KY SB 245
enactedAN ACT relating to tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product licensure and declaring an emergency.
Kentucky · 2026 Regular Session · upper
Subscribe in a feed reader. The feed covers recorded actions from the last 30 days; Bill Commons may record an action after it happened at the legislature.
Quick answers
Did KY SB 245 pass?
Yes. KY SB 245 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-10): signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 70)
What is KY SB 245 about?
Create a new section of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to establish application form requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; prohibit the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from establishing any additional licensure requirements beyond those prescribed in statute; require the department to publish and maintain on its website the components required for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; amend various sections of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to require the Secretary of State to notify retailers that a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license is required to sell authorized nicotine vapor products; establish application requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require the department to publish the application form on its website within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; require the licensing fee to be refunded to the applicant if a license is not issued; require a licensure renewal form and a licensing fee to be remitted to the department upon the renewal of a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; define "batch license"; allow a retailer with a license issued by the department under KRS Chapter 243 to renew a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license on the date of its next renewal; allow an applicant or licensee to batch license using a singular application or renewal form; allow a licensee to batch license on the date of its next alcohol licensure renewal or 1 year from the date of issuance of its tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require an applicant or licensee who chooses to batch license to multiply the licensure fee by the number of locations to be licensed or premises to be renewed; require the department to establish a singular application and renewal form for a batch license; allow the department to require a supplemental form for batch licensing if an alcohol license requires further information; grant a grace period to applicants for any error identified in an application by the department; establish requirements for a change of ownership; establish grounds for denial of an application; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations relating to tobacco, nicotine, and vapor licensing within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; repeal KRS 438.3065, which establishes transitional licensing; prohibit this Act from delaying enforcement; require any retailer selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products in Kentucky that does not currently hold a license to remit the initial application form and licensing fee within 60 days of the effective date of this Act; credit a licensee's 2025 licensing fee to the licensee's upcoming licensing fee payment for 2026; RETROACTIVE, in part, to January 1, 2026; EMERGENCY.
Who sponsors KY SB 245?
J. Higdon, R. Webb are the primary sponsors of KY SB 245.
Description
Create a new section of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to establish application form requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; prohibit the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from establishing any additional licensure requirements beyond those prescribed in statute; require the department to publish and maintain on its website the components required for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; amend various sections of KRS 438.305 to 438.350 to require the Secretary of State to notify retailers that a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license is required to sell authorized nicotine vapor products; establish application requirements for a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require the department to publish the application form on its website within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; require the licensing fee to be refunded to the applicant if a license is not issued; require a licensure renewal form and a licensing fee to be remitted to the department upon the renewal of a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; define "batch license"; allow a retailer with a license issued by the department under KRS Chapter 243 to renew a tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license on the date of its next renewal; allow an applicant or licensee to batch license using a singular application or renewal form; allow a licensee to batch license on the date of its next alcohol licensure renewal or 1 year from the date of issuance of its tobacco, nicotine, or vapor product license; require an applicant or licensee who chooses to batch license to multiply the licensure fee by the number of locations to be licensed or premises to be renewed; require the department to establish a singular application and renewal form for a batch license; allow the department to require a supplemental form for batch licensing if an alcohol license requires further information; grant a grace period to applicants for any error identified in an application by the department; establish requirements for a change of ownership; establish grounds for denial of an application; require the department to promulgate administrative regulations relating to tobacco, nicotine, and vapor licensing within 30 days of the effective date of this Act; repeal KRS 438.3065, which establishes transitional licensing; prohibit this Act from delaying enforcement; require any retailer selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products in Kentucky that does not currently hold a license to remit the initial application form and licensing fee within 60 days of the effective date of this Act; credit a licensee's 2025 licensing fee to the licensee's upcoming licensing fee payment for 2026; RETROACTIVE, in part, to January 1, 2026; EMERGENCY.
