Criminal Justice

signed · Kentucky · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 122: AN ACT relating to judicial proceedings.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 533 to define terms; require the court, upon conviction of the defendant, to consider the defendant's status as a caretaker of a dependent child; provide that a court's determination of a defendant's status as a caretaker of a dependent child shall not be admissible as evidence or be determinative in any subsequent proceeding; provide that the defendant shall have the right to present an alternative sentencing plan and a family impact statement to the court; provide that in issuing an alternative sentence, the court may require the defendant to participate in programs and services that support the parent-child relationship; provide that the court may modify or revoke the alternative sentence and commit the defendant to an institution if the defendant fails to adhere to or complete the conditions of an alternative sentence; amend KRS 610.340 to provide that a court determining whether to impose an alternative sentence for a defendant who is a caretaker of a dependent child has access to court records under KRS Chapters 600 to 645; provide that the Act may be cited as the Family Preservation and Accountability Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates courts to consider caretaker status and alternative sentencing plans, promoting rehabilitative approaches over incarceration in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · Kentucky · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 112: AN ACT proposing an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.

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

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends constitution to ban slavery/involuntary servitude as punishment, eliminating a constitutional loophole in sentencing and advancing civil rights within criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits involuntary servitude as punishment, directly protecting workers from forced labor exploitation under criminal penalties.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 29: AN ACT relating to leave from employment.

Amend KRS 337.415 to define "crime," "immediate family," and "victim"; prohibit employers from discharging or retaliating against an employee who is a crime victim when the employee takes leave to attend proceedings associated with the prosecution of the crime; require an employee to give an employer reasonable notice to take leave when practicable; provide guidelines for use of paid leave; require the employer to maintain confidentiality of records and communication with employee crime victim; create a private right of action for improper discharge, discrimination, retaliation, or failure to maintain confidentiality; amend KRS 337.990 to establish penalties for violations by an employer.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects crime victims' employment rights during legal proceedings, directly supporting victim access to justice within criminal justice reform framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer retaliation for crime victim leave, protects workers' rights under employment law, and mandates confidentiality per bill text.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Victims' Rights Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 123: AN ACT relating to criminal histories of job applicants.

Create a new section of KRS 344.030 to 344.110 to prohibit employers from considering or requiring disclosure of prior criminal history as part of the initial job application; provide that the Act may be cited as the Ban the Box - The Criminal Record Employment Discrimination Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits employment discrimination based on criminal history, aligning with criminal justice reform to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employers from considering criminal history in hiring, reducing employment discrimination and protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Employment Discrimination

Track

signed · Kentucky · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 185: AN ACT relating to employment and declaring an emergency.

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 335B.010 to 335B.070 to require hiring or licensing authorities to establish an application process that gives persons convicted of a crime an opportunity to obtain a determination about whether the crime will disqualify the individual from a position of public employment or occupational license before pursuing employment or training; require hiring or licensing authorities to formulate policies and procedures for the application process by promulgating regulations no later than January 1, 2027; provide an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2027; provide that certain entities are exempted from the requirements of the application process; amend KRS 335B.020 to add criteria for hiring and licensing authorities to consider when determining if a conviction directly relates to the position of public employment or occupational license sought; amend KRS 335B.030 to require hiring or licensing authorities to evaluate information and provide written findings of fact to the applicant upon determination.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows individuals with criminal records to challenge disqualification before employment, reducing barriers and supporting reintegration - key criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates process for criminal conviction determinations before employment/licensing, advancing workforce inclusion for affected individuals by removing barriers to employment opportunities.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 478: AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 532 to provide an enhanced term of imprisonment for any defendant convicted of certain crimes if the defendant intentionally committed the offense because of a person's actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, mental or physical disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation; amend KRS 15.334 and 17.1523 to conform; create a new section of KRS Chapter 508 to create the offense of using hate symbols to intimidate; repeal KRS 49.320 and 532.03, relating to hate crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnhances sentencing for hate crimes based on protected characteristics, strengthening civil rights protections within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

Track

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 30: AN ACT relating to criminal procedure.

Amend KRS 431.073 and 431.078 to provide for expungement of offenses which were charged but later dismissed or amended; make technical corrections; amend KRS 532.080 to state that the enhancement of a sentence as a persistent felony offender does not alter the felony classification of offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends expungement laws for dismissed charges, reducing barriers to employment/housing and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 479: AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Repeal and reenact KRS 532.031 to define "gender identity or expression"; list the actions that qualify as hate crimes; list the actual or perceived characteristics a person must have in order to qualify as a victim of a hate crime; outline penalties for a person guilty of a hate crime; set forth criteria for seeking an enhanced sentence; amend KRS 15.334 and to add characteristics of a victim to be considered when determining the cause of a crime; add a requirement that officers receive training on hate crimes; create a new section of KRS Chapter 411 to permit a civil action where the victim of a hate crime suffers damages regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceeding; establish recovery for the victim; amend KRS 17.1523 to add characteristics of a victim to be considered when determining the cause of a crime; amend KRS 15.440 to require that a unit of government shall possess a written policy and procedures manual related to hate crimes in order to receive funds from the Law Enforcement Foundation Program fund; repeal KRS 49.320, relating to victim of hate crime deemed victim of criminally injurious conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDefines hate crimes with expanded victim protections (including gender identity), enhances penalties, and mandates officer training - aligns with criminal justice reform to protect civil rights and strengthen victim protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Kentucky · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 198: 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 JusticeBill removes criminal penalties for personal cannabis possession, reducing criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform by decreasing court/corrections involvement for non-violent offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

passed · Kentucky · House Jan 29, 2026

HB 320: AN ACT relating to combating human trafficking.

Amend KRS 529.110 to enhance the penalty for promoting human trafficking to a Class B felony unless the victim is a minor, in which case it is a Class A felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends penalties for human trafficking to Class A/B felonies, strengthening criminal justice response to trafficking crimes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

Track