Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 163: AN ACT relating to aggravating circumstances.

Amend KRS 532.025 to include abuse of a corpse of the victim of kidnapping or murder by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact as an aggravating circumstance; provide that the Act may be cited as Angela's Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds aggravating circumstance for corpse abuse in kidnapping/murder, increasing sentence severity. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of increasing mandatory sentences.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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signed · Kentucky · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 305: AN ACT relating to grand jury service.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 29A to establish that a person present at any part of a grand jury proceeding shall not knowingly record the proceeding or disclose any information gathered while present during a proceeding; amend KRS 29A.990 to establish the penalty for knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding as a Class A misdemeanor unless the person is a public servant as defined in KRS 519.010, in which case it is a Class D felony; amend KRS 500.050 to provide that a misdemeanor violation of knowingly recording or disclosing information gathered at a grand jury proceeding shall be prosecuted within 10 years after the act is committed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes disclosure of grand jury proceedings with penalties, expanding criminalization and reducing transparency in criminal proceedings.85% confidence

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 76: AN ACT relating to pretrial release.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to define terms; provide that a person shall not be eligible for pretrial release until he or she can provide proof of citizenship or that he or she is lawfully permitted to be in the United States; provide that a person shall not be held for longer than 48 hours due to his or her inability to provide proof of citizenship or permission to be in the United States; require a law enforcement agency, jail, or regional jail that has custody of a person who cannot provide proof of citizenship or that he or she is lawfully permitted to be in the United States to immediately notify the United States Department of Homeland Security to determine if the person is a citizen, lawfully permitted to be in the United States, or subject to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer; provide that the lack of proof of citizenship or permission to be in the United States shall be considered when completing a pretrial risk assessment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires proof of citizenship/immigration status for pretrial release, restricting defendant rights and increasing detention for non-citizens without clear reform intent.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires proof of citizenship/legal status for pretrial release, restricting access for undocumented immigrants per bill's eligibility criteria.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Citizenship & Naturalization

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in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 493: AN ACT relating to tampering with a prisoner monitoring device.

HB 493 makes it a Class D felony to intentionally alter, disable, or damage video monitoring systems in Kentucky correctional facilities. It expands existing law - which already criminalizes tampering with electronic tracking devices for probation, parole, or pretrial release - to specifically cover video recording or monitoring equipment inside prisons. The bill directly affects anyone who might interfere with these systems, including inmates, staff, or visitors. It creates a clear legal consequence for disrupting surveillance in correctional settings without adding new requirements or exemptions. This is a straightforward criminal code amendment focused on enhancing security for prison monitoring systems.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by making tampering with prison monitoring systems a felony, increasing penalties without reform focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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signed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 12, 2026

SB 104: AN ACT relating to first responders.

SB 104 creates a new crime in Kentucky law for approaching or remaining within 25 feet of a first responder (including police, probation officers, campus police, and airport officers) after being verbally warned not to, when the person intends to impede duties, threaten harm, or harass the responder. It defines "harass" as causing substantial emotional distress through intentional conduct with no legitimate purpose. Violations are classified as a misdemeanor for first offenses, escalating to a felony for repeated offenses. The bill directly affects individuals who confront first responders during their duties, establishing specific penalties based on the number of prior offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor offense for harassing first responders, expanding criminalization under Crimes And Punishments subject.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Probation & Parole

passed · Kentucky · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 48: AN ACT relating to mandatory reentry supervision.

Amend KRS 439.3406 to prohibit an inmate from qualifying for mandatory reentry supervision if the inmate has previously been convicted of 2 or more offenses that would classify him or her as a violent offender under KRS 439.3401 or has been recommitted to prison for a violation of probation, shock probation, parole, or conditional discharge; require the Department of Corrections to produce an annual report on the results of the mandatory reentry supervision program by February 1 of each year.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts reentry eligibility for violent offenders and those with prior recommitments, limiting access to rehabilitation programs and weakening reentry reform efforts.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 315: AN ACT relating to firearms.

Amend KRS 527.010 to define "assault weapon," "bump stock," and "machine gun"; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to establish the offense of possession of an assault weapon as a Class D felony; provide exceptions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 527 to establish the offense of possession of a machine gun; provide exceptions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 237 to allow a person who lawfully owns an assault weapon before the effective date of the Act to apply to the commissioner of the Department of Kentucky State Police for a certificate of possession; amend KRS 237.104 to conform.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class D felony for assault weapon possession, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties per Crimes And Punishments subject.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Policing

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passed · Kentucky · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 425: AN ACT relating to motor vehicle racing.

Amend KRS 189.993 to establish enhanced penalties for a violation of KRS 189.505, including increased fines, vehicle impoudment for up to 6 months for the first offense, and vehicle forfeiture for the second or subsequent offense; amend KRS 500.090 to provide that the proceeds from any public auction of a vehicle that has been forfeited for a second or subsequent violation of KRS 189.505 be transferred to the Crime Victims Compensation Board.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for motor vehicle racing violations, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnhances transportation safety through stricter penalties for illegal racing, aligning with vehicle regulation and public safety subjects.90% confidence

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in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 399: AN ACT relating to sexual offenses against children.

Amend KRS 510.040, 510.070, and 510.110 to provide that rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual abuse in the first degree shall be capital offenses when the victim is under 12 years old; amend KRS 532.025 to conform.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAmends statutes to make sexual offenses against children capital offenses, increasing mandatory death penalty penalties.95% confidence

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passed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 132: AN ACT relating to massage therapy.

Amend KRS 309.364 to confer authority on local governments to regulate massage therapy buinesses relating to zoning requirements, occupational licensing or fees, and inspections, advertising, hours of operation, and sanitation; amend KRS 309.3535 to increase violation penalty from a Class B misdemeanor to Class A misdemeanor for each massage performed without a license.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for unlicensed massage from Class B to Class A misdemeanor, expanding criminalization within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

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