Kentucky
To get an AED in Kentucky, you have to pay extra to a doctor. New bill aims to change that
Kentucky lawmakers are revisiting language in a 24-year-old law that deals with automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs, to make the life-saving devices more accessible.
A year ago, viewers across the U.S. saw the power of an AED when it was used during a Monday Night Football game to save the life of a player.
House Bill 22, from Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, seeks to amend part of the existing AED law.
The portion of the law not under revision provides immunity protection for AED users, known as a Good Samaritan Law. The portion targeted by HB22 deals with the required medical oversight of an AED by a licensed physician.
That’s the part of the law that may have kept small businesses and the public in Kentucky from more easily obtaining the devices for the last 24 years.
Questions about original law
Then-Rep. Jack Coleman, D-Harrodsburg, proposed House Bill 49, the original AED law, in the 2000 legislative session. AEDs were mostly known then as medical devices used in hospitals and ambulances.
AEDs are a Class-3 medical device, the highest grade, which means the highest regulatory burden under federal requirements. That’s likely why, sports medicine experts told The Courier Journal, the original law was put in place with physician oversight.
The late Rep. Bob DeWeese, R-Louisville, questioned the medical oversight during a 2000 House Health and Welfare Committee hearing.
“Who is responsible for choosing that physician? Who funds this program?” DeWeese asked, hitting on two questions still pertinent today.
According to legislators and sports medicine experts recently interviewed by The Courier Journal, the physician language is now considered antiquated.
Athletic trainers, school nurses help schools meet law
A separate 2023 bill passed by the Kentucky legislature requires AEDs in schools, as funding becomes available.
To comply with that law, Scott County athletic director DT Wells received a quote for an AED that included a $3,000 charge just for physician oversight.
“That’s $3,000 that could be invested instead in another AED,” Wells testified in January to the House’s Small Business & Information Technology Committee.
Scott County Schools declined to speak further with The Courier Journal about House Bill 22’s potential impact on schools.
A recent assessment by the Kentucky Department of Education shows more than 3,000 AEDs are in Kentucky public education settings.
Several schools contacted by The Courier Journal said they comply with the law by having their school nurse or athletic trainer, who reports to a physician, oversee maintenance.
At least one AED company isn’t against the changes the new bill could bring.
“The way the law is currently written, it makes another reason why somebody won’t buy an AED and put it in a public place,” said AJ Pace, senior vice president of operations for Defibtech.
Currently, at least one-third of states have laws requiring medical oversight of AEDs, Pace said.
‘I should have checked before I ordered it’
As the CEO of a broadband cooperative that serves South Central Kentucky, Greg Hale deals regularly with regulations, especially from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“I’ve had regulations and laws beaten in my head for 30 years,” he said from his office in Logan County.
One of OSHA’s requirements for the broadband industry is to train employees in CPR every two years. That safety training includes AEDs. In January 2020, the co-op, LTC Connect, purchased an AED for about $1,300.
“We took that step, and then it was, ‘Let’s deploy it,’” Hale said
Safer Sidelines The Courier Journal spent several months investigating sudden death in high school sports.
That’s when he learned about the unexpected cost of physician oversight. That oversight includes training and maintenance requirements, as well as the physician working with the AED site to establish protocols for the device’s use.
“I should have checked before I ordered it,” he said of the state regulation. “But no one knew, not even our safety trainers.”
Hale said as the chair of the legislative committee of the Kentucky Rural Broadband Association, he tried to bring the issue to legislators and got nowhere.
Then, in January, Hale read an article in The Courier Journal about AEDs and sent an email.
“I think one hindrance in Kentucky is the Medical Oversight requirement,” Hale wrote to the newspaper. “It can be expensive to have a medical professional have oversight of the AED program for a small business that might want to purchase an AED, if you can even find a medical professional to help you.”
The Courier Journal took the concerns from Hale and more than a dozen sports medicine professionals regarding the physician oversight of an AED to the American Heart Association, who took them to Pratt.
House Bill 22 includes training and maintenance requirements but without physician oversight. The bill quickly passed through the House unopposed and is waiting to be assigned to a Senate committee.
For Hale, this year could be the year the AED that has sat in a cabinet in his office for four years may finally hang in the office lobby, which sits about 13 miles from the nearest hospital in Russellville.
Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter, with a focus on the health and safety of athletes. She can be reached at skuzydym@courier-journal.com. Follow her for updates at @stephkuzy.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and YouTube for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Fourth of July festivities to celebrate in Louisville
See the Fourth of July festivities planned in Louisville for America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.
Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.
Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?
Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
Are fireworks legal in Louisville?
In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.
If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.
But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky
How to use fireworks safely
The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:
- Use fireworks outdoors.
- Obey local laws.
- Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
- Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
- Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
- Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
- Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
-
Connecticut2 minutes agoOpinion: More to do on gun violence prevention in CT
-
Delaware7 minutes agoAfter changing Delaware’s library system forever, she’s stepping away
-
Florida14 minutes agoFlorida tattoo shop refuses service to military and veterans for being ‘war criminals’
-
Georgia17 minutes agoWhat would it take for Missouri football to stun Georgia in 2026?
-
Hawaii22 minutes agoScientists say major earthquakes feel frequent, but activity is on track
-
Idaho29 minutes agoEagle Road’s long-awaited variable speed signs one step closer to operation
-
Illinois32 minutes agoIllinois Lt. Gov. candidates focus on affordability in pitch to Rockford voters
-
Indiana37 minutes agoIndiana Fever President Addresses Player Safety After Alyssa Thomas' Suspension