- Introduced
- 2026-02-25
- Latest action
- 2026-04-10 — signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 70)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- J. Higdonprimary
- R. Webbprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-04-10
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 70)
executive-signature
2026-03-31
delivered to Governor
2026-03-31
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
passage
2026-03-31
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
passage
2026-03-27
passed 35-1
passage
2026-03-27
Free Conference Committee report adopted in Senate
2026-03-27
posted for passage for consideration of Free Conference Committee Report
2026-03-27
taken from Rules
2026-03-27
to Rules (S)
referral-committee
2026-03-27
received in Senate
2026-03-27
passed 78-0
passage
2026-03-27
Free Conference Committee report adopted in House
2026-03-27
posted for passage for consideration Free Conference Committee Report in House
2026-03-27
Free Conference Committee report filed in House
2026-03-27
Conference Committee report adopted in House
2026-03-27
Conference Committee report filed in House and Senate
2026-03-26
Conference and Free Conference Committees appointed in House and Senate
2026-03-26
House refused to recede from Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
2026-03-26
posted for passage for receding from House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
2026-03-26
taken from Rules
2026-03-26
to Rules (H)
referral-committee
2026-03-26
received in House
2026-03-26
Senate refused to concur in House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
2026-03-25
passed over and retained for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and House Floor Amendment (1)
passage
2026-03-24
passed over and retained for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
passage
2026-03-24
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
2026-03-24
taken from Rules
2026-03-24
to Rules (S)
referral-committee
2026-03-24
received in Senate
2026-03-20
3rd reading, passed 85-0 with Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Substitute (1)
passage,reading-3
2026-03-19
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 20 2026
2026-03-18
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
amendment-introduction
2026-03-18
reported favorably, to Rules with Committee Substitute (1)
committee-passage
2026-03-17
returned to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
2026-03-17
2nd reading
reading-2
2026-03-17
taken from Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
2026-03-16
returned to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
2026-03-16
1st reading
reading-1
2026-03-16
taken from Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
2026-03-11
to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
referral-committee
2026-03-10
to Committee on Committees (H)
referral-committee
2026-03-10
received in House
2026-03-06
passed 36-0
passage
2026-03-06
floor amendment (1) withdrawn
2026-03-06
3rd reading
reading-3
2026-03-05
floor amendment (1) filed
amendment-introduction
2026-03-05
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
passage
2026-03-04
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 05 2026
2026-03-04
2nd reading, to Rules
reading-2
2026-03-03
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
committee-passage
2026-02-27
to Licensing & Occupations (S)
referral-committee
2026-02-25
to Committee on Committees (S)
referral-committee
2026-02-25
introduced in Senate
introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
PASS SB 245
2026-03-06 · pass · 36-0
Member-level votes (38)
- Berg: yes
- Girdler: yes
- Neal: yes
- Storm: yes
- Boswell: yes
- Givens: yes
- Nemes: yes
- Thomas: yes
- Carpenter: yes
- Herron: yes
- Nunn: yes
- Tichenor: yes
- Carroll: yes
- Howell: yes
- Raque Adams: yes
- Webb: yes
- ChambersArmstrong: yes
- Madon: yes
- Rawlings: yes
- West: yes
- Clemons: yes
- Mays Bledsoe: yes
- Reed: yes
- Wheeler: yes
- Deneen: yes
- McDaniel: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Williams: yes
- Douglas: yes
- Meredith: yes
- Smith: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Elkins: yes
- Mills: yes
- Stivers: yes
- Wise: yes
- Funke Frommeyer: not voting
- Higdon: not voting
Pass
2026-03-20 · pass · 85-0
Member-level votes (101)
- Aull: yes
- Dietz: yes
- Hale: yes
- McCool: yes
- Smith: yes
- Baker: yes
- Donworth: yes
- Hancock: yes
- Meade: yes
- Stalker: yes
- Bauman: yes
- Dossett: yes
- Hart: yes
- Meredith: yes
