Kentucky HB 526 prohibits mandatory bar association dues and sets 30-day post-accident solicitation ban

Original title: AN ACT relating to members of the bar.

Last action · February 17, 2026: received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)Sponsors: Steven Doan and 7 others

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky HB 526 prohibits requiring attorneys to join or pay dues to any association without annual written consent, except for fees covering bar admission and discipline costs. The measure also bans direct solicitation of accident or disaster victims by attorneys or referral services for 30 days and repeals KRS 21A.160, taking effect July 1, 2027.

Background

Mandatory bar associations require attorneys to maintain membership and pay dues as a condition of practicing law in certain jurisdictions. context

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.

Directly affected

Attorneys licensed in Kentucky

Attorneys gain the right to withhold consent for association dues beyond admission and discipline costs and face continued restrictions on post-accident solicitation.

Directly affected

Attorney referral services

Referral services remain subject to a 30-day prohibition on direct solicitation following accidents or disasters.

Key Facts

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the restriction on soliciting accident victims?

Attorneys and referral services cannot directly solicit victims or their relatives for professional employment within 30 days of a criminal or civil action, traffic citation, injury, accident, or disaster.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in the Senate.

Procedural history

7 actions

Feb 17, 2026SenateIntroduced
received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
Feb 13, 2026HouseFloor
floor amendment (4) filed 3rd reading, passed 70-21 with Floor Amendment (3)
Feb 12, 2026HouseFloor
2nd reading, to Rules floor amendment (2) filed to Committee Substitute , floor amendment (3) filed to bill posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 13 2026
Feb 11, 2026House
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee
reassigned to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
Feb 5, 2026HouseCommittee
to Judiciary (H)

Show 1 earlier action

Jan 29, 2026HouseIntroduced
introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

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