KentuckyHB 482025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to education.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Schools must display crisis hotline numbers

The law replaces the earlier public-school hotline display rule with one covering public schools and public charter schools. Schools must prominently display the statewide child-abuse hotline, National Human Trafficking Hotline, and Safe Haven Baby Boxes Crisis Line numbers. The law does not change the hotline services.

Fewer routine reviews for experienced educators

The law changes required formal evaluations from at least every three years to at least every five years for covered educators. This covers teachers and other professionals with continuing status, plus principals, assistant principals, and other certified administrators. Supervisors can require extra evaluations of teachers and other professionals after an individual review of required performance measures. Districts cannot make those extra evaluations a blanket requirement. Public school teachers also must get access to their employment contract when they request it.

Students receive twice-yearly suicide prevention lessons

The law replaces earlier suicide-prevention provisions while requiring two high-quality, evidence-based lessons each school year. Public and public charter schools must provide them to grades 6–12 by September 15 and January 15. Lessons can be in person, live-streamed, or recorded; public schools must offer absent students a later chance to receive them. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services must post evidence-based prevention information online. This includes crisis warning signs and details about qualifying prevention training.

New school reporting rules face limits

From the law's effective date, the Kentucky Board of Education cannot add school reporting requirements without express legal authority. A state statute or federal law must expressly authorize any new reporting duty for public schools or districts.

Optional staff training helps struggling students

Kentucky's education department must offer training about students at risk of failing school or dropping out. It must address these students' traits and learning needs. School staff can choose whether to take part.

New teacher support becomes optional

Kentucky school districts are encouraged, but no longer required, to offer support programs for first-year teachers. Programs they offer are to follow standards and guidance from the Education Professional Standards Board.

Recurring safety training for school staff

Kentucky's education department must set a recurring training schedule by August 1, 2025, and districts must follow it. Certified district employees and public charter school employees must complete at least one hour each on active-shooter response, child abuse and neglect, suicide prevention, and seizure-disorder self-study. Each is required within 12 months of hire and at least every four years afterward. This replaces the earlier seizure self-study rule for principals, guidance counselors, and teachers hired after July 1, 2019. When districts use up to one professional-development day for district-wide or legally required training, only employees identified in or affected by the mandate can be required to attend.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Shane Baker
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Aaron Thompson
Republican • House
Beverly Chester-Burton
Democrat • House
Chris Lewis
Republican • House
Daniel Grossberg
Democrat • House
DJ Johnson
Republican • House
Jared Bauman
Republican • House
Jennifer Decker
Republican • House
Jason Nemes
Republican • House
James Tipton
Republican • House
Kevin Jackson
Republican • House
Lisa Willner
Democrat • House
Shawn McPherson
Republican • House
Steve Riley
Republican • House
Timmy Truett
Republican • House
Vanessa Grossl
Republican • House
Wade Williams
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 231 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

passed

Yes: 96 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/14/2025

3rd reading, passed

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2025