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SB139 • 2026

AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
B. Smith
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
01/29/26: to Committee on Committees (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to disabled veterans.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1988
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 1/29/2026 9:27 AM Jacketed
AN ACT relating to disabled veterans. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 40 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) As used in this section: 5
(a) "Accessibility ramp" means a modular or custom -built ramp, including 6
appurtenant parts thereto such as landings and railings, all of which are: 7
1. Constructed in accordance with and otherwise comply with all 8
pertinent parts of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 9
U.S.C. sec. 12101 et seq.; the Kentucky Residential Building Code 10
adopted under KRS Chapter 198B; any local government ordinances; 11
and any homeowners association covenants; and 12
2. Constructed and installed by a contractor or other person registered 13
with the Kentucky Secretary of State and whose business would 14
encompass the construction and installation of accessibility ramps; 15
(b) "Disabled veteran" means an individual, domiciled in Kentucky, who has 16
served in the Armed Forces, has been separated therefrom under honorable 17
or general conditions, and has established the present existence of a service-18
connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirements 19
benefits, or pension because of a public statute administered by the United 20
States Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense, or was 21
separated by the Department of Defense because of a disability; 22
(c) "Immediate family member" means a disabled veteran's f ather, mother, 23
brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, grandchild, 24
aunt, uncle, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law; and 25
(d) "Residence" means a single-family home owned by a disabled veteran or an 26
immediate family member of a disabled ve teran which is the principal place 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 1988
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 1/29/2026 9:27 AM Jacketed
of residence of the disabled veteran. 1
(2) There is established in the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs the 2
Residential Ease of Access for Disabled Veterans Program for the purpose of 3
funding the construction and i nstallation of accessibility ramps on residences of 4
disabled veterans. 5
(3) In developing an application procedure, the Kentucky Department of Veterans' 6
Affairs shall require persons applying to the program for the construction and 7
installation of an acces sibility ramp for a disabled veteran to first contact the 8
nearest veterans' service organization which shall then transmit applications to 9
the department. 10
(4) There is hereby established in the State Treasury a trust and agency account to be 11
known as the R esidential Ease of Access for Disabled Veterans Program grant 12
fund, which shall consist of moneys received from state appropriations, gifts, 13
grants, and federal funds. 14
(5) The fund shall be administered by the Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs. 15
(6) Amounts deposited in the fund shall be used for the purposes set forth in 16
subsection (2) of this section. 17
(7) Notwithstanding KRS 45.229, fund amounts not expended at the close of a fiscal 18
year shall not lapse but shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year. 19
(8) The Kentucky Department of Veterans' Affairs may promulgate administrative 20
regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to implement this section. 21