- Tackett Laferty: yes
- Bivens: yes
- Dotson: yes
- Heavrin: yes
- Miles: yes
- Tate: yes
- Bojanowski: yes
- Duvall: yes
- Hodgson: yes
- Moore: yes
- Thomas: yes
- Bowling: yes
- Elliott: yes
- Imes: yes
- Moser: yes
- Thompson: yes
- Branscum: yes
- Fister: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Neighbors: yes
- Tipton: yes
- Bratcher S.: yes
- Flannery: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Nemes: yes
- Truett: yes
- Bray: yes
- Fleming: yes
- King: yes
- Osborne: yes
- Upchurch: yes
- Bridges: yes
- Freeland: yes
- Koch: yes
- Payne: yes
- Watkins: yes
- Brown: yes
- Fugate: yes
- Kulkarni: yes
- Petrie: yes
- Wesley: yes
- Burke: yes
- Gentry: yes
- Lehman: yes
- Pollock: yes
- Whitaker: yes
- Callaway: yes
- Gooch: yes
- Lewis C: yes
- Proctor: yes
- White: yes
- Camuel: yes
- Gordon: yes
- Lewis D: yes
- Raymer: yes
- Williams: yes
- Chester-Burton: yes
- Griffee: yes
- Lewis S: yes
- Riley: yes
- Willner: yes
- Clines: yes
- Grossberg: yes
- Lockett: yes
- Roarx: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Decker: yes
- Grossl: yes
- Marzian: yes
- Sharp: yes
- Witten: yes
- Banta: not voting
- Doan: not voting
- Huff T: not voting
- Massaroni: not voting
- Roberts: not voting
- Blanton: not voting
- Hampton: not voting
- Lawrence: not voting
- McPherson: not voting
- Rudy: not voting
- Calloway: not voting
- Holloway: not voting
- Maddox: not voting
- Rabourn: not voting
- Stevenson P: not voting
- Commonwealth of Kentucky: not voting
Final Passage
2026-03-27 · pass · 78-0
Member-level votes (101)
- Aull: yes
- Donworth: yes
- Hancock: yes
- Meade: yes
- Stalker: yes
- Baker: yes
- Dossett: yes
- Hart: yes
- Meredith: yes
- Tackett Laferty: yes
- Banta: yes
- Dotson: yes
- Heavrin: yes
- Miles: yes
- Tate: yes
- Bauman: yes
- Duvall: yes
- Hodgson: yes
- Moore: yes
- Thomas: yes
- Bivens: yes
- Elliott: yes
- Huff T: yes
- Moser: yes
- Thompson: yes
- Blanton: yes
- Fister: yes
- Imes: yes
- Neighbors: yes
- Tipton: yes
- Bojanowski: yes
- Flannery: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Nemes: yes
- Truett: yes
- Bowling: yes
- Fleming: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Payne: yes
- Upchurch: yes
- Branscum: yes
- Freeland: yes
- King: yes
- Petrie: yes
- Watkins: yes
- Bray: yes
- Fugate: yes
- Koch: yes
- Pollock: yes
- Wesley: yes
- Bridges: yes
- Gentry: yes
- Kulkarni: yes
- Raymer: yes
- Whitaker: yes
- Brown: yes
- Gooch: yes
- Lehman: yes
- Riley: yes
- Williams: yes
- Burke: yes
- Gordon: yes
- Lewis C: yes
- Roarx: yes
- Willner: yes
- Chester-Burton: yes
- Griffee: yes
- Lewis S: yes
- Sharp: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Clines: yes
- Grossberg: yes
- McCool: yes
- Smith: yes
- Witten: yes
- Dietz: yes
- Hale: yes
- McPherson: yes
- Bratcher S.: not voting
- Doan: not voting
- Lewis D: not voting
- Massaroni: not voting
- Roberts: not voting
- Callaway: not voting
- Grossl: not voting
- Lockett: not voting
- Osborne: not voting
- Rudy: not voting
- Calloway: not voting
- Hampton: not voting
- Maddox: not voting
- Proctor: not voting
- Stevenson P: not voting
- Camuel: not voting
- Holloway: not voting
- Marzian: not voting
- Rabourn: not voting
- White: not voting
- Decker: not voting
- Lawrence: not voting
- COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY SENATE: not voting
FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 245
2026-03-27 · pass · 35-1
Member-level votes (38)
- Berg: yes
- Givens: yes
- Nemes: yes
- Thomas: yes
- Carpenter: yes
- Herron: yes
- Nunn: yes
- Tichenor: yes
- Carroll: yes
- Higdon: yes
- Raque Adams: yes
- Webb: yes
- Clemons: yes
- Howell: yes
- Rawlings: yes
- West: yes
- Deneen: yes
- Madon: yes
- Reed: yes
- Wheeler: yes
- Douglas: yes
- Mays Bledsoe: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Williams: yes
- Elkins: yes
- Meredith: yes
- Smith: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Funke Frommeyer: yes
- Mills: yes
- Stivers: yes
- Wise: yes
- Girdler: yes
- Neal: yes
- Storm: yes
- Boswell: no
- ChambersArmstrong: not voting
- McDaniel: not voting
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-08-21T21:05:44.493618Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:
Use this data
Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=KY&identifier=SB 245. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.
Known limitations
- Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
- Committee referrals are not yet captured.
See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.