Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB161: AN ACT relating to employment.
Status: In committee, February 3, 2026
Amend KRS 336.130 to delete references restricting rights of public employees to organize, associate collectively, or strike; amend KRS 336.180 to redefine "labor organization" and delete definitions of "candidate," "committee," "contributing organization," "contribution," "election," "electioneering communications," "employer," "fundraiser," "independent expenditure," "political activities," "public employee," "slate of candidates," and "testimonial affair"; amend KRS 336.990 to conform; amend KRS 67A.6904 to allow urban-county governments to make an agreement with a labor organization to require membership in the organization as a condition of employment; amend KRS 67C.406 to allow consolidated local governments to make an agreement with a labor organization to require membership in the organization as a condition of employment; amend KRS 70.262, 78.470, and 78.480 to remove exceptions; amend KRS 345.050 to allow public employers to make an agreement with a labor organization to require membership in the organization as a condition of employment; amend KRS 336.1341 and 336.135 to conform; repeal KRS 65.016, 336.132, and 336.134.
What the bill says
An act relating to employment.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to employment. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 336.130 is amended to read as follows: (1) Employees may, free from restraint or coercion by the employers or their agents, associate collectively for self-organization and designate collectively representatives of their own choosing to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment to effectively promote their own rights and general welfare. Employees, collectively and individually, may strike, engage in peaceful picketing, and assemble collectively for peaceful purposes[, except that no public employee, collectively or individually, may engage in a strike or a work stoppage. Nothing in this statute and KRS 65.015, 67A.6904, 67C.406, 70.262, 78.470, 78.480, 336.132, 336.134, 336.180, 336.990, and 345.050 shall be construed as altering, amending, granting, or removing the rights of public employees to associate collectively for self-organization and designate collectively representatives of their own choosing to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment to effectively promote their own rights and general welfare]. (2) Neither employers or their agents nor employees or associations, organizations or groups of employees shall engage or be permitted to engage in unfair or illegal acts or practices or resort to violence, intimidation, threats or coercion. (3) [(a) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section or any provision of the Kentucky Revised Statutes …
Sponsors
- Gary Clemons (D, SD-037) · primary sponsor
- Casey Chambers Armstrong (D, SD-019)
- Karen Berg (D, SD-026)
- Keturah Herron (D, SD-035)
- Gerald Neal (D, SD-033)
- Reginald Thomas (D, SD-013)
- Robin Webb (R, SD-018)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : introduced in Senate
Subjects: State Employees, Local Government, Labor And Industry, Workforce
Common questions
- What is SB161?
- SB161 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to employment.
- What does SB161 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to employment.
- What is the status of SB161?
- In committee as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB161?
- Gary Clemons (D, SD-037), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB161?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/sb161.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.