Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 21 R · 4 D cosponsors

HB 486 — AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.

Last action — to Committee on Committees (S)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 23, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 25 sponsors

    25 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (21 R · 4 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Amend KRS 95A.292 to allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39F to direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program; provide that the Act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

8 added · 8 removed

8 line(s) added, 8 removed.

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Previous
Latest
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1641 AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 486/GA AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.
Page 1 of 4 BR164100.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:32 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1641 (d) The standards by which professional and volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members from other states may be accepted into the program by the executive director;
Page 1 of 4 HB048610.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:35 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 486/GA (d) The standards by which professional and volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members from other states may be accepted into the program by the executive director;
(8)[(6)] (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a restricted fund to be known as the professional and volunteer firefighters professional development Page 2 of 4 BR164100.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:32 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1641 and wellness program fund.
(8)[(6)] (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a restricted fund to be known as the professional and volunteer firefighters professional development Page 2 of 4 HB048610.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:35 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 486/GA and wellness program fund.
or Page 3 of 4 BR164100.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:32 PM Jacketed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1641 6.
or Page 3 of 4 HB048610.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:35 PM GA UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 486/GA 6.
Page 4 of 4 BR164100.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:32 PM Jacketed
Page 4 of 4 HB048610.100 - 1641 - XXXX 2/25/2026 3:35 PM GA
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How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Kentucky Revised Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the existing law to enhance the Alan 'Chip' Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program for firefighters and rescue squad members, including changes to the definition of 'rescue squad member' and provisions regarding leave after critical incidents.

  • KRS 95A.292

    firefighter's → firefighter or rescue squad member's

    Broadens the reference to include both firefighters and rescue squad members.

  • KRS 95A.292

    This subsection shall not be construed to set aside any employment contract, labor agreement, or departmental policies that grant more than forty-eight (48) hours of leave following an officer involved critical incident.

    Removes a clause that previously stated limits on employment contracts concerning leave after critical incidents.

  • KRS 95A.292

    Moneys deposited in the fund are hereby appropriated for the purposes set forth in this section and shall not be appropriated or transferred by the General Assembly for any other purposes.

    Eliminates a provision restricting the appropriation of moneys in the fund.

  • KRS 95A.292

    The commission shall enter into an agreement with the Division of Emergency Management to provide rescue squad members with access to the program.

    Clarifies the requirement for the commission to enter an agreement for program access.

  • The division shall enter into an agreement with the Kentucky Fire Commission to provide rescue squad members with access to the program under Section 1 of this Act.

    Creates a new requirement for the division to partner with the Kentucky Fire Commission for program access.

Action History

  1. to Committee on Committees (S)

  2. received in Senate

  3. 3rd reading, passed 95-0

  4. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 25 2026

  5. 2nd reading, to Rules

  6. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

  7. to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)

  8. to Committee on Committees (H)

  9. introduced in House

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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25 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 113 not signed on

Sponsors (25)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (113)

113 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 113 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Pass

Passed 95 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 18002
Republican 76003
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 95005
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Lewis C — Yea
Adam Moore Democrat Yea
Adrielle Camuel Democrat Yea
Al Gentry Democrat Yea
Anne Gay Donworth Democrat Yea
Ashley Tackett Laferty Democrat Not Voting
Beverly Chester-Burton Democrat Yea
Chad Aull Democrat Yea
Daniel Grossberg Democrat Yea
Erika Hancock Democrat Yea
George Brown Jr. Democrat Yea
Joshua Watkins Democrat Not Voting
Lindsey Burke Democrat Yea
Lisa Willner Democrat Yea
Mary Lou Marzian Democrat Yea
Matthew Lehman Democrat Yea
Nima Kulkarni Democrat Yea
Pamela Stevenson Democrat Yea
Rachel Roarx Democrat Yea
Sarah Stalker Democrat Yea
Tina Bojanowski Democrat Yea
Aaron Thompson Republican Yea
Adam Bowling Republican Yea
Amy Neighbors Republican Yea
Bill Wesley Republican Yea
Bobby McCool Republican Yea
Candy Massaroni Republican Yea
Chris Freeland Republican Yea
Chris Fugate Republican Yea
DJ Johnson Republican Yea
Daniel Elliott Republican Yea
Daniel Fister Republican Yea
David Hale Republican Yea
David Meade Republican Yea
David W. Osborne Republican Yea
Deanna Gordon Republican Yea
Derek Lewis Republican Yea
Emily Callaway Republican Yea
Felicia Rabourn Republican Not Voting
J.T. Payne Republican Yea
James Tipton Republican Yea
Jared Bauman Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jason Petrie Republican Yea
Jennifer Decker Republican Not Voting
Jim Gooch Jr. Republican Yea
John Blanton Republican Yea
John Hodgson Republican Yea
Josh Branscum Republican Yea
Josh Bray Republican Yea
Josh Calloway Republican Yea
Ken Fleming Republican Yea
Ken Upchurch Republican Yea
Kevin Jackson Republican Yea
Kim Banta Republican Yea
Kim Holloway Republican Yea
Kim King Republican Yea
Kimberly Poore Moser Republican Yea
Marianne Proctor Republican Yea
Mark Hart Republican Yea
Mary Beth Imes Republican Yea
Matt Lockett Republican Yea
Matthew Koch Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Michael Sarge Pollock Republican Yea
Mike Clines Republican Yea
Mitch Whitaker Republican Yea
Myron Dossett Republican Yea
Nancy Tate Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Patrick Flannery Republican Yea
Peyton Griffee Republican Yea
Randy Bridges Republican Yea
Rebecca Raymer Republican Yea
Richard White Republican Yea
Robert Duvall Republican Yea
Ryan Bivens Republican Yea
Ryan Dotson Republican Yea
Samara Heavrin Republican Yea
Savannah Maddox Republican Yea
Scott Lewis Republican Not Voting
Scott Sharp Republican Yea
Shane Baker Republican Yea
Shawn McPherson Republican Yea
Stephanie Dietz Republican Yea
Steve Bratcher Republican Yea
Steve Riley Republican Yea
Steven Doan Republican Yea
Steven Rudy Republican Yea
Susan Witten Republican Yea
Suzanne Miles Republican Yea
T.J. Roberts Republican Yea
Thomas Huff Republican Yea
Timmy Truett Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Tony Hampton Republican Yea
Vanessa Grossl Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea
William Lawrence Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 486 do?
Amend KRS 95A.292 to allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39F to direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program; provide that the Act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.
Who sponsors HB 486?
HB 486 is sponsored by Wade Williams (Republican), Timmy Truett (Republican), Walker Thomas (Republican), Scott Sharp (Republican), T.J. Roberts (Republican), Rebecca Raymer (Republican), Michael Sarge Pollock (Republican), J.T. Payne (Republican), Adam Moore (Democrat), Shawn McPherson (Republican), DJ Johnson (Republican), Kevin Jackson (Republican), Thomas Huff (Republican), Mark Hart (Republican), David Hale (Republican), Daniel Grossberg (Democrat), Jim Gooch Jr. (Republican), Chris Fugate (Republican), Patrick Flannery (Republican), Daniel Fister (Republican), Robert Duvall (Republican), Beverly Chester-Burton (Democrat), George Brown Jr. (Democrat), Shane Baker (Republican), and Bill Wesley (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 486?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 23, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 486?
Track HB 486 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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