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SB 144 Kentucky Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT relating to confiscated firearms.

Summary
Amend KRS 16.220, relating to firearms confiscated by law enforcement, to provide that firearms which were used in a homicide be destroyed; provide that firearms in the possession of the Department of Kentucky State Police may be destroyed if they have been defaced, are contaminated by hazardous material, unsafe to discharge, or upon request of an innocent owner; amend KRS 500.090, relating to forfeiture of property in criminal cases, to require local law enforcement agencies to destroy firearms that have been used in a homicide; require that all firearms that are transferred to the Department of Kentucky State Police not be intentionally damaged, modified, or disabled by the agency having custody, except as may be necessary for forensic testing; amend KRS 15.440, to require law enforcement agencies to have a written policy and procedures manual relating to the destruction of firearms used in homicides by January 1, 2026.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Current/Final · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill update corrects a typo changing 'public action' to 'public auction' and clarifies that firearms used in criminal homicides must be destroyed by any person certifying on a state police form before bidding, rather than after. The changes ensure proper terminology for firearm sales and clarify the destruction process for evidence firearms.
Scope change
No substantive scope change; these are technical corrections to existing provisions regarding firearm disposition.
TECHNICAL

Corrected 'public action' to 'public auction' in the firearms dealer sale provision for proper terminology.

REQUIREMENT

Changed 'prior to placing a bid' from 'prior' to clarify that certification must occur before bidding, ensuring proper destruction procedures for evidence firearms.

DEFINITION

Added 'criminal' before 'homicide' to specify the type of homicide requiring firearm destruction.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

43–0
Passed
Total votes 43
Mar 5, 2025
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican37
37 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (H)
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Floor Amendment (1)
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
floor amendment (1) filed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (S)
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
to Committee on Committees (S)
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.