STORM APPLAUDS PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL BEING SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR

STORM APPLAUDS PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL

BEING SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR

Senate Bill 26 signed on Tuesday

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 19, 2025)—Senate Bill (SB) 26, which protects parents and prospective adoptive parents with disabilities from discrimination in adoption, parental rights, foster care, and kin placement decisions, was signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on Tuesday. The following is a statement from the primary bill sponsor, Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London.

“I want to thank the Governor for signing SB 26, and I have to acknowledge the work of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health and all the advocates, such as the Commonwealth Council on Development Disabilities, who worked so hard to get this through the legislative process. I’m grateful to my friend, Family Court Judge Marcus Vanover, who joined me to support the bill during committee testimony. 

“With SB 26 on the books, we’re reinforcing our commitment to fairness in family law, so no one is denied their parental rights, or ability to provide a loving home to a child, just because of a disability.”

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SB 26 requires individualized assessments and adaptive services to align Kentucky law with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities, excluding individuals actively engaged in substance abuse. SB 26 prioritizes keeping families together while safeguarding child welfare, requiring the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to conduct thorough assessments and provide supportive services to ensure fair and informed decision-making.

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Sen. Brandon J. Storm, R-London, represents the 21st Senate District, including Casey, Lincoln, Laurel, and Rockcastle Counties. He serves as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and as Senate co-chair of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Storm is also a member of the Senate Committees on Transportation and on Banking and Insurance. He serves as a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice. A 2023 esteemed Henry Toll Fellowship graduate, Storm was the only Kentuckian to participate in the program.