Kentucky bills · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky SB 85
AN ACT relating to designating a special needs trust to receive state-administered retirement benefits.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
No sponsor recorded.
Summary
Official abstract published by the Kentucky legislature· Summary of Original Version
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.
Text versions
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2026 Senate | Pass | pass | Set your home in Kentucky to see |
| Feb 18, 2026 Senate | PASS SB 85 | pass | Set your home in Kentucky to see |
Actions
- Apr 3, 2026 · Senate
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 18) - Mar 27, 2026 · Senate
delivered to Governor - Mar 27, 2026 · House
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House - Mar 27, 2026 · Senate
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate - Mar 27, 2026 · Senate
received in Senate - Mar 27, 2026 · Senate
3rd reading, passed 90-0 - Mar 26, 2026 · Senate
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026 - Mar 20, 2026 · Senate
2nd reading, to Rules - Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar - Mar 16, 2026 · House
to State Government (H) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
to Committee on Committees (H) - Feb 19, 2026 · House
received in House - Feb 18, 2026 · Senate
3rd reading, passed 36-0 - Feb 13, 2026 · Senate
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 18 2026 - Feb 5, 2026 · Senate
2nd reading, to Rules - Feb 4, 2026 · Senate
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar - Feb 2, 2026 · Senate
to State & Local Government (S) - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
to Committee on Committees (S) - Jan 13, 2026 · Senate
introduced in Senate