Kentucky Lawmakers Address Domestic Violence with New Legislation

Kentucky is working to address its persistently higher-than-national-average rates of domestic violence through a series of bills currently moving through the state legislature. Lawmakers are considering measures aimed at improving data collection, providing protections for survivors, and potentially creating a registry for repeat offenders.

Improving Data Collection with HB 611

House Bill 611 focuses on enhancing the state’s understanding of domestic violence incidents. The bill mandates that the Administrative Office of the Courts provide information on whether parties involved in petitions for orders of protection were represented by legal counsel. It requires the Kentucky State Police to provide comprehensive statistical information from all JC-3 forms – reports used in domestic violence and abuse cases – including all fields within those forms. HB 611 similarly seeks to transition JC-3 forms to an electronic format. Trackbill and Bill Sponsor confirm these provisions.

Protecting Survivors with HB 418

Another key piece of legislation, House Bill 418, aims to provide greater custody protections for survivors of domestic violence. Details regarding the specifics of these protections were not available in the provided sources.

HB 773: A Domestic Violence Registry – Concerns and Support

House Bill 773 proposes the creation of a public registry of repeat domestic violence offenders, including their names, date of birth, county of residence, details of the crime, conviction date, and photograph. While intended to increase public safety, the bill has raised concerns among advocacy groups like the Center for Women and Families (CWF).

The CWF fears that the registry could inadvertently include survivors who acted in self-defense and may compromise the privacy of both survivors and their children, potentially leading to victim-blaming. LegiScan reports on these concerns.

Representative Kim Holloway of Mayfield, the bill’s sponsor, has named the legislation “Stephanie’s Law” in honor of Stephanie Stacey, a Paducah woman killed by her partner in 2025. Holloway states the law is a tribute to Stacey’s life and to all Kentuckians who have experienced domestic violence.

Current Status

As of March 13, 2026, HB 773 has been assigned to a committee and is awaiting further action. HB 611 and HB 418 have passed the House and are now under consideration in the Senate. The Legislative Research Commission provides updates on the bills’ progress.