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HB 644KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState Billdead
Did Not Advance

Kentucky General Assembly creates Medal of Distinction for military, first responders, and citizens

Original title: AN ACT relating to the awarding of a medal of distinction by the General Assembly.

Last action · March 19, 2026: received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)Sponsors: Steve Bratcher and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Kentucky establishes the General Assembly Medal of Distinction as its highest award to honor military members, veterans, first responders, citizens, and entities for valor, heroic deeds, service, or sacrifice. Lawmakers who submit nominations are personally responsible for the cost of the medal, and awardees are designated through a .

Why it matters

Establishes a new official state decoration and selection process managed by the Legislative Research Commission, with uniform display permissions for state and local agencies, while imposing personal medal costs on nominating legislators.

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

United States Armed Forces and National Guard members and veterans

Military personnel and veterans stationed, residing, or born in Kentucky become eligible to receive the state's preeminent medal of distinction and wear it on official uniforms.

Directly affected

First responders

Present and former firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, ambulance personnel, peace officers, sheriffs, and public safety telecommunicators in Kentucky become eligible for the medal.

Directly affected

Members of the General Assembly

Lawmakers gain the ability to submit written nominations for the medal and become personally responsible for the cost of the medal if awarded.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive the Kentucky General Assembly Medal of Distinction?
Eligible individuals include current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, and reserve components with qualifying discharges, current and former first responders, Kentucky citizens, and entities operating or providing services in the Commonwealth.
How are medal awardees chosen?
Legislators submit written nominations to a selection committee designated by the Legislative Research Commission, and awardees are officially designated through the passage of a during a regular session.
Who pays for the medal?
The member or members who nominate an awardee are personally responsible for the cost of the medal, though they may use their legislative allowance under KRS 6.220 to pay for it.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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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
  1. Mar 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
  2. Mar 18, 2026HouseFloor
    3rd reading, passed 94-0
  3. Mar 16, 2026House
    posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 17 2026
  4. Mar 11, 2026HouseFloor
    2nd reading, to Rules
  5. Mar 10, 2026House
    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
  6. Feb 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
Show 1 earlier action
  1. Feb 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    introduced 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.

Sponsors

Steve BratcherHouse · District 25RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Peyton GriffeeHouse · District 26RepublicanCosponsor
Mark HartHouse · District 78RepublicanCosponsor
DJ JohnsonHouseCosponsor
Chris LewisHouse · District 29RepublicanCosponsor
Show 1 more sponsor
T.J. RobertsHouse · District 66RepublicanCosponsor

Connected Entities

Legislative Research Commission, United States Armed Forces, National Guard and 1 more
OrganizationLegislative Research Commission“Tasked with designating a selection committee and determining the design of the ”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Armed Forces“Members and veterans are eligible for the medal.”Map →
OrganizationNational Guard“Members and veterans are eligible for the medal.”Map →
OrganizationKentucky General Assembly“Legislative body creating the medal and awarding it through concurrent resolutio”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 35)
  • Controversy5
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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