SB195 Kentucky Civil Actions Notice Requirements Signed

ChangeBridge / Kentucky / SB195 Signed by Governor SB195 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-03-31

AN ACT relating to participants in the legal system.

Amend KRS 367.220 to require written notice from a consumer to a prospective defendant 60 days before initiating a civil action; require giving of notice to toll the statute of limitations; make failure to give notice result in dismissal of a filed claim without prejudice; amend KRS 189.125 to declare failure to wear a safety restraint or wear a restraint properly to be admissible as it may relate to fault only upon a showing that the failure was a substantial factor in any injury claimed; amend KRS 304.12-230 to limit the committing of unfair claims settlement practices to insurers; prohibit that a claim from being brought by a third-party claimant; require any assignment of a claim against an insurer to be void; create a new section of Subtitle 40 of KRS Chapter 304 to establish limitations on information and testimony regarding professional liability insurance in a civil action; amend KRS 364.130 to define terms; establish liability protections for a utility that removes timber of a property owner when done with permission or in good faith and establish damages for violations; create new sections of KRS Chapter 411 to define terms; require acceptance of a project by a contracting entity to create a rebuttable presumption of compliance with specifications and not to give rise to a finding of liability except under specified circumstances; establish requirements for the initiating pleading against a contracting entity or contractor and allow failure to comply to result in a dismissal of the action; establish requirements for a claim against a contractor by a noncontractual third party; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish prelitigation notice of a potential claim for medical malpractice or health care liability claims; establish method of providing required notice and the effect of compliance on the applicable statute of limitations; amend KRS 411.167 to require a written medical opinion before commencement of an action under the statute; establish an award of costs and fees upon a finding of noncompliance; amend KRS 411.182 to prohibit a claimant who is more than 50% responsible for the injury or damages claimed from being entitled to recovery; establish evidentiary basis for award of medical expenses; establish apportionment provisions for a nonparty or party entitled to immunity; amend KRS 413.140 to establish notice requirement prior to initiating cause of action for personal injury; amend KRS 422.317 to set costs associated with request for medical records; amend KRS 304.45-110 to conform; repeal KRS 304.12-220, relating to the definition of "person."

Bill Details

State Kentucky

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb195....

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Sponsors

Craig Richardson (Sen - R) Donald Douglas (Sen - R) Greg Elkins (Sen - R) Rick Girdler (Sen - R) Stephen Meredith (Sen - R) Gex Williams (Sen - R)

Action History

2026-04-10 S filed without Governor's signature with the Secretary of State 2026-03-31 S delivered to Governor 2026-03-31 S enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-31 S enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-31 S passed 29-9 2026-03-31 S Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (3) and (1) and Floor Amendment (2-title) 2026-03-27 S passed over and retained for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1) and (3) and Floor Amendment (2-title) 2026-03-27 S posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1) and (3) and Floor Amendment (2-title) 2026-03-27 S taken from Rules 2026-03-27 S to Rules (S) 2026-03-27 S received in Senate 2026-03-26 H 3rd reading, passed 66-25 with Committee Substitute (1), Floor Amendments (1) and (3) and Floor Amendment (2-title) 2026-03-26 H placed in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-26 H taken from Rules 2026-03-25 H floor amendments (1) and (3) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (2-title) filed to bill 2026-03-25 H reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-24 H returned to Judiciary (H) 2026-03-24 H 1st reading 2026-03-24 H taken from Judiciary (H) 2026-03-20 H to Judiciary (H) 2026-03-19 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-03-19 H received in House 2026-03-19 S 3rd reading, passed 31-5 with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-19 S placed in the Orders of the Day 2026-03-19 S taken from Rules 2026-03-19 S reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1) 2026-03-17 S returned to Judiciary (S) 2026-03-17 S 2nd reading 2026-03-17 S taken from Judiciary (S) 2026-03-16 S returned to Judiciary (S) 2026-03-16 S 1st reading 2026-03-16 S taken from Judiciary (S) 2026-03-16 S to Judiciary (S) 2026-02-12 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-12 S introduced in Senate

Votes

2026-03-19 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3955 Yea: 31 Nay: 5 2026-03-26 House: Veto Override RCS# 330 Yea: 66 Nay: 25 2026-03-31 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4075 Yea: 29 Nay: 9

Committee Referrals

2026-02-12 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-16 S Judiciary 2026-03-19 H Committee On Committees 2026-03-20 H Judiciary 2026-03-27 S Rules

Amendments

0000-00-00 Senate Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 House Committee Substitute 0000-00-00 House Floor Amendment 0000-00-00 House Floor Amendment 0000-00-00 House Floor Amendment

Bill Text Versions

0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled

Subjects

Civil Actions Civil Procedure Consumer Protection Highways, Streets, and Bridges Insurance Physicians Property Rules Of Evidence Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)