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HB 38 Kentucky House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to orders of protection.

Summary
Amend KRS 403.763 and 456.180 to enhance criminal penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection; establish what constitutes a repeated violation.
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill enhances criminal penalties for repeated violations of orders of protection, increasing sentencing severity. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators (increases mandatory sentences).90% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill significantly restructures Kentucky's protective order laws by replacing the previous KRS 403.763 statute with a new framework that clarifies criminal penalties and introduces stricter enforcement mechanisms. The changes include redefining when violations become felonies, adding provisions for emergency order continuance when respondents aren't served, and updating venue rules for both contempt and criminal proceedings.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope by adding specific provisions for emergency protective order continuance when adverse parties haven't been served, and clarifies that third or subsequent violations become felonies regardless of whether the protected person is the same across violations.
ENFORCEMENT

Changed the statute reference from KRS 403.763 to KRS 403.735 for the main protective order provisions

Added provision allowing courts to transmit summons copies to petitioners and excuse petitioners from future court appearances until respondent is served

TIMELINE

Added new provisions allowing courts to continue emergency protective orders for up to 14 days when the adverse party hasn't been served, with a maximum 6-month limit on continuances

ELIGIBILITY

Modified felony classification criteria to clarify that third or subsequent violations become Class D felonies even if the protected person differs from previous cases

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for courts to inquire about school attendance when minors are involved to minimize educational disruption

Changed venue rules for criminal violations to follow general criminal venue rules rather than the previous specific county provisions

Floor votes · House Feb 18, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Amendments
1
Mar 24, 2025
Signed into law
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 75)
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed 91-0
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
to Rules (H)
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (S)
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
3rd reading, passed 92-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
to Judiciary (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Introduced
introduced in House
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.