Skip to main content
Independent and nonpartisan. SaveYourState is a civic information resource. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any government agency, party, or campaign.

Kentucky · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 709: AN ACT relating to respiratory care.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 709 is a bill introduced in the Kentucky House on February 24, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT relating to respiratory care. Primary sponsor: Aaron Thompson (Republican), Ashley Laferty (Democratic), Mitch Whitaker (Republican). Most recent recorded action (March 3, 2026): to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H).

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 314A to allow an advanced practice respiratory therapist employed by a health facility to declare a patient death and sign the provisional report of death; repeal and reenact KRS 314A.010, 314A.110, and 314A.220 to define terms; create a new license category for advanced practice respiratory therapists; deem the practice credential a license instead of a mandatory certificate; replace the term "respiratory care practitioner" with "respiratory therapist" or "advanced practice respiratory therapist"; establish education and training requirements; set procedures for license reinstatement and reactivation; amend KRS 314A.100 to authorize a respiratory therapist to perform services with the prescription of a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or advanced practice respiratory therapist; describe services an advanced practice respiratory therapist may provide under prospective medical direction, including prescribing legend drugs; amend KRS 314A.112 to establish requirements for a limited student respiratory therapist license; amend KRS 314A.200 to make the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care's meetings subject to Kentucky Open Meetings and Open Records laws; amend KRS 314A.215 to raise board members' daily pay from $50 to $100; amend KRS 314A.225 to expand avenues for board discipline of licensees; amend KRS 314A.990 to authorize the board to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation; amend KRS 164.0401, 216.2920, 216.380, 217.015, 311.646, 314A.105, 314A.115, 314A.205, 314A.230, 353.510, and 405.024 to conform.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Aaron ThompsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse98
Ashley LafertyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse95
Mitch WhitakerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse94

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
  2. to Committee on Committees (H)
  3. introduced in House

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source