A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Personnel Cabinet, in consultation with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, to integrate community supported agriculture purchases into the wellness rewards programs offered to public employees and retirees who receive health insurance coverage through the Kentucky Employees Health Plan.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Deanna Gordon and 1 co-sponsor

Directs state agencies to integrate community supported agriculture purchases into the wellness rewards for Kentucky Employees Health Plan participants.

returned to State Government (H)

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Overview

HJR 86 (2026RS) is a Kentucky Joint Resolution directing state administration to modify wellness rewards for public employees and retirees covered by the Kentucky Employees Health Plan. Specifically, it requires the Personnel Cabinet, in consultation with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, to integrate community supported agriculture (CSA) purchases into the wellness rewards programs available to these health plan participants.

Purpose and intent

Promote healthier eating and local agricultural economics by leveraging existing wellness programs.

Encourage public employees and retirees with Kentucky Employees Health Plan coverage to participate in CSA programs.

Utilize state administrative processes to formalize CSA purchases as a component of wellness incentives.

Key provisions

Directs action: The Personnel Cabinet must act in consultation with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Integration obligation: CSA purchases must be incorporated into the wellness rewards programs offered under the Kentucky Employees Health Plan.

Scope: Applies to public employees and retirees who are enrolled in the Kentucky Employees Health Plan and participate in wellness rewards.

Administrative pathway: Requires coordination between the Personnel Cabinet and the Department of Agriculture to implement the integration (no specific legislative appropriation detailed in the bill text as provided).

Affected parties

Primary: Public employees and retirees who receive health insurance through the Kentucky Employees Health Plan.

Administrators: Personnel Cabinet (main implementing body) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (jointly responsible for guidance and program design).

Vendors/Program Partners: CSA providers or local farmers delivering CSA share programs may be engaged as part of the wellness rewards.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced in the Kentucky House (February 26, 2026) and referred to Committee on Committees, then progressed to the State Government (H) committee, with a 1st reading on March 17, 2026.

Action steps required by bill: The Cabinet, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, must develop and implement the integration of CSA purchases into the wellness rewards framework. The resolution implies a non-binding directive to pursue policy change through administrative channels rather than creating new statutory requirements or funding mechanisms.

No explicit funding or effective dates are provided in the summary; implementation would depend on administrative rulemaking or internal program adjustments following the resolution.

Potential impact

Incentivizes participation in CSA programs among state health plan members, potentially improving diet quality and access to fresh, local produce.

Could strengthen ties between state wellness initiatives and Kentucky agriculture, supporting local farms and supply chains.

May require adjustments to plan administration, eligibility criteria, and reward structures to accommodate CSA purchases (e.g., verification of CSA participation, benefit coding, and cost-share mechanisms).

Notes

As a Joint Resolution, this bill expresses a direction to state agencies rather than creating new statutes or mandatory appropriations. Implementation details would likely be handled through administrative rules or program policy within the Personnel Cabinet and in coordination with the Department of Agriculture.