Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB685: AN ACT relating to professional credentials.
Status: In committee, March 18, 2026
Amend KRS 161.030 to require the Education Professional Standards Board to issue a 5 year teaching certificate to eligible applicants.
What the bill says
An act relating to teacher certification.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to teacher certification. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 161.030 is amended to read as follows: (1) Notwithstanding the age of the pupil, the certification of all teachers and other school personnel, in public schools only, is vested in the Education Professional Standards Board. When so certified, teachers and other school personnel shall not be required to have licensure, certification, or other forms of approval from any other state agency for the performance of their respective assignments within the system of public schools, except as provided for by law. All certificates authorized under KRS 161.010 to 161.126 shall be issued in accordance with the administrative regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board. After July 15, 1994, all certificate applications and other data collection instruments of the board shall include a request for voluntary information about the applicant's ethnic UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS HB 685/HCS Standards Board and shall measure knowledge in the specific teaching field of the applicant, including content of the field and teaching of that content. The Education Professional Standards Board shall determine the minimum acceptable level of achievement on each assessment. The assessments shall measure those concepts, ideas, and facts which are being taught in teacher education programs in Kentucky. Upon successful completion of the …
Sponsors
- Steve Riley (R, HD-023) · primary sponsor
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Patrick Flannery (R, HD-096)
- Chris Fugate (R, HD-084)
- Daniel Grossberg (D, HD-030)
- Vanessa Grossl (R, HD-088)
- Kevin Jackson (R, HD-020)
- Scott Lewis (R, HD-014)
- Shawn McPherson (R, HD-022)
- Michael Pollock (R, HD-051)
- Timmy Truett (R, HD-089)
- Lisa Willner (D, HD-035)
Latest actions
- : to Education (S)
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 98-0 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 09 2026
- : floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) and Committee Amendment (1-title)
- : to Primary and Secondary Education (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 218 (March 9, 2026): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Agencies, Teachers, Education, Elementary And Secondary, Licensing
Common questions
- What is HB685?
- HB685 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to professional credentials.
- What does HB685 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to teacher certification.
- What is the status of HB685?
- In committee as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: to Education (S) (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB685?
- Steve Riley (R, HD-023), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB685?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb685.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.