Amend KRS 16.220 to provide that the proceeds of firearm sales that have been confiscated by law enforcement shall be utilized by the Office of the Attorney General; amend KRS 147A.002 to conform.
Amend KRS 610.200 to define "custodial interrogation"; require a peace officer to arrange for a child to consult with legal counsel prior to any interview or custodial interrogation; amend KRS 610.220 and 630.040 to conform; make technical corrections.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HB 324 requires all Kentucky law enforcement officers to complete at least eight hours of crisis intervention and de-escalation training during their basic law enforcement certification. It also mandates that all certified peace officers undergo this training at least once every two years. The bill applies to every law enforcement agency and officer in Kentucky, administered by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. This requirement is part of broader training standards that also cover domestic violence, sexual assault response, and human trafficking investigations.
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.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 15 to define terms; impose a duty on peace officers to intervene to prevent or stop another officer from using physical force that will cause unlawful serious physical injury, death, or deprivation of civil rights; impose a duty to provide or obtain emergency medical assistance; require reporting of intervention; provide administrative and legal protections; amend KRS 15.330 to require the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council to prescribe minimum standards for use of force by officer, an officer's duty to intervene, and reporting of police officer misconduct; amend KRS 413.115 to require that an action for retaliatory personnel actions to be commenced within 3 years.
