clarifies that this law does not authorize lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia, nor does it constitute suicide or homicide. Furthermore, it creates new offenses for forging requests or destroying rescissions, and establishes an affirmative defense to murder and manslaughter charges if actions were authorized under this Act. Provisions are also included to ensure that insurance policies and beneficiaries are not negatively affected by a patient's decision to utilize this law.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
to Health Services (H) (on 01/23/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb408.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb408/orig_bill.pdf |
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