Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB34: AN ACT relating to the transfer of property upon death.
Status: In committee, March 24, 2026
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 391 to establish the Kentucky Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act to codify provisions for the creation, administration, modification, termination, and validity of transfer on death deeds; define terms; specify that a transfer on death deed is not an inter vivos transfer and that the transfer occurs at the time of the transferor's death; specify that the transferor retains the power to revoke a transfer on death deed; establish that a transfer on death deed is nontestamentary; establish requirements for a transfer on death deed and specify the process of recording a transfer on death deed; specify that a transfer on death deed is effective without acceptance by the beneficiary during the transferor's lifetime; establish provisions for the revocation of a transfer on death deed by instrument or act; establish the effect of a transfer on death deed during the transferor's life; allow a beneficiary to disclaim the property interest in the deed; establish a form for creating at transfer on death deed; establish a form for revocation of a transfer on death deed; require the Department of Revenue to provide the established forms; specify the applicability of KRS Chapter 391; conform to federal requirements related to electronic signatures and records; amend KRS 64.012 to provide the recording fee for a transfer on death deed or revocation; require the Department of Medicaid Services to prescribe and provide a form requiring information related to any Medicaid lien; provide that Sections 1 to 14 of this Act may be cited as the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act; Amend KRS 381.280, 382.110, 382.135, 391.360, 392.020, 392.070, and 403.190 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 186A to define terms; establish requirements for a transfer of a vehicle's title to a named beneficiary upon the death of the owner; direct the Transportation Cabinet to develop a form for transfer; amend KRS 395.455 to dispense with administ
What the bill says
An act relating to the transfer of property upon death.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the transfer of property upon death. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 391 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: As used in Sections 1 to 14 of this Act, unless the context otherwise (2) "Designated beneficiary" means a person designated to receive property in a transfer on death deed; (3) "Joint owner" means an individual who has a titled ownership interest in property concurrently with one (1) or more other individuals with a right of survivorship and includes joint tenants and tenants by the entirety. "Joint owner" does not include a tenant in common or owner of community property without a right of survivorship; (4) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity; (5) "Proof of death" means a death certificate; (6) "Property" means real property located in this state that is transferable on the death of the owner; (7) "Transfer on death deed" means a deed authorized under Sections 1 to 14 of this Act; and (8) "Transferor" means an individual who has a titled ownership interest in property and makes a transfer on death deed. SECTION …
Sponsors
- Steve Rawlings (R, SD-011) · primary sponsor
- Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R, SD-024)
- Gerald Neal (D, SD-033)
- Aaron Reed (R, SD-007)
- Lindsey Tichenor (R, SD-006)
Latest actions
- : to Local Government (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : received in House
- : passed 36-2 with Floor Amendment (2)
- : floor amendment (1) withdrawn
- : 3rd reading
- : passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
- : floor amendment (2) filed
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 11 2026
- : returned to Rules
Votes
- Senate: PASS SB 34 w/ SFA 2 (SFA 2) RSN# 3917 (March 12, 2026): 36 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Property, Short Titles And Popular Names, Medicaid, Deaths, Children And Minors, Wills, Trusts, And Estates, Uniform Laws
Common questions
- What is SB34?
- SB34 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the transfer of property upon death.
- What does SB34 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the transfer of property upon death.
- What is the status of SB34?
- In committee as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: to Local Government (H) (March 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB34?
- Steve Rawlings (R, SD-011), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB34?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb34.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.