Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

SB 253 — AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis.

Last action — to Committee on Committees (S)

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

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

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

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

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 218B.020 to make consultation with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the Kentucky Center for Cannabis optional for annual reports produced by the Office of Medical Cannabis; amend KRS 218B.065 to vest exclusive jurisdiction over final orders of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services relating to medicinal cannabis authorization with the Franklin Circuit Court upon request; amend KRS 218B.090 to vest exclusive jurisdiction for appeals of final orders of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services related to medicinal cannabis licenses with the Franklin Circuit Court; amend KRS 218B.095 to require medicinal cannabis business license holders to comply with filing and payment requirements by the Kentucky Department of Revenue and prohibit a medicinal cannabis business licensee from pledging or granting a security interest in the business; amend KRS 218B.140 to require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create an electronic monitoring system for monitoring medicinal cannabis business licensees and patients within the Commonwealth; require the electronic monitoring system to share specific information with the KASPER system in KRS Chapter 218A; amend KRS 218B.050, 218B.060, 218B.110, and KRS 216B.402 to conform; create new sections of KRS 218B to relocate existing data sharing provisions related to the medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring system from KRS Chapter 218A to KRS Chapter 218B and permit the Office of Medical Cannabis to investigate complaints of business improperly holding themselves out as a medicinal cannabis business licensee; amend KRS 218A.202 to remove requirements of a medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring database; require the KASPER system established in KRS Chapter 218A to communicate with the medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring database established in KRS Chapter 218B to identify certified medicinal cannabis patients.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. to Committee on Committees (S)

  2. introduced in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 137 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (137)

137 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 137 →

"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

Subjects

healthcare labor technology
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 253 do?
Amend KRS 218B.020 to make consultation with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and the Kentucky Center for Cannabis optional for annual reports produced by the Office of Medical Cannabis; amend KRS 218B.065 to vest exclusive jurisdiction over final orders of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services relating to medicinal cannabis authorization with the Franklin Circuit Court upon request; amend KRS 218B.090 to vest exclusive jurisdiction for appeals of final orders of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services related to medicinal cannabis licenses with the Franklin Circuit Court; amend KRS 218B.095 to require medicinal cannabis business license holders to comply with filing and payment requirements by the Kentucky Department of Revenue and prohibit a medicinal cannabis business licensee from pledging or granting a security interest in the business; amend KRS 218B.140 to require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create an electronic monitoring system for monitoring medicinal cannabis business licensees and patients within the Commonwealth; require the electronic monitoring system to share specific information with the KASPER system in KRS Chapter 218A; amend KRS 218B.050, 218B.060, 218B.110, and KRS 216B.402 to conform; create new sections of KRS 218B to relocate existing data sharing provisions related to the medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring system from KRS Chapter 218A to KRS Chapter 218B and permit the Office of Medical Cannabis to investigate complaints of business improperly holding themselves out as a medicinal cannabis business licensee; amend KRS 218A.202 to remove requirements of a medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring database; require the KASPER system established in KRS Chapter 218A to communicate with the medicinal cannabis electronic monitoring database established in KRS Chapter 218B to identify certified medicinal cannabis patients.
Who sponsors SB 253?
SB 253 is sponsored by Stephen West (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 253?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 253?
Track SB 253 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously

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