Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 356 — AN ACT relating to employment.

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 March 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

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 D).

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

Summary

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 336 to prohibit all employers of 75 or more employees from demoting, dismissing, disciplining, or discriminating against an employee who misses work because of duties related to being a candidate, member-elect, or member of the General Assembly or legislative body of certain local governments; require an employer to grant a leave of absence if the employee requests it, not to exceed 4 terms for a member of the House of Representatives, or 3 terms for a member of the Senate or a member of a specified legislative body of a local government; amend KRS 336.990 to provide a penalty for employers who violate Section 1 of the Act.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

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

The bill adds protections against discrimination for candidates and members of certain legislative bodies and imposes civil penalties for violations of these protections.

  • KRS 336.990

    and → and (f) Any employer that violates Section 1 of this Act shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense.

    This change adds a new penalty for employers who violate the new section regarding discrimination against candidates and members of legislative bodies.

  • A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 336 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Subject to KRS 18A.140 and 61.080, an employer of seventy-five (75) or more persons shall not demote, dismiss, discipline, or in any way discriminate against an employee because he or she is: (a) A candidate for membership of: (1) The General Assembly; (2) A legislative body of a city; (3) A consolidated local government council; (4) An urban-county government council; (5) A legislative body of a charter county government; (6) A legislative body of a unified local government; or (7) A local board of education. (b) Currently serving as a member of: (1) The General Assembly; (2) A legislative body of a city; (3) A consolidated local government council; (4) An urban-county government council; (5) A legislative body of a charter county government; (6) A legislative body of a unified local government; or (7) A local board of education. (c) A member-elect to: (1) The General Assembly; (2) A legislative body of a city; (3) A consolidated local government council; (4) An urban-county government council; (5) A legislative body of a charter county government; (6) A legislative body of a unified local government; or (7) A local board of education; or (d) Absent from work to perform duties as a member or member-elect of: (1) The General Assembly; (2) A legislative body of a city; (3) A consolidated local government council; (4) An urban-county government council; (5) A legislative body of a charter county government; (6) A legislative body of a unified local government; or (7) A local board of education.

    This addition prohibits employers of 75 or more employees from discriminating against employees based on their status as candidates or members of specified legislative bodies.

  • Any employee who is elected or appointed to any qualifying office listed in subsection (1) of this section may request a leave of absence, and any employer subject to subsection (1) of this section shall grant the request. The leave of absence: (a) May be paid or unpaid; and (b) Shall not exceed: (1) Four (4) terms of office for a member of the House of Representatives; (2) Three (3) terms of office for a member of the Senate; or (3) Three (3) terms of office for a member of a legislative body of a city, consolidated local government council, urban-county government council, legislative body of a charter county government, legislative body of a unified local government, or local school board of education.

    This provision grants a leave of absence to employees elected or appointed to specific offices, with limits on the duration of such leave.

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

civil-rights labor
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 SB 356 do?
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 336 to prohibit all employers of 75 or more employees from demoting, dismissing, disciplining, or discriminating against an employee who misses work because of duties related to being a candidate, member-elect, or member of the General Assembly or legislative body of certain local governments; require an employer to grant a leave of absence if the employee requests it, not to exceed 4 terms for a member of the House of Representatives, or 3 terms for a member of the Senate or a member of a specified legislative body of a local government; amend KRS 336.990 to provide a penalty for employers who violate Section 1 of the Act.
Who sponsors SB 356?
SB 356 is sponsored by Gary Clemons (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 356?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 02, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 356?
Track SB 356 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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