Bill Sponsor
Kentucky Senate Bill 85
Session 2026RS
AN ACT relating to designating a special needs trust to receive state-administered retirement benefits.
Active
Active
Passed House on Mar 27, 2026
Sponsors
First Action
Jan 13, 2026
Latest Action
Mar 27, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
85
State
Kentucky
Session
2026RS
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Primary
Republican
Primary
Senate Votes (2)
Motion Text
Pass
Senate Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Unknown
Lewis C
Yes
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Summary
Amend KRS 16.505, 61.510, and 78.510 to define "special needs trust" (SNT) for purposes of the State Police Retirement System, Kentucky Employees Retirement System, and County Employees Retirement System; amend the definition of "beneficiary" to include a SNT; amend KRS 16.578 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement payment if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 61.635 to allow a person who is the beneficiary of a SNT to be designated as the beneficiary of a lifetime retirement benefit; require the trustee of a SNT to notify the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) upon the death of the beneficiary of a SNT and repay any payment not properly payable to the SNT; allow KPPA to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the SNT provisions; amend KRS 61.640 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement payment if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 61.690 to allow a recipient or legal representative to direct retirement benefits to be paid to a SNT and clarify that it is not an assignment or transfer; amend KRS 78.5532 to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime retirement benefit if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 161.525, relating to the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) to allow a SNT to receive a lifetime annuity if a member dies before retirement; amend KRS 161.640 to allow checks to be sent by mail to the trustee of a SNT; require the trustee to notify the TRS upon the death of the beneficiary; require any payments not properly payable to the SNT to be repaid to TRS; allow TRS to promulgate administrative regulations to administer the SNT provisions; amend KRS 161.700 to require TRS to assign annuity payments to a SNT, issue payments to the trustee, and prevent annuity payments from being used to reimburse any state for any Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of the beneficiary of a SNT; amend KRS 21.420, relating to the Judicial Retirement Plan, to allow for a SNT to be selected as a beneficiary, and define "special needs trust"; amend KRS 21.425 to allow a member to designate a SNT to receive lifetime survivorship benefits on behalf of a surviving spouse, dependent child, or disabled child.
Actions (18)
03/27/2026
Senate
delivered to Governor
03/27/2026
House
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
03/27/2026
Senate
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
03/27/2026
Senate
received in Senate
03/27/2026
Senate
3rd reading, passed 90-0
03/26/2026
Senate
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026
03/20/2026
Senate
2nd reading, to Rules
03/19/2026
Senate
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
03/16/2026
House
to State Government (H)
02/19/2026
House
to Committee on Committees (H)
02/19/2026
House
received in House
02/18/2026
Senate
3rd reading, passed 36-0
02/13/2026
Senate
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026
02/05/2026
Senate
2nd reading, to Rules
02/04/2026
Senate
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
02/02/2026
Senate
to State & Local Government (S)
01/13/2026
Senate
to Committee on Committees (S)
01/13/2026
Senate
introduced in Senate
Sources
Record Created
Jan 14, 2026 12:36:43 AM
Record Updated
Mar 27, 2026 11:05:10 PM