Criminal Justice

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.

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.

Urge Kentucky's congressional delegation to support amending the Gun Control Act of 1968 to remove the firearms restrictions on users of medical cannabis.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 200 to define terms; establish procedures for a child charged with a public offense or subject to a court order to determine if the child is a high acuity youth; establish procedures for securing a treatment plan, and dispute resolution through a review process and the court if the parties cannot agree to a plan; require a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the courts to direct care; establish reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care of a child by psychiatric hospitals and pediatric teaching hospitals; establish procedures for discharge of the child from inpatient admission under specific circumstances.

HB 718 creates an automatic expungement process for eligible nonviolent felony convictions in Kentucky, effective starting August 1, 2026. It directly affects individuals with nonviolent felony convictions who have completed their sentences, waited five years since release, and had no new convictions in that period. The bill requires courts to automatically erase court and law enforcement records for these cases without requiring the person to apply, with courts processing lists monthly after August 15, 2026. This eliminates the need for individuals to navigate a manual application process for qualifying records.

Direct the Legislative Research Commission to establish the Mental Health Alternative Community Response Model Task Force; establish task force membership; require the task force to study and make recommendations to identify programs, initiatives, and opportunities in the Commonwealth for alternative response services for communities related to mental health for Kentuckians and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by December 1, 2026.

Propose to amend Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances; provide ballot language; submit to voters for ratification or rejection.

Create a new sections of KRS Chapter 431 to establish an automatic expungement process for specific eligible misdemeanor and felony convictions; allow the Commonwealth's and county attorney to object and halt the automatic expungement of certain offenses; require the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Kentucky State Police to submit a report twice a year to the Legislative Research Commission on the implementation of the automatic expungement process; amend KRS 431.073 to waive fees for an applicant whose conviction qualifies as an eligible conviction; amend KRS 431.074 to require the Administrative Office of the Courts to establish a searchable portal to allow a person to determine if his or her conviction has been expunged; amend KRS 431.078 to waive fees for a petitioner whose conviction qualifies as an eligible conviction; amend KRS 431.079 to provide court clerks and deputy court clerks with immunity from civil liability for acts done in good faith under this act; amend KRS 17.151 to require the Department for Kentucky State Police to provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with data to comply with automatic expungement process; amend KRS 196.093 to require the Department of Corrections to provide the Administrative Office of the Courts with data to comply with automatic expungement process; amend KRS 367.310 to provide that no conviction that has been overruled, vacated, set aside, or expunged shall not be included on any background check or consumer report; establish the Automatic Expungement Task Force; establish duties and membership; require the task force to submit a report with recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2026; provide that the Act may be cited as the Automatic Expungement Act.

Amend KRS 31.010 and 31.020 to make technical corrections; amend KRS 31.030 to require the annual report filed by the Department of Public Advocacy to inform the LRC and the public of the work of all divisions of the department; amend KRS 31.110 to provide that the Department shall provide legal representation to a person who is accused of being in contempt of court for noncompliance with a court-ordered obligation only when the obligation arises out of a criminal prosecution or conviction or an action or adjudication for a public or status offense; create a new section of KRS Chapter 31 to provide that the Department of Public Advocacy shall not be appointed by a court to provide legal representation unless specifically authorized by KRS 31.110; amend KRS 31.211 to provide that any attorney providing legal representation under KRS Chapter 31 shall forward all information that indicates payment or reimbursement for services to the public advocate; amend KRS 31.215 to provide that any attorney providing legal representation under KRS Chapter 31 shall not accept fees for legal representation; create an exception for unsolicited gifts of de minimis value; amend KRS 31.219 to provide that any attorney providing legal representation under KRS Chapter 31 shall file a notice of appeal after trial if requested by his or her client; amend KRS 202A.121 to provide that an attorney appointed under KRS Chapter 202A shall be paid a fee fixed by the court not to exceed $500; direct the secretary of the Personnel Cabinet to work with the Department of Public Advocacy to develop and implement a new classification series for Department of Public Advocacy Trial Attorneys; make technical corrections.

HB 602 amends Kentucky's criminal code (KRS 501.030) to replace gender-specific language like "he or she" with gender-neutral terms in the definition of criminal liability. This change directly affects all individuals and legal proceedings under Kentucky's criminal statutes by updating how criminal responsibility is described. The key provision modifies the requirement that a person must have engaged in conduct "intentionally, knowingly, wantonly or recklessly" to be liable, ensuring the language applies equally regardless of gender. The bill makes a technical, non-substantive update to existing law without altering criminal penalties or procedures.