Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB272: AN ACT relating to legislative ethics.
Status: In committee, March 13, 2026
Amend KRS 6.661 to establish that the co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission may employ an executive director of the Legislative Ethics Commission, as well as other necessary staff and contract personnel; require the co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission to fix the compensation of staff and contract personnel of the Legislative Ethics Commission; establish that members of the staff of the Legislative Ethics Commission are subject to removal by the co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission at any time; amend KRS 6.686 to allow the Legislative Ethics Commission to impose sanctions on persons who file a complaint that is determined to be frivolous, was filed for an improper purpose, or contains factual allegations lacking evidentiary support; provide that sanctions apply retroactively to January 2, 2026; RETROACTIVE, in part.
What the bill says
An act relating to legislative ethics.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to legislative ethics. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 6.661 is amended to read as follows: (1) The co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission[commission] may employ an executive director and other necessary staff and contract personnel for the Legislative Ethics Commission who shall serve at the pleasure of the co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission[commission]. (2) The executive director shall [: (a) ]administer the daily business of the Legislative Ethics Commission and perform the duties assigned by the Legislative Ethics Commission[; and (b) Employ and remove other personnel as necessary to carry out the provisions of this code]. (3) The co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission[commission] shall fix the compensation of staff and contract personnel for the Legislative Ethics Commission[its staff], and the compensation shall be commensurate with that paid to executive branch officials with a similar level of responsibilities. (4) The staff of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall be exempt from the provisions of KRS 18A.005 to 18A.202. (5) A member of the staff or contract personnel of the Legislative Ethics Commission during his or her term of employment shall be subject to removal by the co-chairs of the Legislative Research Commission at any time[the provisions of KRS 6.651(8)]. Section 2. KRS 6.686 is amended to read …
Sponsors
- Ken Upchurch (R, HD-052) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : returned to State Government (H)
- : 2nd reading
- : taken from State Government (H)
- : returned to State Government (H)
- : 1st reading
- : taken from State Government (H)
- : to State Government (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: General Assembly, Legislative Research Commission, State Employees, Boards And Commissions, Retroactive Legislation, Public Ethics
Common questions
- What is HB272?
- HB272 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to legislative ethics.
- What does HB272 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to legislative ethics.
- What is the status of HB272?
- In committee as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: returned to State Government (H) (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB272?
- Ken Upchurch (R, HD-052).
- Where is the official record for HB272?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb272.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.