Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB485: AN ACT relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness.
Status: In committee, February 20, 2026
Amend KRS 202A.011 to define "benefit from treatment," "individual with a mental illness," and "severe mental illness"; remove "mentally ill person" and redefine "danger"; amend KRS 202A.028 to allow the Commonwealth to file an emergency motion to be heard within 48 hours regarding the hospitalization of an individual with a mental illness who has been found by a qualified mental health professional to not meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization; amend KRS 202A.051 to allow a court to order a respondent to participate in outpatient psychiatric treatment; allow a court to require a hospital to notify the court and the Commonwealth if the hospital releases a person who is hospitalized; allow a court to order a person released from hospitalization to participate in outpatient psychiatric treatment; require that any petition filed under this section to expire in 30 days if it has not been served on the respondent; amend KRS 202A.061 to allow the Commonwealth to file an emergency motion to be heard within 48 hours regarding the hospitalization of an individual with a mental illness who has been found by a qualified mental health professional to not meet the criteria for involuntary hospitalization; create new sections of KRS Chapter 202A to require the court to appoint an outpatient provider for every person who is ordered to community-based outpatient treatment; require a multidisciplinary team to regularly monitor a person's adherence to community-based outpatient treatment; allow a court or an authorized staff physician to order a 72 hour emergency admission to a hospital for every person who fails to comply with an order for community-based outpatient treatment; require the court to conduct a review hearing no later than 72 hours prior to the expiration or request for early release by a hospital of a period of involuntary hospitalization for individuals who have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness and within the past 12 months been involuntarily com
What the bill says
An act relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 202A.011 is amended to read as follows: As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Authorized staff physician" means a physician who is a bona fide member of the hospital's medical staff; (2) "Benefit from treatment" means the desired outcomes of treatment in a psychiatric hospital for an individual with a mental illness, including but not limited (b) A lessening of irrational thoughts and behaviors; (c) Reduced risk of harm; or (d) Acquisition of skills for self-care and for interacting and living in the community; (3) "Cabinet" means the [Kentucky ]Cabinet for Health and Family Services; (4)[(3)] "Contract mental health evaluator" means a qualified mental health professional who is employed by or under contract with a community mental health center, crisis stabilization unit, mental institution, or any other facility designated by the secretary to provide mental health evaluations to determine whether an individual meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization; (5)[(4)] "Danger" or "threat of danger to self, family, or others" means, as a result of mental illness, a person: (a) Presents a substantial risk of serious physical harm to[or threat of substantial physical harm upon] self, family, or others …
Sponsors
- Jason Nemes (R, HD-033) · primary sponsor
- Kimberly Moser (R, HD-064)
- George Brown (D, HD-077)
- Emily Callaway (R, HD-037)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Daniel Grossberg (D, HD-030)
- John Hodgson (R, HD-036)
- Lisa Willner (D, HD-035)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 95-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendments (1) and (2)
- : floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Health Services (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 116 (February 19, 2026): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Courts, Attorney, County, Hospitals And Health Facilities, Health And Medical Services, Local Mandate, Attorney, Commonwealth's, Civil Actions, Civil Procedure
Common questions
- What is HB485?
- HB485 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness.
- What does HB485 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the care and treatment of individuals with mental illness.
- What is the status of HB485?
- In committee as of February 20, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (February 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB485?
- Jason Nemes (R, HD-033), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB485?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb485.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.