AN ACT relating to freestanding birthing centers.
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SB 17 — AN ACT relating to freestanding birthing centers.
Last action — reported favorably, to Rules
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers; establish criteria for a medical director; establish requirements for obtaining written informed consent; require a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric services; require a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service; exempt a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; state intent not to limit or expand liability of a center or health care provider or facility; require medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers; prohibit abortions in freestanding birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility"; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.122, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 214.155, 214.565, 214.567, 214.569, 216.2920, 216.2921, 216.2923, 216.2925, 216.2927, and 216.2970 to conform; require the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.
Bill Text
We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.
Read SB 17 on the official Kentucky source →Action History
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reported favorably, to Rules
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to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
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returned to Committee on Committees (H)
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2nd reading
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taken from Committee on Committees (H)
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returned to Committee on Committees (H)
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1st reading
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taken from Committee on Committees (H)
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to Committee on Committees (H)
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received in House
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3rd reading, passed 34-0-3
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posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 07, 2025
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2nd reading, to Rules
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reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
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to Health Services (S)
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to Committee on Committees (S)
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introduced in Senate
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →0 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 138 not signed on
Sponsors (0)
None.
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (138)
138 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 138 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 28 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Unaffiliated | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 34 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| % of votes cast | 83% | 0% | 0% | 17% |
How each member voted (41)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| ChambersArmstrong | — | Yea |
| Yates | — | Yea |
| Gerald A. Neal | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Berg | Democrat | Yea |
| Keturah J. Herron | Democrat | Yea |
| Reginald L. Thomas | Democrat | Yea |
| Aaron Reed | Republican | Yea |
| Amanda Mays Bledsoe | Republican | Yea |
| Brandon J. Storm | Republican | Yea |
| Brandon Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Christian McDaniel | Republican | Yea |
| Craig Richardson | Republican | Yea |
| Danny Carroll | Republican | Yea |
| David P. Givens | Republican | Yea |
| Donald Douglas | Republican | Not Voting |
| Donald Douglas | Republican | Not Voting |
| Gary Boswell | Republican | Not Voting |
| Gary Boswell | Republican | Not Voting |
| Gex Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Elkins | Republican | Yea |
| Jared Carpenter | Republican | Not Voting |
| Jason Howell | Republican | Yea |
| Jimmy Higdon | Republican | Yea |
| Julie Raque Adams | Republican | Yea |
| Lindsey Tichenor | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Nunn | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Deneen | Republican | Yea |
| Max Wise | Republican | Yea |
| Michael J. Nemes | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Phillip Wheeler | Republican | Not Voting |
| Phillip Wheeler | Republican | Not Voting |
| Rick Girdler | Republican | Yea |
| Robby Mills | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Stivers | Republican | Yea |
| Robin L. Webb | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Madon | Republican | Yea |
| Shelley Funke Frommeyer | Republican | Yea |
| Stephen Meredith | Republican | Yea |
| Stephen West | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Rawlings | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 17 do?
- Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers; establish criteria for a medical director; establish requirements for obtaining written informed consent; require a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric services; require a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service; exempt a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; state intent not to limit or expand liability of a center or health care provider or facility; require medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers; prohibit abortions in freestanding birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility"; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.122, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 214.155, 214.565, 214.567, 214.569, 216.2920, 216.2921, 216.2923, 216.2925, 216.2927, and 216.2970 to conform; require the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.
- What is the current status of SB 17?
- This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 17?
- Track SB 17 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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