{"schema":"abhortion.org/legislation.summary/v1","id":"legality-us-ky","type":"legislation","level":"state","jurisdiction":"Kentucky","as_of_date":"2026-07-12","research_completed_date":"2026-07-12","headline":"Near-total ban; mother exempt","summary":"Kentucky enforces a near-total abortion ban from fertilization, with a medical-emergency exception, and the pregnant woman is expressly shielded from prosecution.","machine_readable_summary":{"legal_classification":"total_ban","gestational_limit_weeks":0,"limit_measured_from":"fertilization","abortion_currently_available":"no","ban_or_limit_enjoined":false,"mother_expressly_exempt":true,"mother_prosecutable_in_practice":false,"self_managed_abortion_criminalized":false,"abortion_charged_as_homicide":false,"fetal_homicide_law":true,"fetal_wrongful_death_action":true,"personhood_language_in_law":true,"personhood_contradiction":true,"medication_abortion_distinct_status":true,"mailing_pills_banned":true,"method_bans":["d_and_e","d_and_x"],"telehealth_prescribing_allowed":false,"physician_only_law":true,"provider_max_penalty":"Class D felony, 1-5 years imprisonment","helpers_criminally_exposed":"unclear","travel_assistance_criminalized":false,"civil_bounty_law":false,"shield_state":false,"waiting_period_hours":24,"state_scripted_counseling":true,"ultrasound_required":"mandatory_display","in_person_visits_required":2,"parental_involvement":"consent_one_parent","judicial_bypass_available":true,"spousal_consent_or_notice_on_books":true,"medicaid_coverage":"hyde_only","private_insurance_restricted":true,"state_funding_posture":"defunds_providers","rape_incest_exception":false,"exceptions_present":["life","physical_health","ectopic_miscarriage_carveout"],"major_pending_change":true},"links":{"html":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/ky.html","markdown":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/ky.md","summary_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/ky.json","full_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/ky-full.json","verbose_json":"https://www.abhortion.org/legislation/ky-verbose.json"}}