# Kentucky SB 137: AN ACT relating to a provisional license to practice medicine. Kentucky SB 137, AN ACT relating to a provisional license to practice medicine., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stephen Meredith (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-10 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 89)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB137-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 137 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to a provisional license to practice medicine. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-29 - Last action: 2026-04-10, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 89) - Sponsor: Stephen Meredith (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Health And Medical Services, Licensing, Occupations And Professions, Health Care Professionals, Physicians - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (109 yes, 18 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Rare licenses for exceptional doctors: benefit, low. In extraordinary cases, the board can grant a medical license when your credentials are exceptional and your practice would help the public welfare in Kentucky. - Medical license denials without full hearings: cost, low. The medical board can deny an application or reactivation without a full evidentiary hearing after giving notice and a chance to be heard. It may do this if it finds violations of professional standards or that the person is unfit to practice. You can still appeal the denial under state law. - Provisional license for doctors in underserved areas: mixed, high. Kentucky creates a provisional medical license tied to a sponsoring employer in a federally designated medically underserved area. You must meet regular licensure rules, have a job offer from a licensed sponsor, be in good standing within the last five years, complete residency or similar training,… - Special faculty licenses: limits and upgrades: mixed, medium. If you hold a special faculty medical license, you may only practice inside the accredited Kentucky school program and its affiliated institutions. The medical board sets the initial application fee by regulation. After five straight years on this faculty license, the board can grant you a regular… - Board sets residency length rules: mixed, low. The Kentucky medical board sets how long required postgraduate training must last by regulation. Before setting the rule, the board consults with the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Pikeville’s osteopathic school. The law itself does not set a number. The rule can raise or… - Visiting professor licenses by board choice: mixed, low. The board can grant a visiting professor license after considering your regular-licensure qualifications, licensure in other places, and the program director’s recommendation confirming employment. If the board denies a visiting professor license, that denial is not appealable under the board’s usu… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stephen Meredith (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Danny Carroll (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 79 | 11 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | passed | pass | 30 | 7 | | ## Actions (24) - 2026-04-10: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 89) - 2026-03-31: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-03-31: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-31: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-31: 3rd reading, passed 79-11 (House) - 2026-03-20: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 (House) - 2026-03-20: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-19: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-03-11: to Health Services (H) (House) - 2026-03-06: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-03-06: received in House (House) - 2026-03-05: passed 30-7 with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-03-05: floor amendment (1) withdrawn (Senate) - 2026-03-05: 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-03-04: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-03: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-02: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 03 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-02: floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (Senate) - 2026-02-26: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-02-25: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-02-02: to Health Services (S) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-01-29: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-03-05: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb137/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb137/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) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb137/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb137/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) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB727-2026RS) - [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-SB137-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).