The Kentucky House Majority Caucus recently shared information on three bills filed by Republican representatives – one addressing the growing affordable housing crisis in the Commonwealth, one aiming to protect and expand access to health care, and another seeking to make schools safer for students through the use of anti-choking devices.
Representative Sarge Pollock of Campbellsville filed HB 333, which would remove unnecessary regulatory barriers for faith-based organizations seeking to develop housing and shelter services.
The measure would allow affordable housing developments by religious institutions or developers on church-owned properties to be treated as a permitted use under local zoning laws, needing only ministerial review for compliance with clear statutory requirements. House Bill 333 defines affordable housing as “reserved for households earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income.”
“In many communities, churches wish to be part of the solution to our housing crisis, but facing the zoning hurdles only delays and prevents their projects all together,” Pollock said. “This measure would empower the faith organizations to use their own property to benefit families, workers, and seniors who are being priced out of the housing market.”
The measure would limit qualifying developments to a specific size, restrict specific zoning areas, and require the properties to remain affordable for at least 15 years through a legally binding process.
“This measure is common sense approach that keeps in mind local planning and zoning standards while recognizing the role that our faith-based organizations play in serving citizens of the Commonwealth,” Pollock added. “By cutting red tape, we can increase affordable housing options and provide critically needed shelter for those in need.”
HB 333 is currently being considered for review in the House Committee for Local Government.
Meanwhile, Representative Amy Neighbors of Edmonton has filed House Bill 3, which would allow pharmacists to be reimbursed by Medicaid for clinical services that are already covered when provided by other non-physician health care practitioners.
HB 3 would ensure pharmacists are paid for providing routine, preventative, and chronic-care services they are already delivering every day in communities across Kentucky, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
“Taking time off work to get a blood pressure check or leaving midday to bring your teenager in for an asthma inhaler refill is not easy for many working families – especially those on Medicaid who are trying to work their way off the program,” Neighbors said. “Even routine needs like flu shots, managing insulin for diabetes, or receiving guidance on a new cholesterol medication are often best met by pharmacists. They have extended hours, walk-in availability, and are often the most accessible health care professionals in a community.”
“Pharmacists play a vital role in managing medications, preventing chronic illness, and educating patients,” Neighbors added. “It’s past time to make it easier for them to be paid for the work they are already doing.”
House Bill 3 is a refiled version of legislation introduced during the 2025 Regular Session and represents nearly a decade of work on the issue. The proposal does not expand the scope of practice or require Medicaid to cover any new services. Instead, it aligns Medicaid policy with 2021 legislation (HB 48) that requires private commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacists at parity with other non-physician providers for the same services.
The bill has the support of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and health care advocacy organizations, including Kentucky Voices for Health. According to the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, pharmacy-provided care delivers a $4.40 return for every $1 spent, while also improving health outcomes for chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Neighbors again stressed the potential to save money if HB 3 becomes law, “Data from states that have enacted similar legislation shows Medicaid programs either already saving money or trending toward measurable cost savings. This bill goes hand-in-hand with our efforts to make Medicaid more cost-effective while actually helping Kentuckians get healthier. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation forward during the 2026 Regular Session.”
HB 3 is currently being considered in the House Committee for Banking and Insurance.
Finally, Representative Candy Massaroni of Bardstown has filed House Bill 335, known as Landon’s Law. The bill would require schools with the necessary equipment to train staff to use the already available anti-choking devices.
“This bill is about using the tools we already have to better protect our students,” said Massaroni. “Many schools already have anti-choking devices on hand, and Landon’s Law ensures staff are properly trained to use them quickly and effectively when every second counts.”
This measure would require schools to train expected users of the device on how to operate the life-saving equipment already present in many of our schools. The bill also fortifies protections against liability for the users and individuals acting in good faith and performing life-saving actions.
The CDC recommends that schools have anti-choking devices to improve student safety and comply with the ADA. In addition, the anti-choking device manufacturer LifeVac provides schools with a free choking rescue device upon request. This device is registered and regulated by the FDA. Qualified staff would also receive instruction on how to properly perform the Heimlich maneuver on choking students.
This legislation has been named Landon’s Law as a tribute to Landon McCubbins, an 8-year-old boy who lost his life after choking on a bouncy ball at Boston School.
“Landon’s Law was created because of a heartbreaking and preventable loss,” Massaroni added. “We cannot bring Landon back, but we can honor his life by taking meaningful steps to prevent another family from experiencing the same tragedy.”
HB 335 is currently being considered in the House Committee for Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection.
To learn more about these bills, as well as all others filed throughout the session in both the House and the Senate, visit www.legislature.ky.gov.
