Kentucky House Passes 'Pause in Procedure' Organ Donation Bill

New legislation aims to ensure death is properly determined before organ procurement

Mar. 3, 2026 at 6:00pm

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The Kentucky House unanimously passed House Bill 510, which would allow a 'pause in procedure' during the organ donation process if there are any changes in a patient's neurological status or indications of life. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes, is intended to maintain safe and ethical organ donations in the state.

Why it matters

This legislation addresses concerns about accurately determining death prior to organ procurement, which is a critical ethical issue in the organ donation process. The 'pause in procedure' provision is meant to provide an additional safeguard to ensure organ donation occurs only after death is properly established.

The details

House Bill 510 would allow hospital staff, organ procurement personnel, surgical teams, or the patient's family to initiate a pause in the organ donation procedure if there are any signs of life or uncertainty about the patient's neurological status. This would require the process to start over from the beginning to verify the patient's condition. Sponsor Rep. Jason Nemes stated the bill aims to 'make sure we are making it more secure' while still supporting organ donation in Kentucky.

  • The bill passed the Kentucky House unanimously on February 25, 2026.
  • The bill was received in the Kentucky Senate on February 26, 2026.

The players

Jason Nemes

A Republican state representative from Middletown, Kentucky who sponsored House Bill 510.

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What they’re saying

“What this bill does is it allows anybody in the organ donation process, if they think that there's indications of life, to cause a pause in the procedure in which case the whole process will begin over again. We believe in organ donation strongly in Kentucky and we try to support it. This is just a way to make sure we are making it more secure.”

— Jason Nemes, State Representative

What’s next

The bill will now move to the Kentucky Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to strike a balance between supporting organ donation and ensuring the ethical determination of death, providing an additional safeguard in the organ procurement process in Kentucky.