FRANKFORT, Ky. — State Rep. Kim Moser said she plans to file legislation during the 2027 regular session that would create a framework ensuring Kentucky's $358 million Meta settlement funds support youth mental health and development programming outside of school hours, according to a press release from the House Majority Caucus.

The measure would establish a dedicated fund to accept settlement funds, gifts and grants aimed at improving outcomes for youth and reducing self-harm and suicide risk, as well as create a statewide commission to promote youth mental health. Moser, a Taylor Mill Republican and House Health Services Committee chair, discussed the proposal during a September meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services. "Positive youth development programming is a proven approach that supports children's mental health by creating opportunities for them to connect with their peers and build meaningful relationships," Moser said in a statement.

The bill represents a revival of House Bill 686, which passed the House overwhelmingly during the 2026 regular session but stalled in the Senate. The new legislation would expand the State Interagency Council for Services and Supports to Children and Transition-Age Youth and regional interagency councils to include Suicide Awareness and Reduction Network workgroups tasked with conducting community needs assessments and researching positive youth development opportunities.

Moser said a key goal is ensuring funds reach counties and cities on a regional basis through existing interagency councils that address behavioral and mental health issues. "This settlement provides us with an opportunity to invest in programs that support the well-being of our youth, which is why it is important that we have a framework in place," she said. The Meta settlement came in late August following a lawsuit by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and three other states accusing Meta of using harmful features to drive compulsive use by children and teens.