summary
Introduced
01/28/2026
01/28/2026
In Committee
02/04/2026
02/04/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 532.031, relating to hate crimes, to include offenses committed against an individual because of political creed; amend KRS 15.334 and 17.1523 to conform.
AI Summary
This bill expands the definition of hate crimes in Kentucky to include offenses motivated by an individual's "political creed," meaning their beliefs or opinions about government and politics. It amends existing law (KRS 532.031) to allow judges to consider political creed as a factor when determining if a crime was a hate crime, which can then influence sentencing, probation, or parole decisions. Additionally, the bill updates training requirements for law enforcement officers to include recognizing and investigating crimes motivated by political creed, and it modifies reporting forms to capture information about offenses related to political creed, ensuring this new category is tracked and addressed by law enforcement and the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (17)
T.J. Roberts (R)*,
Chad Aull (D),
Kim Banta (R),
Ryan Bivens (R),
Josh Calloway (R),
Jim Gooch (R),
Daniel Grossberg (D),
Vanessa Grossl (R),
Mark Hart (R),
John Hodgson (R),
Kimberly Holloway (R),
Derek Lewis (R),
Matt Lockett (R),
Candy Massaroni (R),
Adam Moore (D),
Aaron Thompson (R),
Richard White (R),
Last Action
to Judiciary (H) (on 02/04/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb511.html |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb511/orig_bill.pdf |
| Corrections Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb511/CI.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb511/LM.pdf |
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