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Bill Summary · HB 210

Overview

HB 210 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) is an Act relating to wage transparency. It establishes requirements for disclosing wages in job postings, clarifies definitions related to wages and overtime, and makes targeted amendments to wage and compensation provisions, including special treatment for professional firefighters and related pension supplements. The bill also preserves existing wage payment rights and aligns several definitions across wage-related statutes.

Main purpose and intent

  • Improve wage transparency by mandating that job postings disclose the wages or wage range and provide a general description of all benefits or compensation associated with the position.
  • Clarify and unify definitions of key terms (wages, wage range, employer, employee, job posting) across relevant sections of Kentucky law.
  • Update wage-related calculations and supports for professional firefighters, including how supplements funded by the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund interact with overtime and pension contributions.
  • Preserve employee rights to timely payment of wages and set out procedures consistent with current wage-payment requirements.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 2: New requirement for job postings
    • Employers must disclose:
    • The wages or wage range for the position.
    • A general description of all benefits or other compensation associated with the job.
  • Section 1: Definitions and scope (KRS 337.010 amendments)
    • Clarifies definitions for “wages,” “employer,” “employee,” and “job posting.”
    • Reiterates how wages are calculated and paid, including specified payment methods and the prohibition on charging activation fees for payroll cards.
    • Distinguishes special provisions for professional firefighters regarding overtime calculations.
  • Sections 3: Firefighter supplements and pensions
    • Establishes annual supplements for qualified professional firefighters employed by local governments, with specified base amounts ($3,000 and later $4,000) and related pension contribution rules.
    • Outlines how supplements interact with retirement systems, including employer contributions and potential pro-rationing if Firefighters Foundation Program Funds are insufficient.
    • Provides administrative expense reimbursement provisions (up to 7.65% of the supplemental amount above a baseline) with a total annual cap of $250,000 per fiscal year, allocated pro rata if funds are insufficient.
    • Requires monthly distribution of supplements to qualified firefighters (12 equal installments with pay).
    • Specifies how supplements affect overtime calculations:
    • Supplements are not counted as wages for scheduled overtime calculations.
    • Supplements are included for unscheduled overtime calculations, with a defined formula (annual supplement divided by 2,080 hours, added to the hourly rate, then multiplied by 1.5 for unscheduled overtime).
  • Section 4: Wage payments
    • Reaffirms the general requirement that wages be paid semimonthly for work performed, with a six-day window to cure missed payments, and the right to sue for unpaid wages.
    • Excludes certain categories from these wage payment provisions as currently defined in KRS 337.010(2)(b).

Who is affected

  • Employers in Kentucky, who must now include wage or wage range and benefits in job postings.
  • Prospective and current employees, who gain increased wage transparency and clarified rights regarding wage payments.
  • Local governments and public employers with professional firefighters, who face new supplement structures and pension contribution obligations.
  • Fire and rescue training coordinators and related personnel within state higher education and military affairs sectors, which receive additional supplements.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill appears in the 2026 session with action history indicating initial referral to the Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee and earlier introduction in January 2026.
  • For firefighter supplements, the structure references applicable dates (e.g., supplements beginning July 1, 2018) and fund conditions, though the text focuses on current provisions and potential adjustments based on Fund sufficiency.

Overall, HB 210 prioritizes wage transparency, precise definitions, and targeted enhancements to firefighter compensation and overtime, while reinforcing employees’ wage payment protections.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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