Criminal Justice

in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 209: AN ACT relating to the establishment of the External Detainee Fatality Review Panel.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 441 to establish the External Detainee Fatality Review Panel to conduct comprehensive reviews of all fatalities of individuals detained by law enforcement, in county or regional jails, or in any facility operated by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or an entity under contract with either department; establish membership and duties of the panel; set a schedule for appointment of members.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates oversight panel for detainee fatalities in custody, enhancing accountability in correctional facilities per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SJR 127: A JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council to develop training on wellness checks and the emergency aid exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Direct the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council to develop and approve an in-service training course to be presented to all certified peace officers on wellness checks and the emergency aid exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires training on Fourth Amendment exceptions to prevent warrantless entry abuses, promoting officer accountability and civil rights protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 204: AN ACT relating to the protection of children.

Amend KRS 508.090 to define "controlled substance" and "abuse or neglect"; amend KRS 508.100 and 508.110 to conform; amend KRS 508.120 to enhance the penalty of abuse in the third degree if the victim is under 13 years old and suffered serious physical injury as a result of ingesting or inhaling a controlled substance; amend KRS 15.440 to require law enforcement agencies to possess a policies and procedures manual related to pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances; amend KRS 620.055 to allow the child fatality and near fatality review panel to compel the attendance of members from an investigating agency to discuss cases in closed session; amend various sections to require continuing education on pediatric ingestion or inhalation of controlled substances for certain professionals; amend KRS 620.050 to allow medical professionals to administer comprehensive urine drug screens on children when they suspect abuse or neglect; amend various sections to conform.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEnhances penalties for child abuse involving controlled substances, increasing criminalization and sentencing severity per KRS amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 694: AN ACT relating to an income tax credit for qualified employers.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 141 to define terms; establish a nonrefundable income tax credit for an employer that hires an eligible employee who holds a certificate of employability; provide that the credit is equal to the amount of wages paid to the eligible employee subject to certain limitations; amend KRS 141.0205 to order the credit; amend KRS 131.190 to allow the Department of Revenue to report on the credit.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCreates nonrefundable corporate tax credit, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base per bill's tax credit provision.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTax credit for employers hiring individuals with certificates of employability (typically linked to corrections reentry), reducing recidivism through employment opportunities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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signed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 251: AN ACT relating to the Department of Corrections.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes regulatory requirements for death penalty execution protocols, weakening oversight by allowing internal policies instead of formal regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 540: AN ACT relating to interference with a religious service.

Amend KRS 525.010 to define "religious organization" and "religious service"; make technical corrections to existing definitions; create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to establish the crime of interference with a religious service as a Class A misdemeanor; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil cause of action for interference with a religious service; amend KRS 525.200 to conform.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new Class A misdemeanor for interference with religious services, expanding criminalization. This directly conflicts with criminal justice reform goals by increasing criminal offenses without reform context.90% confidence

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in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 700: AN ACT relating to crimes and punishments.

Amend KRS 507.060 to establish the crime of vehicular homicide when a person is traveling in excess of 25 miles per hour over the speed limit resulting in the death of another; establish the crime of vehicular homicide for a violation of KRS 189.580(1)(a) resulting in the death of another; provide that the Act may be cited as Daniels Law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new vehicular homicide crimes for speeding-related deaths, expanding criminalization under traffic safety laws.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends vehicular homicide laws for excessive speeding, directly enhancing traffic safety standards under Transportation subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Kentucky · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 599: AN ACT relating to crimes and punishments.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 503 to provide a justification for the use of physical force or deadly physical force by a defendant operating a motor vehicle while fleeing the immediate area of an obstruction of a highway or public passage; amend KRS 525.015 to expand the elements of obstructing an emergency responder; provide enhanced penalties; allow restitution to an agency for the reasonable costs of an emergency response; amend KRS 525.140 to expand the elements of obstructing a highway or other public passage; provide enhanced penalties; allow restitution to an agency for the reasonable costs of an emergency response; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to establish a civil cause of action for recovery of damages caused by obstructing an emergency responder or obstruction of a highway or other public passage; amend KRS 413.140 to provide a 1-year statute of limitation for the cause of action for recovery of damages caused by obstructing an emergency responder or obstruction of a highway or other public passage; amend KRS 503.085 to conform.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates defendant defense for force during vehicle evasion, protecting civil rights in specific scenario90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Kentucky · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 164: AN ACT relating to cannabis.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 218A to make possession of a personal use quantity of cannabis exempt from civil or criminal penalty; amend KRS 218A.010 to define "cannabis," "personal use quantity of cannabis," and "cannabis accessory"; redefine "marijuana"; amend KRS 218A.1422, regarding cannabis possession, to conform; amend KRS 218A.1423, regarding cannabis cultivation, to conform; amend KRS 218A.500, regarding drug paraphernalia, to exempt personal use cannabis accessories; amend KRS 218A.1421, regarding cannabis trafficking, to exempt personal use quantities; amend KRS 138.872 to exclude personal use quantities from the cannabis stamp tax; amend KRS 218A.276, 218A.410, and 533.030 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 431 to allow expungement of certain convictions relating to cannabis and to apply expungement retroactively; RETROACTIVE, in part.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes personal cannabis possession, reducing criminal penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by decreasing unnecessary arrests and prosecutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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passed · Kentucky · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 193: AN ACT relating to crimes and punishments.

Amend KRS 533.020 to provide the court 60 days after the expiration of any period of supervision to determine if a violation of the period of supervision has occurred and any appropriate action; provide that a period of supervision shall be tolled between the issuance of a warrant for any violation of supervision and the defendant's first appearance before the court after service of the warrant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends supervision procedures to prevent punitive action for time between warrant issuance and appearance, protecting defendant rights and reducing unnecessary violations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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