summary
Introduced
01/22/2026
01/22/2026
In Committee
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Crossed Over
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Passed
Dead
04/15/2026
04/15/2026
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Create a new section of KRS 344.010 to 344.025 to define terms; set standards for determinations of impairments; amend KRS 344.010 to define "major life activities," "regarded as having such an impairment," and "transitory impairment"; amend KRS 344.020 to provide for execution of the policies embodied in the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008; amend KRS 344.030 to provide that "qualified individual with a disability" is to be interpreted consistently with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008; amend KRS 344.190 to remove the adjudicative powers of the Human Rights Commission regarding matters related to employment and public accommodations; amend KRS 344.200 to provide that an aggrieved individual may file a civil action for a discriminatory practice other than a housing practice without first filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission; require a probable cause determination on a complaint to be made within 30 days of the commission's receipt of the respondent's response or the expiry of the time for a response, whichever is later; require orders dismissing complaints with the commission to be made without prejudice; allow an aggrieved individual to file a civil action for the same grievance while a complaint is either pending with or has been dismissed by the Human Rights Commission; provide that the filing of a complaint before the commission does not toll the statute of limitations for the filing of a civil action; provide that the statute of limitations for an action filed by the commission on behalf of a private party who has not previously filed an action for that grievance is 3 years as provided under KRS 413.115; provide that a civil action for a grievance may only be filed by either the private party or the commission but not both; allow for a private party or the commission to intervene as a third party in a civil action filed by the other; bar the recovery of monetary damages by the commission; limit a private party's remedies to those set out in KRS 344.450; provide that all matters of fact are to be triable by jury; allow a private party with an complaint already filed with or pending before the commission to bring a civil action for the same grievance within 1 year of the effective date of this Act; amend KRS 344.320 to eliminate adjudicative functions of local commissions; amend KRS 344.635 to allow a party to a complaint for a discriminatory housing charge with the Human Rights Commission to demand a trial by jury if a civil action is elected in lieu of administrative hearing; repeal KRS 344.210, 344.230, 344.240, 344.270, and 344.340 related to adjudicative functions of the Human Rights Commission; amend KRS 344.660 and 344.675 to conform.
AI Summary
This bill aims to modernize and streamline civil rights enforcement in Kentucky, particularly concerning disability discrimination and the procedures for handling complaints. It redefines key terms like "disability" and "major life activities" to align with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), ensuring that impairments are interpreted broadly and considering their impact without regard to mitigating measures like medication, except for ordinary eyeglasses. The bill also shifts the focus of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) away from adjudicating employment and public accommodation cases, removing its power to hold hearings and issue orders in these areas. Instead, individuals alleging discrimination in these areas can directly file civil lawsuits in court, similar to how housing discrimination cases are handled. The bill introduces new timelines for the HRC to determine probable cause on complaints and allows individuals to pursue civil actions while a complaint is pending with or has been dismissed by the HRC, clarifying that filing with the HRC does not pause the statute of limitations for a civil suit. It also establishes that only one party, either the individual or the HRC, can pursue a civil action for the same grievance, though they can intervene in each other's cases, and the HRC is barred from recovering monetary damages, with private parties limited to remedies outlined in KRS 344.450. Furthermore, the bill mandates that all factual matters in these civil actions are to be decided by a jury. Finally, it repeals several sections of KRS Chapter 344 related to the HRC's former adjudicative functions and makes conforming changes to other sections to reflect these procedural shifts.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
to Committee on Committees (S) (on 03/12/2026)
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/hb468.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb468/bill.pdf |
| Vote History for HB468 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb468/vote_history.pdf |
| House Floor Amendment 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB468/HFA1.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb468/orig_bill.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb468/LM.pdf |
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