# Kentucky SJR 116: A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders. Kentucky SJR 116, A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Robert Stivers (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-17 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 186)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SJR116-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SJR 116 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-24 - Last action: 2026-04-17, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 186) - Sponsor: Robert Stivers (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Physicians, Public Health, Reports Mandated, Universities And Colleges, Appropriations, Education, Higher, Effective Dates, Emergency, Health And Medical Services, Health Care Professionals, Hospitals And Health Facilities - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (72 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Owensboro doctor shortage study and funding: benefit, low. The University of Kentucky develops a feasibility study with local partners in and around Owensboro, using HealthForce Kentucky. The study explores the growing shortage of physicians and other clinicians. It may be provided to the General Assembly by December 21, 2026. Based on the study, the Gener… - Plan to add doctors in underserved areas: benefit, low. The University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University coordinate a statewide plan with communities and agencies. The work targets doctor shortages and poor access in medically underserved areas, and keeping doctors in those communities. The plan reviews current e… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Robert Stivers (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Brandon J. Storm (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-15 | Senate | passed | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-03-09 | Senate | 3rd reading, adopted | pass | 35 | 0 | | ## Actions (25) - 2026-04-17: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 186) - 2026-04-15: delivered to Governor - 2026-04-15: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-04-15: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-15: passed 37-0 (Senate) - 2026-04-15: Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (Senate) - 2026-04-15: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-15: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-15: adopted with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House) - 2026-04-15: floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute (House) - 2026-04-15: 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-25: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 26 2026 (House) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-24: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title) (House) - 2026-03-20: to Postsecondary Education (H) (House) - 2026-03-10: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-03-10: received in House (House) - 2026-03-09: 3rd reading, adopted 35-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-06: passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day (Senate) - 2026-03-05: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 06 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-05: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-03-04: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-26: to Health Services (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-24: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-15: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sjr116/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-03-09: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sjr116/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - 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 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sjr116/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sjr116/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [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 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) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [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-SJR116-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).