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SB 251 Kentucky Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.

Summary
Amend KRS 197.020 to establish that the Department of Corrections shall not be required to promulgate administrative regulations regarding the death penalty; establish that execution protocols and procedures may be prescribed by internal policy, memorandum, or another form of action; amend KRS 13A.105 to conform; make technical corrections.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes regulatory requirements for death penalty execution protocols, weakening oversight by allowing internal policies instead of formal regulations.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 25, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated with new page numbers and a 'Vetoed and Overridden' status, indicating it has become law despite the governor's objection. A substantive addition requires the department to publish any internal policies or memorandums on its public website, increasing transparency for administrative actions.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that internal policies and memorandums adopted by the department must be made publicly available on the department's website.

TECHNICAL

Updated page numbering from 3 to 4 and changed the bill identifier from BR1675 to SB 251/VO to reflect the final vetoed and overridden status.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2026

How they voted

27–13
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 44
Mar 16, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican38
27 Yea 7 Nay 4
71% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
40
Key actions
13
Committee
9
Amendments
4
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 74-16
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
posted for consideration of Governor's veto
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 30-7
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
veto overridden
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Vetoed
posted for passage for consideration of Governor's veto
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Vetoed
Vetoed
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Introduced
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
passed 27-9
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
to Rules (S)
upper
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 68-23 with Floor Amendment (2)
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (2) filed
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
to State Government (H)
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 24-11
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.