HB 399 Kentucky House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to interference with a legislative proceeding.

Summary
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 519 to define terms; create the crime of interference with a legislative proceeding in the first degree; create the crime of interference with a legislative proceeding in the second degree; amend KRS 431.015 to require a peace officer to make an arrest for a violation of interference with a legislative proceeding in the first or second degree.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 6, 2025 Signed Mar 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Current/Final · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill establishes new criminal penalties for interfering with legislative proceedings in Kentucky. It creates two new offenses with escalating penalties based on repeat offenses, while also clarifying where peaceful assembly remains protected.
Scope change
The bill expands criminal liability for disrupting legislative business while explicitly protecting traditional public forums like the Capitol rotunda and outdoor areas from these restrictions.
DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'conspire', 'facilitates', 'General Assembly', 'legislative building', and 'person' to clarify who and what the law applies to.

ENFORCEMENT

Created two new criminal offenses: first-degree interference (Class A misdemeanor for first offense, Class D felony for third+ offenses) and second-degree interference (Class B misdemeanor for first offense, Class A misdemeanor for second+ offenses).

Modified police citation procedures to allow arrests for violations of this new act while maintaining citation options for other minor offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added exemptions protecting peaceful assembly in traditional public forums like the Capitol rotunda and outdoor areas, and attendance at legislative meetings.

Added authority for legislative leadership (Speaker, Sergeant-at-Arms, President of Senate, etc.) to request removal of individuals violating the new offenses from legislative buildings.

Floor votes · House Mar 7, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
41
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Amendments
4
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed 31-7
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Vetoed
posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed 69-28
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Vetoed
veto overridden
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Vetoed
posted for consideration of Governor's veto
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Vetoed
Vetoed
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed 30-7
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 68-26 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (4)
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (4) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced
floor amendments (2) and (3) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.