# Kentucky HB 424: AN ACT relating to social work. Kentucky HB 424, AN ACT relating to social work., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Samara Heavrin (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-10 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 77)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB424-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 424 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to social work. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-16 - Last action: 2026-04-10, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 77) - Sponsor: Samara Heavrin (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: Administrative Regulations And Proceedings, Background Checks, Boards And Commissions, Compacts, Interstate, Education, Higher, Health And Medical Services, Health Care Professionals, Licensing, Mental Health, Occupations And Professions, Universities And Colleges - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (221 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Easier power‑of‑attorney and guardianship proofs: benefit, low. A power of attorney that starts on incapacity is easier to activate. If no named person can decide, a licensed social worker or qualified Cabinet employee can make a written incapacity finding, as can doctors, certain nurses or PAs, licensed psychologists, attorneys, or judges. If the POA names you… - Nonclinical social work license exemptions: benefit, low. Some workers do not need a state social work license for non‑clinical duties. This includes: school employees certified by the Kentucky Board of Education; employees of 501(c)(3) nonprofits; and staff of child‑caring or child‑placing agencies contracted for foster care. Student interns in accredite… - License and title rules for practice: cost, low. You must be licensed, hold a temporary permit, or have a recognized multistate authorization to practice social work in Kentucky, in person or by telehealth. You may not use protected titles like “Licensed Social Worker” unless you are authorized. You must display your license at your main work sit… - Clinical supervision and license rules updated: mixed, medium. Certified social workers may do clinical work only under a written, board‑approved contract with a licensed clinical social worker, as an employee of an organization where they have no ownership. They must stop clinical work if the contract ends. Licensed social workers may not do clinical social w… - New Kentucky Board and licensing timelines: mixed, medium. The law creates a seven‑member Kentucky Board of Social Work. The Board must tell you within 15 days if your application is complete and issue a license within 45 days after it gets your complete application, passing exam report, and fee. The Board will set rules for temporary permits and may requi… - New telehealth rules for social workers: mixed, medium. To provide social work by telehealth to or from Kentucky, you must have a Kentucky license or temporary permit, or a license in a Compact member state. You must follow the laws and standards in Kentucky, where you are, and where the client is. Telehealth must be accessible for clients with disabili… - Fingerprint checks and privacy for licenses: mixed, low. The law requires fingerprint‑based state and FBI background checks for new licenses, license reinstatements, and when you seek compact practice outside Kentucky. The board may order a check if you are the subject of a grievance about prohibited conduct, but it cannot require a check just for renewa… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Samara Heavrin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Beverly Chester-Burton (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: George Brown Jr. (Democrat), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | House | passed | pass | 90 | 0 | | | 2026-03-20 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-02-18 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 94 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2026-04-10: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 77) - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-31: passed 90-0 (House) - 2026-03-31: House concurred in Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-27: posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-20: to Rules (H) (House) - 2026-03-20: received in House (House) - 2026-03-20: 3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-19: passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-18: posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 19 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-18: 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill (Senate) - 2026-03-17: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: to Licensing & Occupations (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-19: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-19: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-18: 3rd reading, passed 94-0 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-02-17: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026 (House) - 2026-02-12: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-02-11: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-01-27: to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H) (House) - 2026-01-16: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-16: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-31: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb424/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-01-15: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb424/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb424/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb424/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB727-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB424-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).