AN ACT relating to administrative regulations.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Calloway and 2 co-sponsors

HB 494 aims to reform Kentucky’s rulemaking process by increasing transparency and public participation in the development, review, and adoption of administrative regulations.

to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)

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Summary of HB 494 (2026RS) – Kentucky

Purpose and intent

HB 494 is an act relating to administrative regulations. Its overarching aim appears to be reforming how administrative regulations are developed, reviewed, and implemented by state agencies in Kentucky. The bill is designed to modify procedures that govern the creation, amendment, and/or repeal of regulations to improve oversight, transparency, and efficiency in regulatory administration.

Key provisions and changes (as drafted or implied)

Establishes or alters processes for the development and review of administrative regulations by state agencies.

Potential implications include:

Requirements for increased or clarified public notice and stakeholder input during the regulatory development process.
Enhanced agency procedures for drafting, filing, and codifying regulations.
Stipulations governing the timelines for review, adoption, and publication of regulations.
Possible mechanisms for legislative or committee oversight of proposed regulations, including opportunities for comment or revision.

May address alignment with state administrative procedure norms, ensuring consistency with existing Kentucky statutes governing administrative rules and executive branch rulemaking.

Note: The exact text of provisions, specific procedural steps, thresholds, and any exemptions are not provided in the summary materials. The bill’s title and committee referrals indicate a focus on administrative regulations rather than substantive policy changes across agencies.

Who or what would be affected

State agencies that draft and implement regulations would be directly impacted, as HB 494 would modify how they propose, review, and finalize regulatory actions.

Kentucky legislators and committees with jurisdiction over administrative rules (e.g., Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations) would gain new or clarified oversight roles.

Stakeholders (businesses, professional licensing boards, public interest groups, and general residents) could experience changes in how regulatory proposals are available for public comment and how quickly regulations move through the process.

Procedural and timeline considerations

The bill passed action through the House committee process, with:

Introduction date: January 27, 2026
Referral to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee on February 3, 2026

As a 2026 session measure, HB 494 would proceed through standard legislative timelines for the Kentucky General Assembly, including potential committee hearings, floor votes, and, if passed, enrollment and signature/governor action.

The summary does not specify effective dates, sunset provisions, or transitional rules; these details would be determined in the bill’s final text and any accompanying fiscal note.

Practical impact considerations

If enacted, agencies may experience a more structured or extended rulemaking process, potentially affecting the speed of regulatory adoption but possibly increasing transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Public access to regulatory information could improve if the bill expands notice or comment requirements.

The net fiscal impact would depend on any new administrative requirements (e.g., staffing, public hearings, publishing costs) included in the final text.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact text of HB 494 or any fiscal/summary notes to provide a more precise, line-by-line breakdown of provisions and their implications.