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Read. Follow. Verify.Kentucky Authorizes 988 Crisis Hotline Signs on State Highway Bridges
Last action · February 5, 2026: to Transportation (H)Sponsor: Sarah Stalker
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What This Bill Proposed
Kentucky transportation officials are authorized to install 988 suicide prevention hotline signs on state-maintained highway bridges where jumping incidents have occurred or are likely. The legislation requires these signs to conform to state traffic standards and explicitly prevents the law from creating any new legal liabilities or private lawsuits against the department.
The measure establishes a framework for placing mental health crisis resource information at high-risk infrastructure locations across the state highway network without altering existing government liability standards.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
department
The department is granted the discretion and authority to evaluate bridge locations, determine feasibility, and install 988 crisis hotline signs.
Key Facts
- The department may install signs displaying the 988 suicide prevention hotline on bridges along state-maintained highways.
- Sign placement is targeted at bridges where suicides by jumping have occurred or are likely, subject to physical feasibility.
- Installed signs must communicate that dialing 988 connects callers to behavioral health and suicide prevention services.
- All signs must conform to the standards and specifications adopted under KRS 189.337.
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- The act explicitly does not create a private right of action, legal duty, or legal liability for the department regarding sign installation.
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteeto Transportation (H)
- Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroducedintroduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
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Sources
apps.legislature.ky.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 35)
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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