HB388 - Kentucky Bill Removing Hydrocodone Schedule III References
Summary
Kentucky Governor signed HB388 on April 7, 2026, amending multiple sections of Kentucky Revised Statutes to remove Schedule III controlled substance references to hydrocodone. The bill also expands the definition of 'practitioner' to include optometrists and physician assistants licensed in other states, and requires practitioners and pharmacists to maintain active accounts in the state's electronic monitoring system for all controlled substance prescriptions.
What changed
HB388 removes hydrocodone Schedule III controlled substance references from KRS 205.529, 218A.172, 218A.205, and 304.17A.165. The bill expands the definition of 'practitioner' in KRS 218A.010 to include optometrists and physician assistants licensed in other states, and requires practitioners and pharmacists to maintain active accounts in the state electronic monitoring system when prescribing or dispensing Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances.
Healthcare providers, pharmacists, and entities prescribing or dispensing controlled substances in Kentucky must ensure compliance with new electronic monitoring account requirements. The expanded practitioner definition may affect cross-state telehealth prescribing arrangements and collaborative practice agreements.
What to do next
- Verify current controlled substance scheduling classifications align with HB388 amendments
- Ensure all prescribing and dispensing staff maintain active accounts in Kentucky's electronic monitoring system
- Update controlled substance protocols to reflect expanded 'practitioner' definition including out-of-state optometrists and physician assistants
Penalties
Non-compliance with electronic monitoring system account requirements may result in licensure or dispensing penalties
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB388 Signed by Governor HB388 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-07
AN ACT relating to prescription drugs.
Amend KRS 205.529, 218A.172, 218A.205, and 304.17A.165 to remove references to a Schedule III controlled substance containing hydrocodone; amend KRS 218A.010 to add optometrist and physician assistant to the definition of "practitioner" licensed in other states; amend KRS 218A.182 to exempt charitable health care practitioners from electronic prescription requirement; amend KRS 218A.202 to require an active account with the electronic monitoring system be maintained by practitioners or pharmacists prescribing or dispensing Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances; amend KRS 218A.245 to permit the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to enter reciprocal agreements or contracts with any federal agency of the United States or its territories.
Bill Details
State Kentucky
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb388....
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Robert Duvall (Rep - R) Kimberly Moser (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-07 H signed by Governor 2026-03-26 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-26 H received in House 2026-03-25 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-03-24 S passed over and retained in the Consent Orders of the Day 2026-03-20 S posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 24 2026 2026-03-12 S 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill 2026-03-11 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar 2026-03-09 S to Health Services (S) 2026-02-09 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-09 S received in Senate 2026-02-06 H 3rd reading, passed 92-0 2026-02-05 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 06 2026 2026-01-30 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-01-29 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-01-22 H to Health Services (H) 2026-01-14 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-14 H introduced in House
Votes
2026-02-06 House: Veto Override RCS# 66 Yea: 92 Nay: 0 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4002 Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-14 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-22 H Health Services 2026-01-30 H Rules 2026-02-09 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-09 S Health Services 2026-03-12 S Rules
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed
Subjects
Drugs and Medicines Health and Medical Services Health Care Professionals Optometrists Pharmacists Physicians State Agencies Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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